How were Splatoon's fonts made?

Welcome to a new series based on my twitter project Fontendo - where we identify and examine fonts - obscure and otherwise - from games and other media.
Today we take a look at how Nintendo designed the fonts used in its Splatoon series.
~Video Chapters~
0:00 - A brief intro to Japanese type foundries
1:42 - Splatoon 1's font and its Victorian origin
5:24 - Rodin to Rowdy
7:25 - Splatoon 2's font and some strange similarities...
9:56 - Outro; further information
---
Fonts mentioned in this video, in order of appearance:
Pop Happiness: fontworks.co.jp/fontsearch/po...
New Cezanne Pro DB: fontworks.co.jp/fontsearch/ne...
Script MT Bold: www.fonts.com/font/monotype/m...
Huakang Xin Zongyiti W9: www.dynacw.com.hk/en/product/...
Splatoon Replica Font: fizzystack.web.fc2.com/paintba...
Pop Joy: fontworks.co.jp/fontsearch/po...
Showcard Gothic: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/typo...
Dreamland: www.myfonts.com/fonts/mti/dre...
Rowdy: fontworks.co.jp/fontsearch/ro...
Rodin: fontworks.co.jp/fontsearch/ro...
Kurokane: fontworks.co.jp/fontsearch/ku...
Rat Fink font family: houseind.com/hi/ratfink
Memoir: modi.jpn.org/font_memoir.php
---
Outro Music by SiivaGunner: / siivagunner
---
Discord Server ►► / discord
Twitter ► / kaihatsuyt
A huge thanks to my patrons for supporting me! ▶▶ / kaihatsu
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[@Kaihatsu]

Hey everyone! I posted this update on my most recent video but thought I better post it here too seeing as this video is getting more attention. I just moved to Japan, so video editing has slowed a little as I now work a full time job in a Japanese office. Regardless, there's still videos in the works so stay tuned!

[@MaxBoomingHere]

Funny to see this comment was posted 1 day ago haha. Anyway, I wish you luck in Japan!

[@Asurvivingslugcat]

But where in Japan?

[@Kaihatsu]

@@Asurvivingslugcat Kansai area.

[@Asurvivingslugcat]

Neat

[@fewsnow]

@@MaxBoomingHere ikr

[@lucalopez9604]

I wasn't expecting to get _this_ invested in fonts.

[@colacarrion]

Same lol

[@WaluigisBulge]

Wow! Can’t wait for more! I love fonts so learning about them in media I adore is awesome! If you wanted to look into one, the font in the Mario logo could be a great second episode, the font used in pikmin is also really interesting with the bubble style

[@Kaihatsu]

I've yet to investigate the Pikmin logotype, but Nintendo actually had a font made to match the Mario logo! More info here: twitter.com/Fontendou/status/1282716142340120579?s=20

[@4rumani]

lol

[@96blocks]

@@Kaihatsu >Nintendo had a font made to match the mario logo wait the mario logo text was just drawn by hand before an actual font type was developed??

[@Number.1Yanfei.Fan123]

Wow, me too. I absolutely cream everytime I see times new Roman (/s)

[@Chopscrewyyy]

:/

[@willtaylor9091]

I love Splatoon's style, and it's really interesting learning about how its font design contributed to the overall product! Excellent video!

[@Jimstix0]

Gotta say, Kanji sounds like an absolute nightmare to deal with when designing fonts.

[@PleaseUnsubscribeHaha]

3:08 I'll get a free hand?!?! Amazing!

[@sherbertshortkake6649]

Wowwww, nicely done.

[@user-mh5gb1ld1n]

驚いた！ この動画は他のどの日本語の動画よりも 日本のフォント事情も交えて分かりやすく説明しているように見えます！

[@Kaihatsu]

ご視聴ありがとうございました！

[@Kaihatsu]

Hey everyone! Sorry that it's taken so long for me to return to video making, As you know I had high hopes this year to be more productive but the pandemic screwed up so many things in my life and the last five months I've been trying to sort things out - for a while things took a pretty nasty turn and I didn't have time for KZbin, but I'm fine now. Thanks for watching! And don't forget to check out Fontendo, which has been my little side project while I couldn't upload videos: twitter.com/Fontendou There's also a Fontendo channel on my discord server now if you want to check that out (link above in the description!)

[@UrBoiPika]

This was a trip to listen to. Never knew how much effort goes into a font of all things, made me appreciate them more.

[@poppyrinne6948]

This is so informative and interesting to watch/listen to. I really like the world building of Splatoon but never thought about the font. Thank you so much

[@MoonkeyHimself]

Very interesting video, the editing made it more enjoyable, good job 👌

[@Kaihatsu]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@royareyzabal823]

I loved all the work and effort you put into this. be proud!!!

[@Kaihatsu]

Thank you!

[@bluegirl5539]

I'm so glad I've found you in my recommended - instant sub within the first few minutes!! Considering, engaging, fantastic video creation. Your passion transcends the screen, and I assumed you had 100K+ subscribers! Best wishes for any and all future projects, you have a new fan!!!

[@Kaihatsu]

Glad you enjoyed it so much!

