Why Artists are Copying Akihiko Yoshida’s Art Style (And Getting It Wrong) | Breakdown & Analysis

Akihiko Yoshida ( 吉田 明彦 ) is an artist with a distinct art style, has a large amount of war driven game titles under his belt and he inspired many artist throughout the industry. He illustrated games such as, Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy, Bravely Default and Nier.
If you want to know how to draw like Akihiko Yoshida you have to remember these three elements:
• Post
Add Akihiko Yoshida's Masterpieces to Your Artistic Arsenal: Get Inspired Now!
Bravely default art books: amzn.to/3WQ0utG (most popular) and amzn.to/3VHOpFG (Bravely Second)
Tactics ogre art book: amzn.to/3vKRMRu
Final Fantasy 14 A realm reborn: amzn.to/3Zbl0GW
About Akihiko:
Akihiko Yoshida is a renowned Japanese game artist known for his detailed, medieval-themed artwork and traditional drawing methods, often using mechanical pencils. His style features coarse details and organic, subdued colors, creating a timeless, aged look. Yoshida began his career with minor roles in game design, quickly rising to prominence with his character and tarot card designs for "Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen." His work on "Final Fantasy Tactics" solidified his reputation, and he continued to design characters and backgrounds for major titles like "Vagrant Story," "Final Fantasy III," and "Final Fantasy XII." Yoshida prefers creating art he personally enjoys, often drawing inspiration from movies, comics, and books rather than other video games. His work is noted for its blend of traditional and Western influences, making it distinct in the video game industry.
Disclaimer: All art and illustrations provided in this video are mainly from Square Enix, Akihiko Yoshida.
Music: Final fantasy tactics, ff12 and Vagrant story OST
Video game artworks playlist:
• Japanese Game Art
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#bravelydefault #gameart #gameartist

[@MapleMilk]

STOP! STOP! I CAN'T AFFORD ANY MORE ART BOOKS PLEASE

[@GameArts1]

Haha I can relate.

[@Geneolgia]

There's something so whimsical about Akihiko Yoshida's artstyle I can't put it in words, his artwork tells a whole story by itself by just looking at any of his pieces. My favorite works by him are his illustrations for Bravely Default and Second, I proudly own both artbooks, and I really love the characters he has designed such as Magnolia Arch or Edea Lee.

[@GameArts1]

Exactly. One observation I did not mention in the video was that he kind of seems to favor these ''blonde'/light' hair colors. IIRC he said that Edea was one of his favorite characters in an interview, but I am not 100% sure where I read it.

[@immanisaur]

his art looks like it would fit perfectly in old school fairytale books, like something done by Arthur Rackham

[@imnotpatrick4043]

Akihiko yoshida is my reason I became GBF slaves since he's in charge as art director and all characther design are inspired by his art

[@ARDIZsq]

Akihiko Yoshida's art has a very unique appeal to it that I can't really explain. I remember going into Kmart one day many many years ago and looking at the 3DS games. Bravely Default's cover just stood out so much to me (the black cover), and I would just stare at it in what I can only describe as wonder and awe. I ended up getting the game, and despite not knowing anything about the game and only playing it for about an hour, that cover art still sticks with me for just how strange it makes me feel inside. It's incredible.

[@clichebonaparte2601]

i remember seeing an ad for a bravely default game in an old gaming magazine when i was a kid. i wasn't really into gaming at the time, but i loved art, and i fell in love with how soft and graceful akihiko yoshida's art was. of course, i didn't know who had drawn it at the time, but it stuck with me. years later, it is still a style that captivates me.

[@S_Hyde]

He does mention his love for legs and thighs in the bravely default artwork, I need to buy the one for Bravely second.

[@GameArts1]

Really? Thats pretty cool, except for the buttocks I didnt know that he openly mentioned this.

[@mattc-beam637]

My first and still my greatest art hero. Tnx fr covering.

