Love 'em or hate 'em Japanese Anime and Manga are here to stay. We Americans tend to think of ourselves as
innovators and inventors. While it is
true that American artists and writers created what is referred to as modern
comic books and animated films and shorts, it took the Japanese to turn both on
their collective ears.Ironically two art forms that were introduced to the Japanese after their surrender in WWII would be conquered by talented Japanese artists and writers. Even more amazing is the fact that Anime and Manga have influenced, reshaped and revolutionized American animation, video games and sequential art.
It's easy to spot the changes in the way animated TV shows, movies, video games and comic books are being created. With more attention given to detail, movement, emotion and visual atmosphere it has transformed simple 'funny cartoons' into works of art.
In Heroes & Heroines: Japanese Videogame And Animation Illustration, publisher PIE International showcases the very best character art from Japan's best artists. Incredibly diverse in styles each page bursts with close-ups, stagnant and action poses, clothing and weapon designs and much more.
You can literally spend hours looking through its pages and marvel at the technical and creative brilliance it took to create each and every illustration.