Artist 4: Yoshitaka Amano

Vampire Hunter D

A former animator, Yoshitaka Amano is an internationally renowned fantasy artist. While many of his works are associated with commercial franchises, such as final fantasy and Vampire Hunter D, he has additionally established a reputation for himself in contemporary art circles for his personal work. The content of the work itself ranges from character and logo design to Andy Warhol-esque pop art. Furthermore, his medium preference is similarly varied, covering everything from printmaking to sculpture. According to an interview with About.com's Deb Aoki, Amano considers American comic books to be the "roots" of his artwork.

XII logo design

I find Amano's work to be particularly inspiring as he masterfully participates in such a wide range of disciplines. Moreover, in all his varied endeavors, he manages to display a unified sense of style that is characteristic of his work alone. This "style" is characterized by the vast array of expressive linework which results in a high degree of emotional appeal.

A collection of his works may be found here.