Kinu Nishimura (Japanese: 西村 キヌ, Hepburn: Nishimura Kinu) is a Japanese video game and anime concept artist and illustrator. Currently freelance, she is best known for her character design and promotional art for Capcom's fighting games during the 1990s.

Kinu Nishimura
西村 キヌ
Born (1969-10-05) October 5, 1969 (age 55)
Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
OccupationCharacter artist
Years active1991–present
EmployerCapcom (1991–2008)
Notable workCapcom's fighting games[1]

Career

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Kinu Nishimura began working at Capcom when she was recruited by Akiman while studying at Kyoto University of Art and Design in 1991, with her first job being Muscle Bomber,[2] and her first major project for them being character design and illustrations for The King of Dragons. During her time at Capcom, she provided designs and art for many of their games, including the Street Fighter series[3] (working alongside Akiman as the main illustrator for Street Fighter II[4] and as character designer, promotional illustrator, and in-game artist for Street Fighter III and Street Fighter IV). She was the main illustrator (alongside Shinkiro) and promotional illustrator for the crossover games Capcom vs. SNK and Capcom vs. SNK 2, on which she worked for Capcom on SNK's characters.[5] Her other work on Capcom's fighting games included the Darkstalkers series,[6] Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness,[7] and Rival Schools: United by Fate. She has also worked as character designer and/or promotional illustrator on such games as Armored Warriors, Cannon Spike, Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara,[8] Gaia Master,[7] and Tech Romancer.

Despite Nishimura leaving Capcom in 2008,[9] she has continued to work on some of their games as a freelancer, such as Marvel vs. Capcom 3.[1] She also contributed new illustrations to the Street Fighter 25th and 30th anniversary art books[10][11] in which she was featured prominently,[12] and the tie-in art books for Darkstalkers Resurrection (including cover art[13]) and Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara.[14]

Outside of Capcom, she has created character designs for many other games, including the Zero Escape series by Spike Chunsoft[15] (although succeeded by Rui Tomono in Zero Time Dilemma)[16] and Culdcept Revolt by Nippon Ichi Software,[17] many social mobile games,[18] anime TV series, including Overman King Gainer,[19] Overlord,[20] and Sirius the Jaeger,[21] and other productions, such as a stage show Dragon, Dance With Wolves.[22] She was charge of the characters and the game world planning for Agatsuma Entertainment's Code of Princess,[23] of which launch copy includes the bonus disc containing a collection of her art;[24] the game's producer said that he wanted to create a sequel, and that Nishimura had come up with some ideas for one already.[25]

Many of her illustrations have been printed in various Capcom[26][27] and other[28][29] art books, or served as doujinshi covers.[30] Other have been adapted for figurines (including the "Kinu Nishimura Collection" of Capcom vs. SNK 2 characters[31] and a figure collection of the Capcom characters that she had designed, such as Street Fighter's Ibuki[7]),[32][33] posters,[34][35] wall scrolls,[36] and shirts.[37]

