Find the Anime Challenge

[AllisterH]

Come to think of it, I don't recall many "action" shots in 2nd edition. Lots of pre/post battle posing, or just generally scoping out the background, but not a lot of pictures of characters springing into action.

Did Caldwell, Elmore, Easley or Parkinson do action shots a la WAR in 2E? Seriously, ask people the 10 greatest art pieces in 2E, I wouldn't be surprised if that list is heavily slanted to "environment pictures or "after the fact"

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Huh?

Can't say that I think it is important... There are a huge variety of ways things get colored in anime

Nope. Animation requires hard lines between areas of different colour, especially when it comes to shadows, nothing like the smooth gradation evident in that picture.

The face also has nothing in common with anime or manga faces, apart from large eyes - are Gelflings "anime"?

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Hell, the Gelflings' noses make them look more like anime characters in 3D, though it's offset by their larger and more-detailed mouths.

 

[schporto]

Part of me feels the opposite challenge would be met with similar silliness. Find me an image that has NO anime influence what so ever in any 3e product. I think just about every image could be argued has _some_ anime influence. Even some tiny part. The sword is too big, the armor spikes, something.
And as I'd be the judge, I'll be right.
-cpd

 

[Dinkeldog]

Let's get this party started!

From the Eberron Campaign Setting:

From Magic of Incarnum:

I would call that American comic book art inspired, actually. I'm not seeing the usual disproportion between body parts.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Did Caldwell, Elmore, Easley or Parkinson do action shots a la WAR in 2E? Seriously, ask people the 10 greatest art pieces in 2E, I wouldn't be surprised if that list is heavily slanted to "environment pictures or "after the fact"

I'm not a 100% sure about the chronology of some of them, but there you go...

Of course, they are not quite as "in your face" as the Reynolds action shots, and they are a bit lighter on screaming and shouting faces, and of course they did enough "stills" as well...but there was more than enough action in earlier editions, too.

 

[Klaus]

You've posted 6 pictures and managed to find 3 of my all-time favorites (dracolich, white dragon vs. iceboats and sword vs. staff... specially the last one).

 

[Mad Mac]

I'm not a 100% sure about the chronology of some of them, but there you go...

Oi, that brings me back...shows how much times have changed, though. Looking at the Fighter and Wizard designs in the first two pics, for instance...you saw designs like that all the time in the 80's and early 90's, but you just don't get as many Gandalf clones or horned helmets these days. Not to mention all the skin and impractical armor on that fighter.

Really I'm starting to think it's more a matter of art in general changing over the decades, anime influence or not. The last two pics are the best of the bunch, I think.

 

[Klaus]

Oi, that brings me back...shows how much times have changed, though. Looking at the Fighter and Wizard designs in the first two pics, for instance...you saw designs like that all the time in the 80's and early 90's, but you just don't get as many Gandalf clones or horned helmets these days. Not to mention all the skin and impractical armor on that fighter.

Really I'm starting to think it's more a matter of art in general changing over the decades, anime influence or not. The last two pics are the best of the bunch, I think.

Gandalf-clone aside, the first picture has an amazing outfit for that female magic-user, the dracolich is superb, the fighter is in a very good plate mail and the overall composition is top-notch.

 

[Cadfan]

I asked a friend of mine who is into both comic books and anime to take a look at this thread. I didn't tell her my opinions.

She is of the opinion that none of Wayne Reynold's art seems anime. She labeled it comic book styled.

She couldn't give a crap about anime influences in D&D, or even D&D itself, and has no preference between the anime and western art. I consider her objective.