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| Hungrywolf 1376th Post
 
Red Carpet Executive Member
   
    
    
    
|  "Re(2):Masami Obari fianlly did it"
, posted Fri 16 Aug 14:19
quote:
Guys, do you know Hentai anime names!!
Um, like La Blue Girl, Lady Blue, New Angel, Twin Angels, etc. I know the names, but I couldn't tell you much about them. I don't watch them. But I have to say, Obari does love to put in those shower scenes and fanservice, so it was only a matter of time, I guess.
Hungry Like the Wolf
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| Dash no Chris
11th Post
New Customer
| "Re(9):Masami Obari fianlly did it" , posted Mon 19 Aug 15:19
quote:
I don't like his rendition of the ToShinDen characters, personally... specially compared to Tsukasa Kotobuki's designs...
nope, he's not my type of artist...
Don't blame Oobari for the Toshinden anime character designs. Two other fellows handled the Animation Character Design chores for that project. See the following:
Toshinden, Episode 1
Storyboards: Oobari Masami
Production: Oobari Masami
Director: Oobari Masami
Original Character Designs: Kotobuki Tsukasa
Costume Designs: Kotobuki Tsukasa
Animation Character Designs: Nakazawa Kazuto
Art Director: Nakazawa Kazuto
Artist: Nakazawa Kazuto
Artist: Yamane Masahiro
Toshinden, Episode 2
Storyboards: Fukuda Michio
Production: Matsui Hitoyuki
Director: Oobari Masami
Original Character Designs: Kotobuki Tsukasa
Costume Designs: Kotobuki Tsukasa
Animation Character Designs: Nakazawa Kazuto & Yamane Masahiro
Art Director: Yamane Masahiro
Artist: Nakazawa Kazuto
I had the opportunity to meet Kotobuki Tsukasa at Anime Expo a few years ago, and I asked him about his character design work for anime projects (both in general, and regarding the Toshinden anime in particular).
His answer confirmed what I had long suspected: His illustrations and character designs are too detailed to make good character design models for animation artists.
Therefore, when he works as a Character Designer for an anime, the production team will include an "Animation Character Designer" to simplify (or as I prefer to say "dummy down") the original character designs into something the animation artists can use as a basis for their work. To what degree the Animation Character Designs resemble the Original Character Designs depends primarily on the person(s) hired to be the Animation Character Designer(s), and on the supervisor to whom they answer.
Kotobuki Tsukasa has been an Original Character Designer for two other major anime titles: Saber Marionette J (he'd been the artist for the SMJ stories in the Japanese "Dragon Magazine" for years before the anime became a reality) and VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire. In both cases, his Original Character Designs were reworked for the animation artists by an Animation Character Designer (Shimamura Shuuichi on Saber Marionette J, and Kuroda Kazuya* on VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire).
* Kuroda Kazuya most recently worked as Animation Character Designer for "Vandread the 2nd Stage" (reworking the designs of that series' Original Character Designer, Ino'ue Sora).
The main difference between these 2 anime series and the Toshinden anime, is that the overall look, tone, and story of Toshinden was much darker (SMJ & Versus Knight are both comedies with some periodic dramatic elements). This dark tone may have been the reason that Nakazawa & Yamane did (or were told to do) what they did with Kotobuki's original character designs. Kotobuki's style (especially facially) leans a little further away from realism and more toward caricature than Nakazawa's & Yamane's. Therefore, the decision may have been "let's use the original character designer, and even have him design the new versions of the costumes, but let's get a couple of guys with more animation experience than Kotobuki to rework the designs so they're a little easier for the artists to use and so they'll fit a little better with the overall tone of the project."
=================================
And now, for the more hardcore of the anime fans:
Nakazawa Kazuto (Toshinden's animation character designer (eps.1-2) and art director (ep.1 only))
Nakazawa Kazuto's other projects include:
Star Breaker (PC Engine game) - Character Designer
Uchuu Senkan Yamamoto Youko* (anime) - Character Designer
Kurogane Communication (anime) - Art Director (eps. 5&6)
Shinpi no Sekai El-Hazard** (anime) - Character Designer, Chief Art Director
* aka, Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko
** the first 7-ep El-Hazard OAV series, aka El-Hazard, The Magnificient World
He also drew the cover illustration for this Japanese Dungeons & Dragons DM's Screen:
http://www.mediaworks.co.jp/dengeki_c/books/items/304421.html
=================================
Yamane Masahiro (Toshinden's animation character designer (ep.2 only) and art director (ep.2 only))
Yamane Masahiro's other projects also include:
Magic Knights Rayearth (anime) - Monster Designer, Monster Art Director (eps. 25, 35, 38, 44, & 49), Artist (for 5 of the OP/ED sequences & 3 eps.)