Recognition

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She is highly acclaimed and popular, both domestically and abroad.[38][39][40] Kotaku featured her in an article series intended to celebrate the work of video game artists, and called her "one of the most accomplished artists to have ever worked in video games".[1] Her art is one of the two stated main inspirations for the artist Da-kuro from Japanese company Gumi for their games such as Phantom of the Kill.[41] She was also credited by Carlo Arellano, art director of video game Vainglory.[42] The cover of a special edition of UDON's art book The UDON's Art of Capcom is a homage to her cover of Capcom Design Works.[43]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Plunkett, Luke (8 March 2017). "The Kick-Ass Capcom Art of Kinu Nishimura". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  2. ^ "西村キヌ・森気楼 | Kinu Nishimura - Shinkiro". neogeo.freeplaytech.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  3. ^ "P.A.WORKSオリジナルTVアニメ「天狼 Sirius the Jaeger」7月放送スタート". アニメハック (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  4. ^ "スイッチ新作『ウルトラストリートファイターII』発売直前ハンズオン―新キャラや「放て!波Do拳」モードの触り心地は? | インサイド". インサイド (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2017-08-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  5. ^ "Shinkiro and Kinu Nishimura exchanged franchises with each other when their parent companies crossover, Capcom vs. SNK, launched - Full gallery here". EventHubs. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  6. ^ "El Arte de Street Fighter por Kinu Nishimura". www.meristation.com.mx (in Mexican Spanish). 2017-05-15. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15.
  7. ^ a b c "西村キヌ氏監修カプコンフィギュアコレクション第4弾!". www.famitsu.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  8. ^ "西村キヌ氏渾身のデザインで贈るベルトアクションRPG「CODE OF PRINCESS」,アガツマ・エンタテインメントより来春発売" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2017-12-25. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  9. ^ "ペンタブ de コミック広場 - イラストレーターのわ:第二回". 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "『ロックマン』&『ストリートファイター』シリーズの25周年記念画集発売決定!". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  11. ^ "『ストリートファイター』30周年記念本が発売決定、表紙はあきまん氏描き下ろし". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  12. ^ Gamer. "ストリートファイター30周年記念本「ストリートファイター メモリアル・アーカイブ Beyond the World」3月24日発売!". www.gamer.ne.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  13. ^ "『ヴァンパイア』シリーズ設定画や描き下ろしイラストが集結した『ヴァンパイア アートワークス』 が3月14日に発売決定". Famitsu.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  14. ^ "「ダンジョンズ&ドラゴンズ -ミスタラ英雄戦記-」,イーカプコン限定版購入者から抽選で10名に,西村キヌ氏の手がけるポストカードをプレゼント" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  15. ^ "『極限脱出ADV 善人シボウデス』の公式サイト更新、西村キヌ氏のキャラクター制作過程が明らかに". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  16. ^ "待ちに待った! 「ZERO ESCAPE 刻のジレンマ」インタビュー 打越鋼太郎氏の作風に迫る! 発想の秘密は「オカルト好き」にあり". GAME Watch (in Japanese). 2016-06-30. Archived from the original on 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  17. ^ "Culdcept Revolt Recensione 3DS | The Games Machine". The Games Machine (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2017-10-15.
  18. ^ "『戦国BASARA4』、"バサラマガジン"、舞台『戦国BASARA』イベント決定など"バサラ祭2013~春の陣~"新発表総まとめ!". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  19. ^ "キングゲイナー10周年で富野節がさく裂". 東スポWeb - 東京スポーツ新聞社 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  20. ^ "【2018夏アニメ】『オーバーロード』3期に『アンゴルモア元寇合戦記』". ニコニコニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  21. ^ "【イベントレポート】アニメ「天狼」先行上映会、小林裕介「今後ヴァイオリン弾かされるの?」". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  22. ^ "赤澤遼太郎「ノースリーブ羽織は僕の案です!」舞台『龍よ、狼と踊れ~Dragon,Dance with Wolves~』~草莽の死士~開幕直前会見、横田龍儀、安達勇人、鐘ヶ江洸らコメントUP! | スマートボーイズ". sumabo.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  23. ^ "『CODE OF PRINCESS(コード・オブ・プリンセス)』西村キヌ氏デザインによるファンタジーアクション". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  24. ^ "Code of Princess Screenshots And Photos Show Off The Game And Art Booklet". Siliconera. 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Code of Princess producer wants sequel on PS4, Xbox One". destructoid. Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  26. ^ "SF20: The Art of Street Fighter book 30% off". EventHubs. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  27. ^ "ガールズ&ヒーローズ、カプコンカレンダー2012年版予約開始 | レスポンス". Response.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  28. ^ "Dragon's Crown Breathes Fire Onto PS3 and PS Vita". BioGamer Girl. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  29. ^ "富野監督「あれがロボットものか!?」 「キングゲイナー」10周年でスタッフ描きおろしイラストも | アニメ!アニメ!". アニメ!アニメ! (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  30. ^ "はやて×ブレード15巻は日本橋ヨヲコら参加の同人誌付きも - コミックナタリー". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  31. ^ "バストもヒップも日本一~!!フィギュア「西村キヌコレクション不知火舞」8月発売 - 電撃オンライン". dengekionline.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  32. ^ "This Nurse Morrigan statue is the perfect blend of sexy, classy and inspired; check out these new images of this amazing figurine". EventHubs. 24 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  33. ^ "『CODE OF PRINCESS』、ワンダーフェスティバルに出展!". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  34. ^ "ハイスコアガールをあきまん、西村キヌ、剛田チーズが執筆 - コミックナタリー". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-06-18. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  35. ^ "「極限脱出」西村キヌ氏のサイン&イラスト入りポスターをプレゼント" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  36. ^ "『ウルトラストリートファイターIV』タペストリーがプライズに登場、イラストは西村キヌ氏描きおろしの春麗&キャミィ". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2015-08-09. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  37. ^ Mastrapa, Gus. "New Super Street Fighter IV Shirts Draw on Original Concept Art". WIRED. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  38. ^ "原幹恵、男性に裏切られたことはないが「私は冷めやすいので…」 : 映画ニュース". 映画.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  39. ^ Inc., Aetas. "なぜ打越鋼太郎氏は,「ZERO ESCAPE 刻のジレンマ」で"運命の理不尽さ"を描いたのか。その背景と意図に迫る" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2018-07-29. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  40. ^ ""モリガン"のカプコンフィギュアビルダー クリエイターズモデルの彩色原型が公開 西村キヌ氏×濱崎剛氏のタッグにより立体化". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  41. ^ "How Phantom Of The Kill's Artists Turned Weapons Into Characters". Siliconera. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  42. ^ 株式会社インプレス (2018-02-07). "ヒーローはいかにして生まれるか?「Vainglory」アートディレクターCarlo Arellano氏インタビュー". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  43. ^ "Udon Announces 600-Page Art of Capcom: Complete Edition". Siliconera. 4 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
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