This week is going to be interesting. What I want you guys to do is make a character or image based on Japanese culture or mythology. I'll let you decide on what exactly that means just to make it a bit more fun, for you guys and for me, because I want you to be as creative as possible. I know some people will really like this weeks challenge, some maybe not so much.
As per usual, there are no limits on entries and the contest will close midnight next Saturday. The winner gets to claim a custom made item from dblade to be put into heromachine, so long as the item conforms to his prize rules, which you can find here: http://www.heromachine.com/forum/the-heromachine-art-gallery/dblades-whiz-bang-item-dispenser/. Please read the contest rules before entering, have fun and good luck.
Rules for posts, contests, and challenges that I am hosting: Original characters only, no copyrighted characters, no characters based on copyrighted characters, no characters based on RPG’s or other games. The characters must be your own design and not based on any character that might be copyrighted in any way. I have the right to delete any post that I believe crosses this line without warnings. Only post characters that you have either created for this contest specifically or you know for certain have never been entered to a contest before. If you aren’t certain, don’t enter it, because I’m not going to go back through all of the contests and check.
Looks like I’m gonna be the first one to show off this time… 😉
Isamu Takahashi aka “Badass Samurai Cowboy”
Toshi Akamura aka “Rising Sun” (旭日 / Kyokujitsu)
Raising the bar high, right off the bat huh, Mad Jack? Interesting…
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/286/4/2/fight_scene_ii__samurai_by_vectorman316-d82pr5s.png
A nice samurai fight scene
@Worf- That’s good, because I want that bar high, it gives people a target.
Not sure what to call him, just a futuristic samurai
http://achillies228.deviantart.com/art/Hattori-1-488295669?ga_submit_new=10%253A1413232228
http://achillies228.deviantart.com/art/Hattori-488295879?ga_submit_new=10%253A1413232297
Cool so far… But Japan’s got a LOT more than just Samurais, doesn’t it?
I wasn’t going to bother entering this as I saw Vectorman’s entry and thought there was no way I could beat that but what the hell…here’s Kitsune.
http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Anarchangel-Kitsune.png
Here is my submission for this contest : Yuki Onna
Yuki-onna appears on snowy nights as a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair and blue lips. Her inhumanly pale or even transparent skin makes her blend into the snowy landscape. She sometimes wears a white kimono, but other legends describe her as nude, with only her face and hair standing out against the snow. Despite her inhuman beauty, her eyes can strike terror into mortals. She floats across the snow, leaving no footprints , and she can transform into a cloud of mist or snow if threatened.
http://i39.servimg.com/u/f39/12/20/79/74/yuki_o10.jpg
http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2014/287/4/8/ryjin_by_flash99gr-d82t2st.png
My entry Ryjin (dragon god) but after madjack and vectorman posted those outstanding creations its highly unlikely for me to win.
Here are some Japanese characters in our rock opera RPG “The Haunted.”
(The Haunted was the original band, since then the game has growb into Moon Aerie Entertainment, a music empire)
Ami Akita
raised in a family of Akita show dog breeders/ Member of the Amazing Graces with best friend Hecate Barnes, lead guitar of Dee Dee Dada & The Tra La Las.
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_AmiAkita001a_zpsfd1f7878.jpg
—
Dennis Akita
Ami’s brother, Photographer and part time model
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_DennisAkita001a_zps3d9eb130.jpg
Portrarit
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_DennisAkita001b_zps7889021c.jpg
—
Chase Suzuki
Director, Film maker, stud, lover of Jessie Tanaka
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_ChaseSuzuki001a_zps8d207b53.jpg
Portrait
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_ChaseSuzuki001b_zps259642b7.jpg
—
Jessie Tanaka
Model, hottie, lover of Chase Suzuki
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_JesseTanaka001a_zps615d6db2.jpg
Portrait
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_JEsseTanaka001b_zps87ac0317.jpg
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Ken Nagasaki
MoonAerie Asst. Record Producer, cranky butt
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_KenNagasaki001a_zps031c310c.jpg
Portrait
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haunted_KenNagasaki001b_zpsdfdb4b8a.jpg
Kamakaze
Real Name: Hiro Nagasaki
Powers: Flight, Enhanced Strength, Enhanced Endurance, Enhanced Vision
the grandson of a WWII pilot
One day when his powers appeared, he shot off like a rocket and smashed into an abandoned building, demolishing it, he had some bruises, scrapes and cuts but nothing extensive..
He learned his powers and is a bit egotistical and proud,
In an old truck was his grandfathers military papers, newspaper clippings, diary of his grandfather’s heroism as well as his friends, his old headband, aviator jacket, goggles, belt, pants and boots which Hiro took and gave himself the name Kamakaze to honor his grandfather.
With his flying, super strength and toughness, and being a bit ruthless … the Divine Wind fits
A hero to some, a villian to others.
