Has a game’s art or music ever inspired you to be creative?

Everybody knows Ni No Kuni’s reputation for fabulous visuals and musical score, but when is the last time a game inspired you to explore your creative talents? For Ni No Kuni fans, this RPG is more than just a beautiful experience; it is a reason to be artistically inventive.

Reimagining the whimsical art of Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an adventure in itself, and to that end, we are working with artists from a range of different backgrounds to honor the beloved game’s visual genius. We want to get the creative juices flowing and motivate fans by viewing the artistic style and characters through many different lenses and perspectives. 

In this Play Anime series, we will be focusing on the artists who have taken part in a collaboration to design and execute some original pieces to showcase Ni No Kuni II’s art. This time around we are featuring three distinctive artists that put their own spin on the PS4 exclusive game - character designer and illustrator Rayner Alencar, concept artist Yoshi Yoshitani and digital designer and illustrator Lily Van. 

Rayner Alencar describes himself as a self-taught artist who was influenced by Japanese animation as a child. He explained that Studio Ghibli and Studio 4C° movies were his reference growing up, since there weren’t many opportunities or teachers to learn from in Brazil. He was drawn in and inspired by Ni no Kuni’s great artistry, not only the concept art, but the soundtrack and the story behind it as well. He thinks that it all works so well, that it would be amazing translated into other media too. 

The pieces that Alencar created for this artist collaboration are vibrant, colorful and lively, with a very distinctive character design. His use of lighting makes for a wonderful three-dimensional experience, where Evan and his friends look like they are jumping out of the screen.

Our next featured artist is Yoshi Yoshitani, who is known for her brilliant fairytale tarot series and other vivid collections of artistic pieces. Inspired by fairytales and folklore, she loves researching old stories, traditional clothing and other art as reference for her digital pictures. It’s no wonder that Yoshitani has been a fan of the Ni no Kuni series since the beginning, with its attractive fairytale like storyline, environments and graphics. She has been hoping for a second game since finishing the first and now her dreams are about to come true.

After putting together this delightfully dramatic Tarot series for Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, Yoshitani said it was difficult to choose which character was her favorite to illustrate. Maybe it is the Higgledies, just because of their sheer cuteness, she admitted, adding that she can’t wait to get a plushie or two, or a dozen. Her use of symmetry, lines and patterns in these pieces is magical and reminiscent of Japanese paper craft.

Our last artist - Lily Van - has loved children’s book artwork from a young age. Inspired by work like Charlie Brown, The Adventures of Tintin and Madeline, her ability to strip down the essence of form into simpler pieces is enchanting. She finds Ni no Kuni’s characters so charming, and admires the time and detail that the designers put into them. She follows a similar theme in her own work, where she wants those who view her art to know that she enjoyed making it – it’s important that she brings vibrancy and joy into what she creates.

Van’s watercolor-like rendition of Evan, Rolland and Tani paints a softer story of Ni no Kuni II, with impressionistic brushes of color that add a dreamlike feel. She adds innocence to the characters and a child-like sweetness that draws you further into their adventure. It’s apparent from this piece that the artist had fun, and it imparts a similar feeling onto the viewer. 

Stay tuned for more about the artists who are honoring the art of Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom and the pieces they are creating. 

Paying tribute to a favorite anime or game is more than fun; it’s contributing to the thing you love. Use hashtag #nnk2fanart on Facebook, Instagram or twitter to showcase your artwork! Who knows, you may just see one of your pieces on Playanime.com

Check out these time-lapse videos showcasing the creative process of Yoshi Yoshitani and Lily Van below.