Tomohiro Kitakaze
Tomohiro Kitakaze (Japanese: 北風友裕, born April 8th, 1983 in Kobe) is a freelance illustrator. He is an Osaka University of Arts graduate and previously worked at Monolith Soft as a 2D designer, providing concept art for characters, monsters, and machinery. He later worked for Game Freak, again as a 2D designer, providing concept art and designs for Pokémon characters, though it is unknown how many Pokémon he has designed.
In addition, he also provided artwork for one card from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Kitakaze's subjects are initially drawn traditionally, and then enhanced digitally afterwards. His cartoon strips and characters are created in anime style, though his more detailed illustration work draws inspiration from mythical creatures and the occult, sometimes incorporating mechanical motifs.
He claims that his design for Mega Mewtwo Y was influenced by his adoration for Mewtwo Strikes Back as a child.[1]
Designs
Pokémon
The following is a list of Pokémon designed by Kitakaze.
| Generation V | ||||||||||||||
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| Venipede[2] | Whirlipede[2] | Scolipede[2][3][4] | Escavalier[4] | Shelmet[3] | ||||||||||
| Generation VI | ||||||||||||||
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| Mega Mewtwo Y[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Generation IX | ||||||||||||||
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| Charcadet[5] | Armarouge[5] | Ceruledge[5] | ||||||||||||
Artwork
Official artwork
This is a collection of official Pokémon artwork drawn by Kitakaze.
![Crown Tundra key art from Sword & Shield[6]](//archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/c/cd/The_Crown_Tundra_Key_Art.png/85px-The_Crown_Tundra_Key_Art.png)
Crown Tundra key art from Sword & Shield[6]
![Crown Tundra key art from Sword & Shield[6]](/wiki/File:The_Crown_Tundra_Key_Art.png)
Staff artwork
This is a collection of unofficial Pokémon artwork drawn by Kitakaze.
![Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution Release Celebration art[1]](//archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/0/0e/Tomohiro_Kitakaze_Mewtwo_Strikes_Back_Evolution_Release_Art.png/100px-Tomohiro_Kitakaze_Mewtwo_Strikes_Back_Evolution_Release_Art.png)
Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution Release Celebration art[1]
![Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Release Celebration art [7]](//archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/b/b2/Tomohiro_Kitakaze_Brilliant_Diamond_and_Shining_Pearl_Release_Art.png/100px-Tomohiro_Kitakaze_Brilliant_Diamond_and_Shining_Pearl_Release_Art.png)
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Release Celebration art [7]
![Legends: Arceus Release Celebration art [8]](//archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/9/93/TomohiroKitakaze_LegendsArceusReleaseArt.png/84px-TomohiroKitakaze_LegendsArceusReleaseArt.png)
Legends: Arceus Release Celebration art [8]
![Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution Release Celebration art[1]](/wiki/File:Tomohiro_Kitakaze_Mewtwo_Strikes_Back_Evolution_Release_Art.png)
![Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Release Celebration art [7]](/wiki/File:Tomohiro_Kitakaze_Brilliant_Diamond_and_Shining_Pearl_Release_Art.png)
![Legends: Arceus Release Celebration art [8]](/wiki/File:TomohiroKitakaze_LegendsArceusReleaseArt.png)
Works
Games
| Title | Platform | Release date | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier | Nintendo DS | 2008-05-29 | Staff, Monolith Soft |
| Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions | Nintendo DS | 2009-09-12 | Special Thanks |
| Pokémon Black and White Versions | Nintendo DS | 2010-09-18 | Pokémon Character Design/2D Dot Graphics |
| Pokémon X and Y | Nintendo 3DS | 2013-10-12 | Pokémon Characters Design/Concept Illustration |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield | Nintendo Switch | 2019-11-15 | Key art for The Crown Tundra |
| Trinity Trigger | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch | 2022-09-22 | Trigger Designer |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | Nintendo Switch | 2022-11-18 | Pokémon Design |
Other illustrations
| Title | Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Trading Card Game illustration | 2011-09 | The Pokémon Company |
| GanGan online illustrations | 2011-11 | Square Enix |
| Dark Bound ~Saiyū Senki~ illustrations | 2012-11 | Rekoo Japan Co., Ltd |
| Force of Will Trading Card Game illustrations | 2013-01 | Force of Will Co., Ltd |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Twitter post by Tomohiro Kitakaze about the release of Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Twitter post by Tomohiro Kitakaze about the Venipede family he designed
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tomohiro Kitakaze's response to a comment on DeviantArt
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Twitter post by Tomohiro Kitakaze mentioning he designed Scolipede and Escavalier
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Kitakaze's tweet confirming he designed Charcadet, Armarouge and Ceruledge.
- ↑ Tomohiro Kitakaze on Crown Tundra key art
- ↑ Twitter post by Tomohiro Kitakaze celebrating the release of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
- ↑ Legends Arceus Release Celebratory fan-art (retrieved April, 2022)
External links
