Akihiko Yoshida

is a Japanese video game artist. Yoshida was born in 1967 and joined Square in 1995, before the company merged with Enix. He then left Square Enix in September 2013 and became freelance. In October 2014, he became the company director of CyDesignation, a subsidiary of Cygames. He is well known for his work on the Final Fantasy series. He is a frequent collaborator of game designer Yasumi Matsuno.

Biography In 1995, Yoshida joined Square and with each project he took on, he experimented with different styles of graphic design. He has compared his use of color to that of Kingdom Hearts character designer Tetsuya Nomura, and the keeping of color consistent between the characters and the game world. Yoshida set out to create a cast of characters who looked unlike any previous Final Fantasy cast. He also stated that the character reflected what Japanese audiences want, but that they try to design characters everyone likes.

Reception He has been cited as a "fantastic" artist by Kotaku, and his work on Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII was called "brilliant" and "refined" by IGN.

Works Zeliard (1987): Graphic design Faria: A World of Mystery and Danger (1989): Graphic design Musashi no Bouken (1991): Graphic design Ogre Battle (1993): Character design, tarot card design Philip & Marlowe in Bloomland (1994): Graphic design (uncredited) Tactics Ogre (1995): Background art director, character design Final Fantasy Tactics (1997): Background art director, character design Vagrant Story (2000): Background art director, character design Wild Card (2001): Main visual Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003): Artistic supervisor Final Fantasy XII (2006): Background art supervisor, main character design Final Fantasy III (Nintendo DS) (2006): Character design Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (2007): Background art director, character design Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (2007): Artistic supervisor Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System (2007): Background art supervisor, main character design Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (2009): Character design Final Fantasy XIV (2010): Art director, main character design Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (2010): Character design Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (2011): Special thanks Bravely Default: Flying Fairy (2012): Main character design Bravely Default: Praying Brage (2012): Main character design Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (2013): Lead artist, main character design Knights of Glory (2013): Main character design Battle Champs (2015): Main character design Bravely Second: End Layer (2015): Main character design Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward (2015): Main character design Nier: Automata (2017): Main character design Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood (2017): Main character design Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (2017): Promotional illustrator, main character design Lost Order (2017): Art director Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018): Original character design Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers (2019): Main character design Nier Reincarnation (2021): Main character design Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139... (2021): Character illustration Little Noah: Scion of Paradise (2022): Character design Nier Automata ver1.1a (2023): Original character design