[@kof3017]

Well, I know the channel and see my 2nd favourite, Yoshida and then my favourite, Amano. ACTUALLY in a "normal" world, Yoshida is my favourite, and Amano is just... Amano... A league of his own.

[@SaltedMallows]

Your art appreciation videos in the context of the artist who wants to learn and grow from these works are fantastic. Keep going man.

[@warrenbradford2597]

It is nice to know that he has drawn inspiration from traditional western art to combine it with Eastern influences he has seen in his Japanese manga. Not something I would do as I do not care much for traditional western art, but still. I believe I should take inspiration from his art to develop my own art style.

[@twistedblob4401]

THANKS YOU! for bringing this up, I also want to know more about the other artists have similar artstyle to him too!

[@hansmabini7014]

I love the details in every art style that act almost as their own copywright. Thank you for the video analysis. I personally hope you make an analysis on ryoko kui, creator of dungeon meshi.

[@Clockweiz]

Really like how you put this video together, I've been a longtime fan of Akihiko Yoshida's work and he's a big inspiration for me. Thanks for this! :)

[@immanisaur]

is there really no dedicated art book for his collected works? that's disappointing

[@GameArts1]

It's a bummer indeed. In this case I think it has a lot to do with copyrights etc; Yoshida mainly does game art so there are multiple companies/IP's involved to bundle his works. In case of another artist Like Amano, he mainly did 'Final Fantasy' and a lot of personal art so he has more options to do so. This also counts for Ayami Kojima, artist of Castlevania with many personal works as well.

[@p5rsona]

awesome analysis. he is one of the greatest charcater artists who ever lived. his characters are so full of life and unique, unlike most these days that feel so cheap and uninspired, a blatant copy of many styles. very few in the industry are actual artists, most just technically good.

[@lobstrosity7163]

His a genius. Only he could make the chibi characters of Bravely Default hawt.

[@kairoGC]

This guy is an art god, what he did with Tsubasa Masao on Tactics Ogre is incredible.

[@nightynightlayla374]

I love his artwork. It’s always eye catching to me.

[@Bismaper]

THIS IS THE THING I LONG FORR, YEAHHHH. THANK YOUU

[@nightynightlayla374]

You did well job making this video. You made it interesting to watch through the whole thing. Your appreciation is evident.

[@GameArts1]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@HandleToBeDetermined]

I like his bowling pin Chibi designs

[@NikoCat11]

Great video! A video about Yoshida san was exactly what I needed for inspiration right now, I didn't know, so thanks!

[@katlafae9487]

What about yasuomi umetsu for an advice on who to do next

[@bluespark777]

Holy heck its so good, im like really inspired

[@ketanvirbhadre1634]

How about a shirow miwa video ?

[@GameArts1]

Thanks for the suggestion, I dont know when I have a slot in my poll but I'll add him to the artist request list.

[@Miraihi]

Akihiro Yoshida is truly the master of the craft! I think another JRPG artist you should touch upon is Takehito Harada (Disgaea series).

[@GameArts1]

That's a great suggestion, I will definitely add him into the artist poll someday.

[@Cheezy_UNI]

I know your channel namesake is Game arts but I'd LOVE to also see video essays from you on the JP Light novel artists like BUNBUN/abec etc.. that also had big influences. VN artists like Orion or famous Anime character designers/adapters like Shingo Adachi.

[@GameArts1]

Hey Cheezy, thanks for interesting suggestions. I did add them to my request list but atm the artist choice polls are quite filled for a while.

[@Cheezy_UNI]

@@GameArts1 I look forward to whatever you put out! Cheers

[@SamyrahDeSouza]

Day one of asking for Tsukuda Yuuto

[@NothingHereForYou]

Hey I just discovered your channel so I don’t know if you’ve done videos on these yet, but I’d love to see one on the artists behind Panzer Dragoon or mega man zero

[@GameArts1]

Hey NHFY, I did a video about megaman artists, but not the zero games. Actually I did plan to do this, but from the two video's I already made the spin-off titles didn't do so well, and I have only x amount of time to work on YT. Unfortunately, at the moment there are no plans for me to do so.