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_GoingJapanese_Kamakaze001a_zps2fcbf7bf.jpg
Portrait:
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_GoingJapanese_Kamakaze001b_zps62e0fea7.jpg
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Martial Artist
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_GoingJapanese_MartialArtist001_zps79471467.jpg
—
Now for something different: my portrait of
Matsuo Basho
Basho is the grandfather of haiku.
He wrote one of the most famous haiku and had many students and imitators of his style.
old pond
frog leaps in
water’s sound
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_GoingJapanese_MatsuoBasho001_zps5c248e06.jpg
—
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Cliff_GoingJapanese_Ry16B0jin000_zps6626792f.jpg
This is the legend of a son mourning the death of his fisherman father who was swept overboard in a storm and drowned.
To avenge his father the son went to challenge the dragon god Ryujin the ruler of seas and oceans at Ryugu-jo the undersea “dragon palace castle”, where he kept the magical tide jewels.
The son was never heard from again.
Considering I posted a portrait of Master Basho, I thought i would post some haiga (illustrated haiku of mine)
(PS Haiku are not just three line of 5/7/5 syllables unless you are writting in Japanese, in English its OK to go with 17 syllables or less. Trust me I’m the founder of the Fort Worth Haiku Society.)
2014 Year Of The Horse
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haiku_0014YearOfTheHorse2_zpsb38954c6.jpg
Iris
this actually was on the back cover of We Are All Japan, a Haiku anthology written for the people of Japan in 2012.
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haiku_IrisHaiga_zps75aebd5e.jpg
Bamboo Fountain
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haiga_BambooFountain_zpsc72a0bd8.jpg
In The Silence
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haikg_InTheSilvence_zps128b6dc1.jpg
Bird Bath
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haiku_BirdBathHaga_zpsc4ec3e2f.jpg
Midwinter Moon
http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy240/Cliff_HM3/Haiku_MidwinterMoon_zpsf94a294f.jpg
C’mon, guys, THIS is what Americans think of when you say Japan!
(Well, besides obscene cartoons involving tentacles…)
http://images16.fotki.com/v368/photos/9/3278209/13009693/SkybanditJapan1-vi.png
I we’re going by art, alone, Mad Jack’s got a dead lock on this one {IMHO}…
but Jean Seb’s picture is a non-Samurai, with a nice little story, which I think helps…
{I know, I’m alone in this!} 😉
Thanks a lot, but it’s not a “story”, it’s part of the legend of this japanese ghost.
SENSHI KOBURA, mutant cobra warrior.
http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Madpac-SenshiKobura.png
Entry #1: Shrine Maiden Kimiko Sachimoro
http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Kaldath-Shrine-Maiden-Kimiko-Sachimoro.png
What is more Japanese (at least according to the cartoons I’ve watched) than a boy and his robot?
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj562/ethanshuster/JackZelger-ABoyAndHisRobot.png
Since everyone is complaining about samurais I decided to make an Oni, the most cliché Japanese creature cause why not
http://achillies228.deviantart.com/art/Hm3-beta-1-488687891?ga_submit_new=10%253A1413408601
@MadJack.
Kewl, I would have NEVER EVER thought of a cowboy samarai. Good work. He does look like a bad a$$.
@Vectorman316
WOW! Wonderful silhouette scene, Great action shot and use of black, white and grays. I hope you don’t mind I did a sihouette as well. Yours is far more intricat though.
@Achillies228
JEEZ! If he’s not on the Top 5 poll for the win I will he shocked. VERY creative.
@Anarchangel
Thanks for posting Kitsune.
I know what you mean about almost not posting, but then sometimes it’s not about winning , but just the sharing and community involvement. Besides Kitsune is very cute.
@Jean-Seb
Love the use of a transparent dress for mixing the legends of her being nude or in a kimono as one and the same.
@Lef
I did the Dragon God as well, is that what my dragon looks like in his human form?
I sure wouldn’t want to mess with him. ;D
Good work.
@Skybandit
Heh heh This is just Brilliant! Too Funny,. Well done.
@MaDPac
Very imaginative on Senshi Kobura. I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley … or a lit one … or at all LOL 😀
@Kaldath
Shrine Maiden Kimiko Sachimoro is just too cute.
@Jack Zelger
To asnwer your question what is more Japanese than a boy and his robot?
A robot Boy. LOL
But great energy blast coming from the robot, and I love the use as a gem as a computer top. Brilliant.
@Achillies228
You know I had almost posted my Oni, but I had already done him three times in three contest.
Yours is really good too, more viscous creature like the legends, less superhero than mine.
Infiltrator
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/288/4/f/infiltrator_by_stulte-d82ykw8.png
This is one of my submissions. A samurai preforming Seppuku. His life and tradition are exiting his body. Hope you enjoy. I call it Life of a Samurai.
http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab27/Demoninthenight/hm3-beta24_zpsb9626212.png
@Stulte
Wow Infiltrator is just beautifully done. I’ love it. Will be very surprised if it’s not on the Top 5 poll.
@Demoninthenight
I am so impressed with Life Of A Samurai. I just knew it was going to be bloody and gorey, but you were very restrained on the actual act, and the past life flowing through his memories was very well done. Great job.
“Attack of the Mutant Cyborg Geisha!”: An ode to the GIANTS of classic Japanese cinema.
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/okester/AttackOfTheMutantCyborgGeisha_zps88381515.jpg
@okestar
LOL 😀 too funny. Love the well placed building explosions almost lifelike.
Well its been a while HeroMachine, but we’re almost at contest #100 and no one wants to miss that, so I have reemerged with my samurai/ninja.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b520/Skoul/NInjustice2_zpsc15e57a4.png
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b520/Skoul/ninjustice3_zps2db654c2.png
@Skoul- If I were you, I’d be more excited about CDC97, same for all the rest of you. I won’t say why, I want to see if anyone can figure it out.
Mirai Akagi
http://i.imgur.com/oskZBFA.png
Lots of great work! Don’t think I have a chance, honestly, but I thought this was a fun topic.
http://alexkeeton.deviantart.com/art/Akame-Oni-488897812?ga_submit_new=10%253A1413499708
Born in feudal Japan, this girl’s mother was thrown from her home in the Kyoto Mountains after she gave birth to a baby with blood red eyes. They were forced to live in the wild. The mother died while the girl was still young, forcing her to live on her own. She was only able to survive by becoming one with the wild. She can channel her spiritual energy enough to manifest fire. Decades later she is the founder and the grand master of the Akashi (red death) Assassins. Her real name lost to time, she is only known as Akame-Oni (red-eye demon).
ZONOGADO, royal elephant guard
http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Madpac-Zonogado.png
LOL 🙂
Amaterasu Omikami, Goddess of the Sun, bringing light to the world while carrying the Imperial Sword, Mirror and Necklace.
http://images60.fotki.com/v367/photos/9/3278209/13009693/SkybanditJapan2-vi.png
one of the best works I have seen in HM your play with light is amazing
@ Cliff
Thank you! Very decent of you to praise your competitors like that.
@ punkjay
Haha, thanks man, but there’s a lot of -way- better lit HM creations. Check this one out, Candruth’s winning entry in the Fantasy themed contest from a couple of months back: http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/candruth/2014/04/Priestess.png
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z418/okester/LostLove_zpsf398d768.jpg
Kenji Kenzo, a skinny young paraplegic blogger, says the magic word “Kamikaze” and the Heavenly Wind changes him into Sergeant Sumorai, the Rotund Ronin! Combining the powers of the Hulk and the Blob, here he is shown arriving in downtown Tokyo, doing his trademark Earthquake Stomp.
http://images61.fotki.com/v444/photos/9/3278209/13009693/SkybanditJapan3-vi.png
@Skoal
very kewl pose as well as hi-tech armor and helmet. I like it.
@JR.
Well it’s not the Halloween contest. We ARE having a Halloween theme contest starting Monday or on the 29th right?
Character Design Contest 97 will start Nov 3, Deadline Nov 8, Judged by 15 if I calculate right, so not Thankssgiving, Not Christmas, Not New Years.
So that leaves Start of Christmas Swap, Your birthday or Anniversary of being on HM, of Jeff’s Bday or Anniverary of Jeff starting HM/
If not any of those. I’m tapped out. 😀
@Yautja
heh heh cute face, makes ya wonder what’s her story, why the half mask. Nice simple color palette, that can sometimes gor far with a judge.
@Dovahkiin
Kewl pose, also a nice clean color palette. I like tha arm/hand placement too. And good background story too.
@MaDPac
Heh Zonogado is very interesting. I don’t think I would have thought of an elephant guard. I thought that armor and guantlents really matched well. Kewl.
@Skybandit
Everytime I hear Amaterasu Omikami I think of her from the 1st Ed AD&D Dieties and Demigods book LOL 😀
Very kewl sheild ya got there..
@Punk jay
You’re right Infiltrator is pretty awesome
@Stulte
Thanks for the compliment. It’s one thing that made the place feel like a real community to be a few years back, So doing my bit … when I can.
Candruth’s Priestess was an awesome peice, it was also kind of you to compliment someone elsee not even in this contest..
@okester
Lost Love is very pretty. I really like the girl as well as the background. I hope she doesn’t do anything drastic with that sword.
@Skybandit.
Bwah ha ha ha ha 😀
Ok guys, this weeks contest is closed. The poll will be up shortly.
@Cliff- Sorry but none of them. I’ll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with the date, but you can figure it out by looking at the contest number.