Akihiro Yamada (山田 章博 Yamada Akihiro?) is a Japanese illustrator and manga artist. Mostly known by Castlevania fans due to his work as the character designer and illustrator for Castlevania: Dracula X for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Portfolio
Among his known works, some of the most known outside Japan are his illustrations of Fuyumi Ono's long-running The Twelve Kingdoms light novel series, and the manga Record of Lodoss War: The Lady of Pharis, who he made in conjunction with writer Ryo Mizuno.
He has also worked as a designer for several video games, being very prolific during the 90's. A sort list of them includes:
- Black Rainbow (PC-98) [1990] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Black Rainbow II (PC-98) [1992] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (PC Engine) [1993] - Cover Art (Japanese Ver.)
- Ancient Magic (Super Famicom) [1993] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Gaiapolis (arcade) [1993] - Promotional Art
- Wizardry I・II (PC Engine) [1993] - Cover Art
- Wizardry III・IV (PC Engine) [1994] - Cover Art
- Kingdom Grand Prix (arcade, Sega Saturn) [1994/1995] - Cover Art (Sega Saturn release), Character Designer
- Mystic Ark (Super Famicom) [1995] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Castlevania: Dracula X (Super Famicom) [1995] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Terra Phantastica (Sega Saturn) [1996] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Milandra (Super Famicom) [1997] - Cover Art
- Front Mission 3 (PlayStation) [1999] - Character Designer
- Mystic Ark (PlayStation) [1999]] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Meremanoid (PlayStation) [1999] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Saiyuki: Journey West (PlayStation) [1999] - Cover Art, Character Designer
- Fire Emblem Heroes (Android, iOS) [2017] - Character Designer (Jagen, Ogma, Zephiel, Gunter)
Further reading
- Yamada, Akihiro. Fantasy Art Works. Tokyo: Soft Bank Publishing, 2006.
- Yamada, Akihiro. A Collection of Paintings. Tokyo: Chuoukouron Shin Sha, 2004.
- Yamada, Akihiro. Souvenir. Tokyo: Nihon Editors, 2004.
- Yamada, Akihiro. RahXephon Artworks. Tokyo: Soft Bank Publishing, 2003.
- Yamada, Akihiro. Mystic Ark Art Works. Japan, 2000.