Book Review: Heroes & Heroines


Heroes & Heroines is a 208 page book that features character designs from Japanese video games and animation. Only titles from 2009 to late 2011 are included.

The illustrations are grouped by the 69 artists who created them. Since so many artists are included, only a selection of their works are featured. Those would be the main characters they designed.

The character designs are wonderful. The variety is incredible, especially for the costumes. It's also quite a good reference for poses too.

Some of the titles included are Persona4, Shining Force EXA, Eden of the East, Fate/Zero, Bayonetta, and more. I've not seen many of the titles before. Many of the Japanese titles are not exported for sale overseas.

The work on the cover is from the video game Catherine, designed by Soejima Shigenori, whose interview is one of the two included. The other interview is with character designer Kaneda Eiji and producer Yoshizawa Junichi for the Rezel Cross PSP game. All text in the book are in both Japanese and English.

If you like Japanese characters and art, this book is highly recommended.

Here's a (incomplete) list of more titles with their artists

  • 『AKIBA'S TRIP』tanu
  • 『あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。』 田中将賀 Tanaka Masayoshi
  • 『エルシャダイ』竹安佐和記 Takeyasu Sawaki
  • 『俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない』 織田広之 Oda Hiroyuki
  • 『逆転検事』 岩元辰郎 Iwamoto Tatsuro
  • 『キャサリン』『Persona4』『Persona3』 副島成記 Soejima Shigenori
  • 『極限脱出 9時間9人9の扉』 西村キヌ Nishimura Kinu
  • 『ギルティクラウン』 redjuice(原案)・加藤裕美(キャラクターデザイン)Kato Hiromi
  • 『シャイニング・フォース』シリーズ pako いとうのいぢ Ito Nozi
  • 『STEINS;GATE シリーズ』 huke
  • 『セブンスドラゴン2020』 三輪士郎 Miwa Shirow
  • 『ソニコミ』津路参汰 Tsuji Santa
  • 『ダンガンロンパ』 小松崎 類 Komatsuzaki Rui
  • 『デビルサバイバー シリーズ』 ヤスダスズヒト Yasuda Suzuhito
  • 『NO.6』 toi8(原案)・石野聡(キャラクターデザイン)Ishino Satoshi
  • 『NEWラブプラス』ミノ☆タローMino☆Taro
  • 『NO MORE HEROES 2 DESPERATE STRUGGLE』 コザキユースケ Kozaki Yusuke
  • 『東のエデン』 羽海野チカ(原案)・森川聡子(キャラクターデザイン)Umino Chika/Morikawa Satoko
  • 『フラクタル』 左(原案)Hidari
  • 『魔法少女まどか☆マギカ』 蒼樹うめ(原案)・岸田隆宏(キャラクターデザイン)Aokiume/Kishida Takahiro
  • 『四畳半神話体系』 中村佑介(原案)・伊東伸高(キャラクターデザイン)Nakamura Yusuke/Ito Nobutake
  • 『REZELCROSS』 金田榮路 Kaneda Eiji
  • 『WORKING!!』 足立慎吾 Adachi Shingo
  • 等々 多数掲載 And more

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This book was borrowed from Basheer Graphic Books for review purposes. You can order the book from them. Check with Basheer on Facebook or visit their website.

Heroes & Heroines (Character Design Books) is also available at Amazon (US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | JP | CN)

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

Heroes & Heroines

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Here are direct links to the book:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.es | Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.cn

This book was borrowed from Basheer Graphic Books for review purposes. You can order the book from them. Check with Basheer on Facebook or visit their website.

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