[@voyager161]

12:08 Oh damn, man! And you forgot about the most valuable source of inspiration, the real life man! How could you?!

[@uberartist538]

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 I really love his style and want to draw my manga in similar to his style

[@GameArts1]

Niceee, you're on fire with your art so keep it up!

[@osricen]

I vote for him for the next Real Life art director.

[@rianobagaskara7487]

Do you know akihiko's coworker minaba hideo?

[@LutherTaylor]

HIDDEN???? MISUNDERSTOOD!??? BI *voice cuts off*

[@BETTERTHANYOULOLZ]

Can you make a video on BlazBlue? Central fiction has some of the best artwork I’ve seen in fighting games

[@GameArts1]

Thanks for the suggestion. Actually BlazBlue was on my list, but atm I focus more on individual artist as many 'game art' vids of mine don't seem to get much views in comparison. (and sadly YT is a numbers game if you want to grow.)

[@BETTERTHANYOULOLZ]

@@GameArts1 well these vids are pretty cool anyway keep it up 👍

[@SerranoSalazar]

So, we can say he works his drawing's asses off?

[@roachey]

8:20 is this one his too? I've been trying to figure out for a while.

[@GameArts1]

Yes, it's the top part of the large ff14 job wheel image of 8:23, where you can see his signature on the lower right side.

[@aliyutube]

can u review shinichi sakamoto

[@GameArts1]

Thanks for the suggestion, I added him to the list. I don't know in which artist choice poll he'll be shown, but he will get a spot.

[@zeallexandre]

"Hidden"

[@Gacktmoreaux]

his art is being mistaken for other artists,,, BECAUSE THEY COPIED HIM!!!!!!

[@flavorgod]

Have you watched Maquia?

[@GameArts1]

100% Actually, I watched it soon after I confirmed Yoshida was involved. Aside from that, I really liked the movie.

[@flavorgod]

@@GameArts1 is Maquia the only animated work with Yoshida's character designs?

[@JoJoboiWav]

@@flavorgod yea

[@tacticslc4805]

@@flavorgod I guess you could count Nier automata anime

[@GameArts1]

@@flavorgod This is all I could find from the Japanese Wiki: Films Ise Jingu Shrine 62nd Ceremony New Year's Relocation Commemorative Video (Art Direction) Movie "Let's Hold the Promised Flower in the Morning of Goodbye" (Character Draft) Anime "OBSOLETE" (character design)

[@MFDOOOOM]

You should consider getting a better mic, its dragging the great content of the vids down a lot.

[@GameArts1]

Is it that bad? On what device are you tuning in? (Just curious because I check my sound on phone, television and laptop) and It's not studio quality but then again, I don't have a studio haha.

[@MFDOOOOM]

@@GameArts1 I mean, it's not terrible, but it's also not great either. What I mean is, check out the sound on some other high quality youtubers it will sound much fuller, yours has a slight tinny and echo effect which is common on a lot of bad mics. It's perfectly listenable btw I was just suggesting because it could be improved a lot, even with a cheap entry level proper mic.

[@pookyslickvoodoo9933]

I recommend a yeti mic. Fairly economical price wise and decent sound quality.

[@GameArts1]

​@@MFDOOOOM Thanks for your honesty. the thing is, I already have an HyperX (very popular among Ytubers). I personally think the audo software and settings I use is the bigger issue here/can be improved. But I will test around with it. Personally idc about audio on YT videos (that's also the issue) Because I only listen for the content, but that's just me haha.

[@NasNewComer]

First ig

[@blumiu2426]

The legs or lower body are emphasized if the upper proportions are small. I don't think anime/manga has typical proportions as you'll find just as many smaller cup sizes. It sometimes depends and in Japan, the chest is going to be commonly the proportion that will be prominent with their women. He emphasizes curves and proportions yet never to any great extent. Just enough you get the suggestion and it's sultry, not erotic. His chibis are cute as their whole form becomes the emphasis.