Den'nou Tenshi Voogie's Angel (anime) - Mechanical Art Director (ep. 1)
Gasaraki (anime) - Mechanical Art Director (ep. 3)
Yuushaou Gaogaigar* (anime) - Art Director
Yuushaou Gaogaigar FINAL (anime) - Art Director
BETTERMAN (anime) - Art Director, Mechanic Master
Brigadoon -Marin to Meran- (anime) - Chief Art Director
Ginsou Kikou Ordian** (anime) - Art Director (ep. 16)
Cyber Formula (anime) - Art Director
Vampire Princess Miyu (anime) - Artist (OP sequence)
Adventure! Iczer-3 (anime) - Artist (eps. 1&3)
Bubble Gum Crisis (anime) - Artist (ep. 6)
Detonator Orgunn (anime) - Artist (eps. 2&3)
Battle Fighters Garou Densetsu*** (anime) - Artist
VIRUS (anime) - Artist (OP sequence, eps. 1, 2, 9, & 12)
Shamanic Princess (anime) - Artist (ep. 2)
Chikyuu Bouei Kigyou Dai-Guard**** (anime) - Artist (ep. 26)
* aka, The King of Braves Gaogaigar
** aka, Platinum Hugen Ordian
*** aka, Fatal Fury (first film in the series)
**** aka, Earth Defense Corp. Dai-Guard
Note that Yamane has worked with Oobari on a number of his (Oobari's) productions (VIRUS, Voogie's Angel, Ordian, Orgunn, Garou Densetsu, Bubble Gum Crisis, etc.)
=================================
Fukuda Michio (Toshinden's storyboard artist (ep.2 only))
Fukuda Michio is no stranger to the other, aforementioned Toshinden staffers. He has also worked on Storyboards for Uchuu Senkan Yamamoto Youko, Shamanic Princess, and Mahou Senshi Louie (aka, Rune Soldiers).
--Chris
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| Dash no Chris
12th Post
New Customer
| "Re(10):Masami Obari fianlly did it" , posted Mon 19 Aug 20:03
quote:
 so I guess Im the only Masami fan
Count me in with the Oobari fans, too, Raven. I agree with Dorikyasu, though, with regards to Oobari's style being something of an acquired taste. Most folks I've met either like it or hate it.
As an Oobari fan, tho, I think you'll enjoy Angel Blade. He parodies alot of his own characters from his earlier works (primarily Gowcaizer), and the series seems at times to be an homage to some of Nagai Gou's creations (most notably Kekkou Kamen).
There're some images (and a 60-second video clip) available at the official website.
*** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING ***
The following link leads to the website of Japan Video Distribution Co., Ltd's adult anime label, Vanilla. This website contains images of a graphic adult nature. Do not follow this link unless you are both unoffended by such material and are legally permitted by the laws of your country to view material of this nature.
*** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING ***
Then again, if you fit the above description, what are you doing reading a post about hentai anime? Anyway, here's the website link, followed by the video clip link:
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/angel.html
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/angel_m.html
The images above the first English-language "ORDER" link come from Angel Blade Vol. 2. All images below this section come from Angel Blade Vol. 1. The series is slated for a total of 3 volumes:
Angel Blade Vol. 1
JVDW-45B, 7350 yen (boxed version)
JVDW-45, 7140 yen (normal version)
12/14/2001
Angel Blade Vol. 2
JVDW-46, 7140 yen
7/5/2002
Angel Blade Vol. 3
JVDW-47, 7140 yen
(release date not yet announced)
The following applies to all 3 vols.:
30 mins. each
Japanese language only (no subtitles)
Standard (4:3) image
1 single-sided Region-2 DVD
Keepcase packaging
The boxed version of Vol. 1 comes with the first DVD in the series and an illustrated cardboard box to hold all 3 vols. This version of Vol. 1 is now sold out in Japan.
The first ep didn't have an Opening credit sequence, but it was available on Vol. 1 in the Special Features section. Vols. 1&2 both included advertisements for other Vanilla titles and Angel Blade character design sketch collections in their Special Features sections.
