
This Documentary On Final Fantasy Artist Yoshitaka Amano is the Most Soothing Video You'll Watch Today
Grab a cup of green tea and watch the master at work.
If you've ever played a Final Fantasy game, then you've laid eyes on Yoshitaka Amano's artwork. Even if you're not familiar with his name, Amano's sweeping character and monster designs are unmistakable. He's contributed to Final Fantasy's bestiary with acrylic and watercolors since the series' start.
Archipel, a YouTube channel that makes documentaries about Japanese creators and artists, recently uploaded a short profile of Amano. The veteran character designer has interesting things to say about his process, his past, and his current drive to break into the world of fine art.
If you've ever been curious about how Amano fell into his role as one of the Final Fantasy series' top illustrators (for starters, he draws a logo for every Final Fantasy game and spin-off that comes out), this video offers a strong summation. Amano started his career as an animator at the age of 14, but he eventually decided to become an illustrator because he "wanted people to look directly at his drawings."
Amano says his ideas flow without effort; he never suffers from any kind of block. (Must be nice.) His deep appreciation for illustrating both Eastern and Western myths caught the attention of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, who invited him to join the team as a designer. Amano, who liked the idea of having free rein to illustrate a new fantasy universe, accepted. "I had to imagine new universes that include fantastic elements," he says. "I was free to draw anything I could think of."
Amano deeply cares for the Final Fantasy universe, which he feels are "beyond fairytales." The video shows us glimpses of some of his original character paintings, including the evil Golbez from Final Fantasy 4 and Zidane, Final Fantasy 9's mischievous hero.
Though the Amano documentary is only around 8 minutes, it's informative. More than that, though, it's relaxing. It's great to see Amano nestled in his comfortably messy studio, surrounded by piles of his work. He really does give off the impression of an artist who's capable of drawing effortlessly for years to come.
Amano's character designs don't feature prominently in Final Fantasy 7—that's designer Tetsuya Nomura's department—but his influence can still be seen and felt in certain parts of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
In other news
Cyberpunk 2077 Has Been Removed From the PlayStation Store Following a "Discussion" With Sony [Update]
Sony is offering full refunds for those who want one.
28
Dicey Dungeons Had a Surprise Launch on Switch Last Night
Turns out Nintendo had another card up its sleeve. A card with, uh… with dice on it.
How Familiars.io's Creator Fit Multiplayer Monster-Taming Into a Single Tweet
Bless Twitter's Javascript embeds for letting this Pokemon-like flourish.
CD Projekt Red Is "Not Encouraging" Cyberpunk 2077 Returns, Joint-CEO Tells Investors
"We hope they'll give us a chance to improve the game on the original consoles," says Marcin Iwiński.
5
Need help?
Witcher 3: How to Start the Blood and Wine DLC and Meet Its Level Requirements
We explain how to get to Toussaint and what level you should be when you do.
Witcher 3: All the Correct Play Lines in "The Play's the Thing" Quest
We explain how to perform the Doppler's play with Priscilla, as well as whether to choose tragedy or comedy.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Mystery Gift Codes List (January 2020)
You can get free gifts in Pokemon Sword and Shield by entering certain Mystery Gift Codes. Here’s a full list of all the active codes available right now.
The Outer Worlds Shrink Ray - How to Get the Unique Shrink Ray Science Weapon
This is where you can get the Shrink Ray science weapon in The Outer Worlds, one of the unique weapons in the game.
Newsletter
Subscribe to our weekly newsletters
Get the best of USG in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters.