Tony

Tony Taka (田中 貴之, often credited simply as “Tony”) was born in 1971 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and is best known as a prolific illustrator and character designer whose work spans video games, anime, and light novels. After graduating from art school, he began contributing illustrations to magazines and art books, quickly gaining attention for his soft, ethereal rendering style, delicate linework, and focus on elegant female figures. His breakthrough came in 2001 when he joined the Shining series at Sega, designing characters for Shining Force III: Scenario 2 and later Shining Tears and Shining Wind. His designs—characterized by flowing hair, intricate costumes, and gentle facial expressions—helped define the modern fantasy-anime aesthetic within the franchise.

Beyond Sega, Tony has contributed character designs for numerous projects. He created original artwork for the Queen’s Blade line of visual combat books, lending credibility to its popular tournament-themed illustrations. He also collaborated with Capcom on Monster Hunter illustrations, producing promotional art that highlighted his knack for balancing stylized femininity with dynamic poses. In the mid-2010s, he expanded into anime production, designing characters for series such as Bakumatsu Gijinden Roman and assisting on the OWARIMONOGATARI light-novel adaptations. Throughout his career, Tony has released several solo artbooks compiling his illustrations, demonstrating his mastery of digital painting techniques and his ability to capture subtle emotions through nuanced shading. His influence is visible throughout contemporary character design, inspiring new generations of artists who seek to blend soft realism with fantasy elements.