The Opening credit sequence has a 90-second running time. 30 seconds of this was edited out in order to make the 60-second internet promotion movie accessed via the link provided above. The missing footage consists primarily of some establishing shots of City Number 96 (the setting for the story of Angel Blade) at the very beginning of the Opening sequence, and a section from the middle of the Opening which depicts the transformation sequence of a character not depicted on the official website (more on that character below).
*** CHARACTERS ***
*** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING ***
I've provided links to specific images from the above-linked website, for ease in matching character descriptions to character images. Once again, these are images of a graphic adult nature. Do not follow these links unless you are both unoffended by such material and are legally permitted by the laws of your country to view material of this nature.
*** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING ***
=======================================
Moena / Angel Blade
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/angel_ba.gif
on the cover of Vol.2 (Moena & Angel Blade)
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/angel2_2.gif
upper screenshot (Moena in the background)
lower screenshot (Angel Blade w/Motoblader)
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/blade.gif
(Angel Blade)
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/45B.gif
on the cover of the boxed Vol.1 (Angel Blade)
Moena is the main character, a young Japanese girl with the ability to transform into the so-called "Goddess of Justice," Angel Blade (an ability Moena doesn't know she possesses at the start of the series). Moena transforms with the aid of a large, pink, heart-shaped stone (called the "Angel Heart") hanging from a black leather collar around her neck. The Angel Heart, her sword, and her motorcycle (the "Motoblader," which first appears in ep.2) are very Cutey Honey-esque, while the rest of her costume (what there is of it) and her signature attack technique (a downward sword-stroke performed whilst flipping toward the viewer with legs spread wide) is pure Kekkou Kamen. Her heart-decorated garter stockings, however, should remind all Oobari fans of the Painkiller White variable gear armor worn by Erika in the VIRUS -Virus Buster Serge- tv anime series.
=======================================
Fantom Lady
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/fantom.gif
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/angel2_2.gif
center screenshot (Fantom Lady behind Nailkaizer)
Yes, "phantom" should be spelled with a "ph," but (1) I haven't seen the character's name written in English yet, (2) the picture of her on the official website has the filename "fantom.gif," and (3) I'm a big Steam Detectives fan and Asamiya Kia uses the "f" spelling in the name of that series' main villain "Knight of Fantom" (I don't care what you say, Viz Communications, I think calling him "the Phantom Knight" is boring).
Anyway, Fantom Lady seems to be the highest-ranking member (or at least, one of the highest-ranking members) of Dark Mother, the evil secret organization of the Angel Blade story. The organization's short-term goal at the start of the story is learning the true identity of Angel Blade. It appears that they wish to use the technology that transforms the Angel Heart's wearer into Angel Blade for their own purposes. This technology is referred to alternatively as the "Angel System" or the "Nano-Metalskin Power-Enhancer System." Again, similar to the way in which the Panther Claw organization sought the molecular reassembly technology created by Professor Kisaragi in the Cutey Honey series.
=======================================
Nailkaizer
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/nail.gif
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/angel2_2.gif
center screenshot (Nailkaizer in front of Fantom Lady)
The first of Fantom Lady's 3 top operatives encountered by Angel Blade. Nailkaizer is an obvious parody of Necrokaizer, a Gowcaizer character that appeared only in 2 minutes of animation made specifically for Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer -International Edition- (the movie-compilation of the 3-ep Gowcaizer video series) and in the 3-vol. drama CD series that went on sale in Japan just prior to the release of the Gowcaizer anime series. Several aspects of her character design also echo elements of CAPCOM's succubus, Morrigan. As shown in the above-linked image, Nailkaizer does periodically have... "extra bits" (Fantom Lady and Chloe (see below) also display the ability to have "extra bits" when they want, in ep.2).
=======================================
Chloe
(not depicted on this page)
The second of Fantom Lady's 3 top agents, Chloe has a fur-lined costume, a pair of curled horns growing from either side of her head, and a slightly bestial look to her.
=======================================
Elena
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/angel2_3.gif
background character
The third of Fantom Lady's 3 top agents, Elena wears a military uniform and an eye patch.
To me, Chloe and Elena are somewhat reminiscient of the supporting villains from such Nagai Gou works as Mazinger Z.
