Fumikane Shimada

, is an anime and video game illustrator and character designer from Okayama Prefecture.

Biography

Shimada is well known for sparking the mecha shoujo boom of the 2000s with his line of mecha musume illustrations. During this time he provided illustrations for various dōjin and commercial hobbyist magazines some of which were turned into popular figurines and model kits by Toranoana and Konami. Since then, Shimada has worked as a character and mechanical designer for various military-themed anime television series and video games.

In July 2013, Shimada was responsible for designing military recruitment posters and other promotional material for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Art style

Shimada's designs commonly combine bishōjo characters, moe elements, and mechanical systems such as military-style weapons, armor, or vehicles. Some of his most iconic character designs in this style come from the Strike Witches franchise. In it young girls with Kemonomimi use machines that attach to their legs to fly and fight aliens with weapons as part of a military force.

Main works +Commercial magazinesYearTitleRoleReferencesMC AkushizuCover (Vol.1, Vol. 3)Spiegel SeriesIllustration +Figures and Model KitsYearTitleRoleReferencesMecha musumeCharacter designBusou ShinkiCharacter designFrame Arms GirlCharacter designMegami DeviceCharacter design30 Minutes SistersCharacter design +DōjinshiYearTitleRoleReferencesStrike Witches: Witches of Africa (ストライクウィッチーズ アフリカの魔女)Illustrations +Art booksYearTitleRoleReferences島田フミカネ ART WORKS』, published by Kadokawa Group Publishing +CDYearTitleRoleReferencesSenpai mo Kōhai mo Osananajimi mo Tsundere de Nemurenai CD (先輩も後輩も幼なじみもツンデレで眠れないCD) +CardsYearTitleRoleReferencesMCTCG Fairy Lore (MCTCG妖精伝承) +illustration projectYearTitleRoleReferencesBio-station Mars (火星生物局)Original narrative/illustration work