#sumieart

Prunier et rossignol

Flower time ♧♧

Sumi-e landscape painted in Procreate from imagination.

Time-lapse under cut

Pokémon Legends Arceus — misinterpreting art direction

By Bri/gobbo

Pokémon legends arceus or PLA for short, came out two years ago (almost now) of January 2022 to much anticipation of long time fans. Many of which being artists (like me) with a compelling premise and enticing story and worldbuilding the game was a hit if you ignore complaints of non fans and snobs.

So… what’s the deal?

Unfortunately as demand and quota rises the need to produce and release content gets worse and worse for the industry as with harsh deadlines, the long time need for quality is cut off by the need for deadlines. Which is why I am at ease to know that we were given the announcement from gamefreak and the Pokémon company that the next game would take two years instead of the short one year delay for the next installment to the main game or side game lines. But I’m not just saying this to fill this with words, my point is to stress the toxic work environment that many people in the industry go through but given this news is an opportunity to look forward to the wellbeing of both the people behind this franchise and game as well as the attention to detail that goes into each release.

Pt II — graphics

My second and main gripe I’ve held is to the complaints of how the game looks. Which I don’t get, it might be because I had only recently taken art history while in college (which I would highly recommend taking because it will change the way you see the world!) or could be wearing “toxic nostalgic lenses” that cloud judgement. This won’t change the fact that I don’t see any story or visual issues with the *look* of the game.

Backgrounds:

From close observation into the textures of the plants and trees in PLA I could tell off the bat that it was meant to resemble or what I theorize to be based on traditional ink painting or Sumi-e. The distinct weight of the leaves and bark may just be standard textures but through a stringent lense you can see the dilution and bleed of line. A lot of landscapes are often a meditation through each stroke of the brush the piece reveals a serene whimsy view.

The Pokémon

“Oh the pokedex should’ve had more style and traditional pieces!” —a exaggeration and summary of what I’ve heard on YouTube who’ve discussed the visuals of PLA

I think in terms of one of the main missions and plot line of PLA is to create the first pokedex! and for something so important to the safety of humans who are coming to settle in Hisui/Sinnoh they need to have access to a book with images as soon as possible with enough for everyone. It makes sense for the Pokémon to look “flat” as there’s one traditional art form that has made the spread of Japanese art possible; woodblock prints or as it’s called:

“Ukiyo-e”

But outside of the pokedex the models of the pokemon are just as good with the same inky look that the backgrounds and game has already!

Also shiny hunting… but I’m getting ahead of myself!

My point for this is simply to not judge and criticize a work without getting a proper understanding of the culture and art history that might’ve gone into the piece!

And it’s also why I’ve been going absolutely feral for PLZA because WERE GETTING KALOS DURING MY FAVORITE PERIOD OF ART AND WRITING HISTORY!!!!

Romantic period and realism!

Which means…

THE OUTFITS ARE GONNA BE GOOOOOD!!!!!

Ibis & Waterlily