[@SplashAttackVideos]

This was everything I dreamed it would be, amazing video and presentation!!!

[@Kaihatsu]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ChampionXegg]

This was a super high quality video!! Very informative

[@Kaihatsu]

Thanks for watching!

[@jdaster64]

TIL what the "Pop" in Pop Happiness & Pop Joy stands for; always assumed it was the same shortening as in "pop art" and "pop music". This was a great watch!

[@SocraTetris]

I love font facts! Kinda started after seeing Undertale and how it used fonts to define characters. My favorite font, and the one that feels most like "me" is Russo One. Do you think you have a lot of material for more videos for this series? 🤔🤔🤔

[@Kaihatsu]

Oh definitely! I started the Fontendo twitter account last year and have been posting lots of trivia, but there's a lot more deeper dive style stuff that I wanted to cover, which videos are better for. There's a surprising amount of cool font stuff to talk about!

[@nickolias7292]

These videos are so well animated and fit so much info in such a short time.

[@Kaihatsu]

Thank you for watching!

[@Lukz243]

Great work, Kaihatsu! It made me appreciate on the typography of Splatoon (and I had no idea that eastern fonts could be expenive)

[@Kaihatsu]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nessisasquid]

This is such an interesting topic! I'm looking forward to more ^__^

[@Kaihatsu]

Thanks for watching! I'm not sure when the next Fontendo episode will be uploaded but there's a couple being worked on right now.

[@p.e.miranda2038]

I love Splatoon and learning about Fonts, thank you so much for making this

[@DraNchan]

Fantastic work, an original and super niche content!

[@IkeDesign]

Very high quality video and packed with information!

[@Kaihatsu]

Thank you!

[@toberlets]

such a specific interest i have haha i wasn’t expecting to see something this catered to me in my recommended today :-)

[@MegaMinecraft901]

This is an awesome vid! Hope more people check you out.

[@violetto3219]

i really like fonts dude. great video

[@NinF37]

Love the video! Can’t wait for more (:

[@derula]

Cool video, very in-depth research, thanks

[@Kaihatsu]

Thanks for watching derula!

[@Mio4graphic]

this is just so good! thank you fontendo!

[@Kaihatsu]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@yokelengleng]

Wow! Never knew people were interested in such a niche thing like font design!

[@h-hues]

Wow, thanks KZbin recommendations for this cool video. Hope I see more typography content.

[@YourLocalLogo]

Rowdy also appears in Wii Play's 2 player mode, when a game is completed and shows the winner.

[@chiiing8288]

incredibly well made video!

[@Kaihatsu]

Thank you 😊

[@poodychulak]

My cousin went to school for graphic design was just watching over my shoulder -apropos of nothing- when he told me the font in Splatoon 2 was Gill Sans. It's a pun💀

[@victorndende5981]

Incredible video. Thanks. Subscribed.

[@FrijolesyQueso]

I cant believe I watched a 11 minute video on a font! Also give me your chopped hand. -i heard that siivagunner rip at the end-

[@Kaihatsu]

✋

[@FrijolesyQueso]

thanks, and good job on the video!

[@EriksGarbage]

If you are able to read this without any issues and without zooming in, I will chop off my hand and give it to you.

[@Twiddle_things]

This video is criminally underrated

[@youtubeaccount2302]

Brilliant! Def subscribed for more :)

[@Kaihatsu]

Thank you!

[@Irreve-rsible]

I love this! Thanks!

[@cheesecrossing1766]

As someone who has the frink heavy font on my laptop I’m defo going to download this one as well

[@girlcock57]

man if it has splatoon 1 in it i’m already gonna watch it till the end

[@Slonie]

Great video!

[@Kaihatsu]

Thank you!

[@lrgogo1517]

“This isn’t actually the first time Nintendo has used text font #471, you can actually see it in this game in the the corner of this one minor graphic asset” WHY DO YOU KNOW THAT. HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT

[@Kaihatsu]

Just noticed it one day by chance.

[@chronos9052]

Good Vid Bro

[@sabrinamartinez8212]

great video!

[@Kaihatsu]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@splater1]

Good video!

[@MilkMyth]

Fantastic video. Love learning about this stuff.

[@nickolias7292]

FUCK the ending music is siivagunner

[@hedwig7s]

"Welcome to the very first episode of Fontendo" "Welcome to the very last episode of Fontendo"

[@Kaihatsu]

There’s another one coming soon lol

[@kikkys7572]

5:11 i proudly said "wow a Kirby font-"

[@priestoffern1608]

Good video

[@bethmoth22]

Hahaha I was watching and saw "Rat Fink" pop up and was like "RAT FINK, YEAH THAT'S THE ANIMAL CROSSING ONE" Before even recognizing the actual font itself lol

[@lucia5227]

LET'S GOOOOO GRAPHIC DESIGN

[@tsukioka9643]

「かもしれません」で動画を〆るな

[@Stephen-Fox]

...Oh no. Seriously, though, great video. I just can't seem to escape font and typeface discourse.

