Would you hold it against a book if...

[haiiro]

For D&D books: for the most part, I think what you're referring to as "anime style art" is the over-the-top stuff; this wouldn't work at all for me in a D&D book, but it probably wouldn't keep me from buying it. On the other hand, someone like Otomo Katsuhiro -- who uses a more realistic style in his manga and anime -- would be great for D&D books, IMO.

I like it when the art in D&D books can be easily adapted to (and provide inspiration for) what I visualize in my head when I'm planning for/playing in a game. Most anime-style artwork doesn't fit this mold for me.

For non-D&D RPGs: as long as it fits the overall theme and tone of the game/setting, any artistic style can be successful in an RPG book. I still prefer things that I can visualize and describe easily in different situations, but I think anime-style art can work very well for some games.

Edit: clarification.

 

[Pazu]

Watched it only the other day ... legend of the big **** ... anyay, I would call it cutesy, remember the little boggley eyed thing that flew around with the borther and sister? Cutesy!

I'm not sure whether to be disturbed or relieved that that's all you got out of watching Urotsukidoji.

-- Pazu

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

This is just a general question, but would you hold is against a book and the publisher who printed it if it had anime style art in it? I have several members of my site who staunchly believe it wouldn't affect the popularity of a book while I believe that using anime style art for a book that isn't specifically about an anime RPG would probably be disastrous.

I'd probably see it, assume it's an Anime game like BESM and pass on it. I have liked a few anime flicks but the majority of it turns me off. The art style and genre conventions aren't my thing. Fantasy anime is a really large turn off for me as well.

Akira & Ghost in the Shell were the only two anime flicks that I really liked.

 

[Cassander]

Assuming it was well done and fit the book, I would probably be more likely to purchase the book if it was done in an anime style. Good anime can be exceptionally beautiful and could really make for a nice looking rpg book.

I've found that some of the best Dragonlance art that I've seen, for example, has been done in anime style by a fan.

http://www.dragonlance.com/fan/art/display.asp?id=10524

http://www.dragonlance.com/fan/art/display.asp?id=10808

A little suprised to see the animosity toward anime or manga art, but I guess different people have different tastes. Tony DiTerlizzi is quite popular (I'm a fan myself) and he draws in a very unique and not always photo-real way, so I think you probably can get away with this sort of thing as long as you have a good artist.

 

[Golandrinel]

LOL Pazu ... yeah, the less said the better about it....

Hong, I wasn't trying to be hostile, please don't call me stupid.

 

[HellHound]

I think the real problem is we are not defining anime well enough.

Akira is anime.

Ghost in the Shell.

Not all anime and manga is SailorMoon and Pokemon and shoujou mangas... it also includes some very dark and gritty material, especially in the CyberPunk stuff.

 

[jester47]

Re: Re: totally uncultured dumb question

Art done in the anime style. Or, more properly, manga style.

Like this:

http://www.geocities.com/dragonlance_never/

Ok, that is completely unesscesary! NEVER anime Draonlance... thats like Anime tolkein....

Ok, I concede the hobbit WAS cool.

All the characters are just so skinny. It just does not look serious...


I feel disturbed.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Re: Re: Re: totally uncultured dumb question

Ok, that is completely unesscesary! NEVER anime Draonlance... thats like Anime tolkein....

Ok, I concede the hobbit WAS cool.

All the characters are just so skinny. It just does not look serious...


I feel disturbed.

No doubt! I look at Raistlin and think, "awww he's a cutsy pretty boy who looks kind of girly..." I curse the person who put up that link!

Nooooooooooooooo the image is still in my mind!!!!

Actually the more I think of it I realize that I don't dislike Sci-Fi anime right off the bat like I do fantasy based anime. I guess my view is that it can fit sci-fi stories but I don't think it fits the kind of fantasy stories I like. That dragonlance stuff is definatly not for me.

 

[Oni]

Personally I like a nice mix of art styles in a book, quality and care are more important to me than the particular style. I love the anime style (as broad a catagory as that is), and I love more traditional styles, bring on the variety.


People have called my own drawing style anime (I admit an influece but I wouldn't go that far), and I know I don't typically draw cutesy. Eye of the beholder and all that I suppose.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

I wouldn't hold it against the book. I rather like anime art, and I think it does have a place in RPG art. Kalman Androasofszky's art (Demonblade adventure Dungeon 97, Dragon #298 (drow) and #301 (swashbuckers), probably a few others as well) reminds me very strongly of anime. And I think it added a great deal to those articles and adventures.

If there were an entire book with similar art, provided it was of a subject matter that I was interested in, the art would probably attract me to the book and encourage me to buy it.