Part 37: Okami Artbook 1
Gossip Logs - A collection of images regarding the lives of people before and after the events of Okami.
The Warriors of the Village of Wind
The Eight Pups of Virtue.
Embraced by a love deeper than the sea
For every life that is lost, a new one is brought into the world.
The Race for Number One
Tobi and the Imps playing
A new King of Hole Diggers is born
An adult Mushi and Hayabusa, contend with Hayabusa's pups and...wait a sec...who is...
Reincarnation
Rao is at last, at peace.
Children will climb
Issun's first meeting with the tribe of Kamui village.
The One shed from the Moon
Kaygua is found by Mr Bamboo and the late Mrs Bamboo (it's the only image of her).
A New Great Swordsman is Born
Why it's the son of Susano and Kushi, Kuninushi, training with his father. If you look closely, you can see Mr and Mrs Orange hanging out their laundry in the background.
Cut Content
Kuninushi
Artist's Notes posted:
This character was set to make an appearance in the ending, so I drew him thinking that he couldn't possibly be dropped. With that assumpion in mind, I even had Hattori, from the 3D modelling department render him in 3D.
Of course, the ending was changed, and Kuninushi was no longer needed, but I decided to include him in the ending illustrations to make up for all the work that went into him.
Kuninushi reappears in Okamiden. Looks like they found a use for the model after all. His name is derived from Ōkuninushi - a god of nation-building, farming, business, and medicine. He is also a descendent of Susano, fitting into the Okamiden story.
Five-Headed Dragon
Artist's Notes posted:
One of the apparitions that was dropped from the game. I think it is a dragon design befitting of Okami. Apparently, there actually is a five-headed dragon* in ancient lore.
Initially designed as a variation of the Crow Tengu and the Ubume, it was unfortunately dropped from the final product. As the name suggests, it has five heads - the limbs that look like hands and feet are all just heads.
*There is an unnamed dragon that was slain by the Buddist Goddess, Benzaiten in Japanese myth.
Sadly they don't mention why they dropped the monster. Lack of time perhaps? It looks pretty neat.
Merchandise
Issun thing and box
Amaterasu
Close-up
Statuette
Wii Statuette
Fan
Slippers
Misc
As a marketing and promotional thing, a little toy Ammy was made.
And this is the image from the RetrOkami post that Silver Falcon was talking about.
When you clicked on the little sprites, an 8-bit tune would play. There were also more sprites on the online version - more Cameos from Viewtiful Joe.
They were; Viewtiful Joe, Sexy Silvia, Captain Blue and Stylish Alastor.
Can you identify the sprites above? I'll help, Tobi is on the bottom right, and Kayuga is on the island at the top right, and the sprite above the clover is no one less than Hideki Kamiya - director of Okami, Viewtiful Joe, Bayonetta and Devil May Cry.
.The dude is awesome.
Amaterasu is directly referenced in Kamiya's other game, Bayonetta, as "Ammy".
Luka lists her among one of the many women in his life, along with "Trish, Silvia and Claire" (from DMC, Viewtiful Joe and Resident Evil respectively). In the Bayonetta art book, it reveals that all of them are pets, with Ammy as the only dog - she's also wearing a little Issun on her collar.
At one point, Luka also gets his face doodled on with lipstick. Do the markings look familiar?
As a more direct cameo, Amaterasu features as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and the updated version, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
She utilises many of the same skills and weapons as she does in Okami, including the Divine Brush, though in a much more limited fashion. She only barks and yelps, so Issun continues to speak for her.
Her battle theme is a disco-remix of "The Sun Rises".
Her alternate skins represent some of the Eight Canines Warriors of Virtue, her statue form, and Jon Talbain from Darkstalkers.
And that's it. That's everything. Well, not everything, just the highlight reel. I want to thank and congratulate Silver Falcon for doing this fantastic and thorough LP of a fantastic game, and for allowing me to share the art stuff with you all.
I'd advise anyone who loved the art of the game to get the artbook, because it is seriously decent, well put together and informative.
Guess the only thing to do is end on a great song, and a great picture.
Click image
Sayonara folks!