[@Kaihatsu]

There's no escaping fonts >:3

[@violetto3219]

i wish i had your problem

[@saosan1118]

がんばれ！

[@Kaihatsu]

動画を見てくれてありがとう！頑張ります！

[@matthewkrenzler1171]

Some would dub it the Ice Age font because of their similarities.

[@mindscarp]

What's the name of the generic UI font used in Splatoon 1? Not the thick font, but the other one used for player names and system messages such as "Searching for a battle to join...".

[@Kaihatsu]

Fontworks' New Rodin.

[@cmyk8964]

Yep, I tend to call NewRodin the Wii Sports font

[@blxckshadow1910]

3:05 So ...? Where's my third hand?

[@thecoltster1]

Moral of the story: if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.

[@theawesomegames]

3:05 So i get his hand?

[@pangake]

awesome :))

[@EliasSchnetzer]

Great video! Would love if these videos would generate more views.

[@sadsquishyboy]

I love slpagoon

[@Freqhog]

4:44 Honest Ed’s of Toronto Canada!

[@lrgogo1517]

“If you don’t have a font, just make one 4Head”

[@just_eirik]

Would love to know more about the font used on the loading screens in the Borderlands 3 DLC Bounty of Blood.

[@Kaihatsu]

I've never played Borderlands, but from a quick glance the main font seems to be Posterama Text Regular. There's not much that's interesting about it other than it's in a font family with another 62 typefaces which were each designed after a certain era in time.

[@just_eirik]

@@Kaihatsu Sorry for the late reply. Im talking about the font on these loading screens: i.imgur.com/EzkWElG.jpg and i.imgur.com/zMCC8cP.jpg

[@Kaihatsu]

@@just_eirik That seems to be an experimental font called Silent Lips.

[@just_eirik]

Kaihatsu Neat. It just seems unusual to me.

[@quack9pm]

What a cool video i wonder if i will like this guys account "last posted 9 months ago"

[@Kaihatsu]

I’m working on another Fontendo video!! It’s just that I’ve been busy with a new job, as I moved to Japan to work recently.

[@quack9pm]

@@Kaihatsu omg thats so cooll

[@quack9pm]

@Kaihatsu also is your pfp that unused object from mario galaxy?

[@Kaihatsu]

@@quack9pm Yup, Torimoti.

[@carlosoliva7824]

7:55 More notable, its must problably, modified version

[@20000dino]

Sad you didn't mention Splatoon 3 :/ I haven't played it yet myself, but I'd love to know if there's any differences between it and Splatoon 2's fonts

[@Kaihatsu]

This video was made before Splatoon 3 was even announced. Regardless, there are no new fonts in Splatoon 3.

[@20000dino]

@@Kaihatsu Oops sorry, I read "2 weeks ago" instead of "2 years ago", my bad

[@Mittzys]

3:05 I read this not in fullscreen and at 720p

[@ZushiCakes]

Huh. Cool.

[@diegoreckholder945]

I come from the future, fom 2023. Is there any differences in Splatoon 3's fonts?

[@Kaihatsu]

Nope. Nothing new in terms of English or Japanese.

[@venuuuxs]

Ehem… so when am i getting that hand of yours?

[@FrancoPantoja]

Waiting for your hand

[@yosi1989]

任天堂、FontForge使ってたんか…!

[@namenandern5531]

Rat Fink Sans looks like the SpongeBob logo Font

[@aronaronaronaronaronaronaronar]

they drew them

[@luckytpf8649]

Why cant i watch your other video

[@Kaihatsu]

It’s currently under a copyright strike unfortunately, I’m uploading a replacement.

[@luckytpf8649]

Oh ok ty

[@MechaGod]

3:06 I read it, but I cheated

[@user-qs8gx8tl6o]

もっと日本人に知られていい動画....

[@SmallGreenPlanetoid]

Dude, you spent ten minutes showcasing the work of multiple, often-overlooked typeface designers, and even provided the proper links for purchase in the description. Bravo! But then you suggest that viewers search for illegally data-mined versions of the exact fonts you're celebrating. Boo. Just leave it out of the video.

[@Kaihatsu]

I think you might have misunderstood what I said in the video - I said that recompilled/datamined versions of Splatoon's fonts are out there on the internet. This was meant a statement of fact and not a suggestion or endorsement. As those fonts are custom made and not commercially available anywhere else with links to purchase, that is why I mentioned that. Font piracy is a serious problem and I make an effort on the Fontendo twitter account to remind people that I can't share download links for fonts and that I do not endorse the practice. In the future I will be more careful about how I word things in my videos.

[@SmallGreenPlanetoid]

​@@Kaihatsu Yes, you did include all the relevant information in the video; it's just the order of that information that allows it to be misconstrued as an endorsement. Thank you for clarifying your stance and also for supporting type designers!

[@slyar]

5:34 Calling Japanese's writing systems "alphabets" is annoying me SO MUCH my god

[@Kaihatsu]

Well it was the simplest way to get the point across.

[@PlotagonRockssChannel123]

you sound like dantdm

[@FoxChaotica]

Where and to whom should I send my house address? I was promised a free head

[@FetterFish]

Bruh, your pronounciation :(

[@FetterFish]

but still good video