I agree. I'm convinced anime's had at least some subconscious effect on 3e-5e since it became influential on nerd culture in the 90s, but I can't find any clear examples. The dramatic poses of the characters in the art seem more and more animesque at least (rather than, say, Frazetta).I would buy an English version with that art in a heartbeat.
5E characters are so over the top powerful, I think an anime aesthetic fits perfectly.
The definition may be outdated.I don't think so. Otaku, by definition, don't play TTRPGs, particularly not in Japan.
Omg, I love this so much!
I like a fair amount of anime (mostly from the 80s-00s cause I'm old), but totally agree with you that I view D&D through a JRPG lens. I'd buy books with this artwork for D&D in a heartbeat.I'm like the opposite: I dislike most anime and manga, but to me D&D is exactly this: the tabletop version of Final Fantasy/Dragonquest/Shin Megami Tensei!
I knew the Record of the Lodoss War anime was based on a real D&D campaign in Japan but I'm surprised to see just how closely some of the character designs of the show match the style of these player class archetypes.
To be fair to Lodoss: These are the Japanese editions of the Rules Cyclopedia, and Lodoss was ALREADY A THING in Japan by the time these were released.I know, right? When I saw the elf design I thought "Deedlit!"
The ad was fun. I liked the bit "You're still wearing your costume?" "It's cool, alright?"