=======================================
Fudou Ayame
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/ayame.gif
Publicly, this character is a member of City Number 96's law enforcement agency. However, she spends the second half of ep.1 investigating the Dark Mother organization in the guise of a red-(scantily-)clad, masked ninja (she's lost both the mask and most of her costume in the above-linked pic, however). Ayame's ninja character design is an obvious reference to SNK's Shiranui Mai. Her police uniform is not unlike those seen is the VIRUS -Virus Buster Serge- tv anime series.
=======================================
???
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/angel2_5.gif
This is Ayame's partner, and at the moment I can't recall her name. Anyway, Ayame had a difficult time of it in ep.1, and - as shown in this pic - her partner doesn't fare much better in ep.2 (that's Chloe behind her, btw).
=======================================
Karen
http://www.jvd.ne.jp/vanilla/vanilla_images/Angel%20Blade/karen.gif
Karen is this series' parody of Karin, the female Son Gokuu from Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer. Karen appears only briefly in eps. 1&2, and she is usually seen lurking in the shadows, observing events, and keeping tabs on just about all the other cast members. At this point her motivations, loyalties, and identity are unknown. [Look closely at this pic - who's standing atop the church steeple directly behind Karen's left shoulder? ...hmmm....]
=======================================
Shaia
(not depicted on this page)
So far, we've only seen Shaia briefly in ep.1, and then again in the first part of ep.2. She appears to be a normal person, wearing no super-hero/-villain costume (her t-shirt has the phrase "NEO" printed across it). I might not suspect her of having a super-identity if it weren't for the fact that there is another superheroine in the opening sequence that is an obvious parody of Shaia from Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer. She is glimpsed in ep.1 of Angel Blade as a singing star, performing on electronic animated billboards in several cityscape scenes. Her transformation scene is shown in the opening animation sequence, and it comprises most of the 30 seconds that were removed to make the 60-second internet promotional vidclip linked above. At the end of her transformation scene, a robot sidekick appears next to her (a somewhat angular redesign of Ballboy from Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer).
=======================================
Kyouko
(not depicted on this page)
The ridiculously buxom owner of the restaurant where the main character Moena works part-time. In ep.2 we learn that she has a connection to a man who appears to be the creator of the Angel System.
=======================================
? Neko-kaizer girls ?
(not depicted on this page)
I don't know what these 2 girls are really called (heck, I don't know if they'll appear in the series at all), but I'm temporarily referring to them this way because their black Angel Blade-style costumes have cat (neko) ears and tails, and it makes a bad pun out of Necrokaizer's name (I'm a big fan of both Necrokaizer and bad puns). So far, these girls appear in only a split-second of animation in the opening sequence (and in the 60-second internet promotional vidclip). Just before the halfway point in the vidclip, Moena leaps into the air to begin her transformation into Angel Blade. Before the transformation begins, however, several still images flash by in the space of a few seconds. One of the last of these images is the 2 "neko-kaizer girls." If you pause the playback at this point of the vidclip and move the slider control in small increments, you can find this particular frame.
At this point we don't know anything about them:
- will they appear in the show?
- if they do, are they girls we've already met?
- are there actually 2 of them, or does this picture shown 1 girl in two poses?
- if this is only 1 girl, could she turn out to be Moena's best friend (her name escapes me at the moment) - the neko-kaiser girls are somewhat flat-chested, like Moena's friend who complains about her lack of development to Kyouko in ep.1
--Chris
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| Dash no Chris
14th Post
New Customer
| "Re(2):Re(10):Masami Obari fianlly did it" , posted Wed 21 Aug 09:23
quote:
so I guess Im the only Masami fan
Worry not, there's another fan here as well!
There's a picture of Iori he drew (with Mai and Terry) that I particularly enjoy. I like the feel of his character design.. it's refreshing.. but it is a love or hate deal...
The complaint that I have most heard is "everyone looks so feminine!". Ah, well.
That's the most commonly-heard what's-the-deal-with-Oobari comment around here, too. Quite frankly, his male character design style has been getting "prettier" over the last several years. Every so often, (especially with the female characters) he hits an eye-to-face size ratio that for some reason strikes me as... insect-like. I dunno. Still dig his stuff, tho.
Hey, Dr. Orochi -- I've been rooting thru my books that either collect or feature Oobari's work, and I've yet to locate the Iori-Mai-Terry pic you're describing. Could you tell me where this was published, or perhaps provide a link to a site that hosts the image? Thanks in advance!
--Chris
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"Re(6):Masami Obari fianlly did it" 
"Re(10):Masami Obari fianlly did it" 