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The
Fighters Generation presents a website exclusive feature: Fighting Game Artist
Profiles! A tribute to the legendary artists and character designers
who have
contributed immeasurably to the success of fighting games. Beginning in the
late 1980's, and for decades to come, the incredibly talented artists
behind fighters blurred the line between "GAME" and "ART".
Developers like Capcom, SNK, Namco, and Arc System Works were able to distinguish themselves,
their games, and their characters... advertising and promoting their
titles primarily through ART. Artwork that defined the rise of
the fighting genre.
Charismatic character illustrations, iconic promo posters, and
beautifully-intricate collages would define the "image" of the early fighting genre... inspiring arcade-goers, gamers at home, future and present game developers (from a variety of genres), and fellow 2D artists alike.
Over 3 decades later... the brilliant illustrators
you'll meet here still play a major and ongoing role in the interest, appreciation, and inspiration behind fighting games and timeless fighting game characters.
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PART I
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PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
PART 4
PART 5 PART 6
PART 7
PART 8
PART 9
PART 10
PART 11 PART
12
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The artists featured here are forever appreciated and credited for creating some of the most impactful and memorable video game illustrations of all time! Right here in TFG's feature, you'll learn about each artist's professional history, background, and art style...
sprinkled with fun facts, social media links, related news, and a sampling of their works!
*Updated often
with new content! (Updated:
6/19/2024)
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| Akiman
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 Born July 21st, 1964, Akira Yasuda works under the pen name "Akiman" and began working for Capcom in 1985.
After illustrating characters in 1989's Final Fight, Akiman started working on the Street Fighter 2 series and soon became one of the most influential fighting game
designers of all time. Akiman has created iconic characters and artwork
for some of Capcom's most well-known and influential titles, including: Street Fighter Alpha, Street
Fighter 2, Street Fighter III, Final Fight, Warzard, Star
Gladiator, Power Stone, and Captain Commando.
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Social Media Links:
Twitter: @akiman7
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In addition to bringing life to many Capcom characters, Akiman was also involved
with working on anime such as Gundam
and Overman King Gainer. He left Capcom in 2003 and started
working as a freelance artist (but eventually returned to work on future Capcom games). He also appeared in the
Initial D live action movie as a Red Suns Member and in Tomie:
Rebirth as Waiter.
Akiman invested heavily in the growth of his successors, making
significant contributions to Capcom's graphics and animation patterns. Akiman was responsible for editing Capcom's
Street Fighter
Anatomy
Reference Guide, which was used to teach other Capcom artists since
the mid 1990's. He currently works
as a freelance illustrator, character and mechanical designer, and as a
manga artist. Here's a must-watch mini-documentary about Akira Yasuda,
below!
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| Bengus (AKA
CRMK)
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Bengus began working for Capcom as an illustrator and character designer
since the beginning of the Street Fighter series (1987). Bengus played a
huge role in designing the original Street Fighter cast, along with the Darkstalkers cast.
Bengus's influential character designs and illustrations quickly became iconic, defining Capcom's recognizable art style. Bengus drew characters with disproportionately
large, defined muscles and big hands & feet —
purposefully designed to be clear and easy to see onscreen. This visual style was a distinguishable aspect of Capcom's most defining 2D and 3D fighting games. Over the years, Bengus has demonstrated that he can also draw in other
more " realistic" and "anime" styles.
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Social Media Links:
Twitter: @bengasu
TFG
News Links:
(February
2023): "Street Fighter V Climax Arts + Zero to 6" Releasing
February 2023
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In addition to working on a wide variety of Street Fighter and Darkstalkers games, Bengus is also known for his work on titles such as: Star
Gladiator / Plasma Sword, X-Men Vs. Street Fighter, MSH Vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Vs. Capcom, Final Fight 3, Alien Vs. Predator, Power Stone, Red Earth, Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara, Onimusha, and Devil May Cry 5. More recently, Bengus worked on Street Fighter V's story artwork & promotional posters.
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Popular comic book artists
such as Joe Maduera, Jeff Matsuda and Humberto Ramos have also borrowed
from Bengus' style. Professional illustrators Jason and Heather Martin
have stated that Akiman and Bengus are some of their biggest influences.
The artists at UDON Comics also model the Street Fighter characters closely to
how Bengus drew them in his prime. Bengus is, without a doubt, one of
the most influential video game artists of all time... and an absolute LEGEND! Capcom fighting games simply wouldn't
have been as huge of a success without the direction of Bengus.
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