Legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano on Italian exhibition of his greatest works

From Speed Racer to Final Fantasy and even Vampire Hunter D, Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano (pictured above in the centre) has worked across many mediums and influenced countless others.

Now, for the first time ever in Europe, an exhibition of his life’s work (named ‘Amano Corpus Anime’) will be unveiled at Milan’s iconic art hub, Fabbrica del Vapore. Making a rare public appearance at this year’s Lucca Comics & Games, the esteemed artist spoke to audiences about his expansive and iconic career, and this brand-new retrospective exhibition.

Elegant, dreamlike, and often tinged with darkness, Amano’s style has helped shape both anime and gaming aesthetics on a global scale. With a reputation for crafting breathtaking, otherworldly illustrations, Amano’s art is instantly recognisable — ornate, ethereal, and brimming with both beauty and danger.

Amano’s career began in 1967, working at Tatsunoko Production, where he cut his teeth working on the now-classic anime series Speed Racer and Gatchaman that would become part of Japan’s pop culture foundation.

From these first experiences, Amano developed a distinct visual style that would flourish with Vampire Hunter D. The 1983 dark fantasy novel, illustrated by Amano, pushed his style into an entirely new realm, setting the tone for the rest of his career.

Vampire Hunter D embodied Amano’s fascination with the intersection of horror and elegance, capturing the tale of a lone vampire hunter against the backdrop of a beautiful, brutal landscape, setting the tone for an entirely new aesthetic in Japanese dark fantasy and horror, blending traditional Japanese art with Western influences.

If Vampire Hunter D introduced Amano’s style to a worldwide audience, it was his work on Final Fantasy that solidified his iconic status. Beginning in 1987, Amano’s character designs shaped the look of an entire genre. His approach to the Final Fantasy series, using intricate linework, androgynous characters, and a dreamlike atmosphere, defined a new aesthetic in Japanese RPGs that has since been both widely celebrated and imitated.

Amano Corpus Anime, Amano’s first European showcase, is on display at Fabbrica del Vapore from 13 November 2024 to 1 March 2025. The exhibition showcases around 140 works, spanning 50 years, including iconic anime designs and unexpected collaborations that chart his journey through anime, dark fantasy, and beyond.

Curated by Fabio Viola and his team, Amano Corpus Anime offers the most comprehensive showcase of Amano’s work to date. “This exhibition is set to welcome visitors from across Europe. During the 100 days of the exhibit, you are going to see the entire career of the master,” Viola explained at Lucca Comics & Games. “You are going to see a lot of different techniques, different art and artistic styles”

Fabrica del Vapore, known for hosting major art events, provides the perfect canvas for such an expansive collection. With a staggering 1,000 square metres dedicated to Amano’s art, fans can experience both large-scale and intricate pieces, offering an intimate look at Amano’s creative evolution.

“We started this work three years ago,” Viola remembered. “I travelled to Tokyo to know his artwork, and we did some interviews and divided the exhibition into six nuclei, which go through all of his career.

“Yoshitaka Amano has worked under commission with a lot of external partners like DC Comics, Marvel, and even Vogue Italy (the first Illustrated cover of Vogue was illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano),” Viola continued. “You will find variant covers and original drawings from Batman, Batgirl and Suicide Squad [at the exhibition] and also the amazing artworks that were born thanks to cooperation with Neil Gaiman. So we have artworks coming from Sandman: The Dream Hunters.“

Covering his transition from animation to internationally celebrated illustrations, the exhibition spans six thematic areas.

“First, we start with the Tatsunoko era from 1967 to 1982,” Viola told us. “Then the second part deals with four years from 1982 to 1986 where, for example, we can find Vampire Hunter D. Then we have a small period of time – 1983-1986. The next part is more focused, an area called ‘Icons’, covering Batman, Batgirl and Superman. Then there is the video games part. Of course, we all know Final Fantasy but there are so many products.

“The exhibition closes with ‘Free Spirit’, which are things that encompass all the artworks that are not commissioned. Free artworks. There are so many pieces that are maybe less known, but they are still part of his aesthetic.”

Speaking through a translator about the exhibition at Lucca Comics and Games, Yoshitaka Amano said: “During my career, I have dealt with so many things – movies, comics, and video games. I started as an animator but everything will be touched on in these exhibitions, from the very beginning to now, everything I’ve done as an artist.”

Pulling together the collection has given Amano a rare chance to look back on his old work. “I don’t think about the past,” he acknowledged. “I haven’t seen a lot of the work at the exhibit in many many years. I don’t think about the past, but when I look at old work and now, it’s very similar. I surprised myself. I guess what I like stays the same!

“Everything is connected, it’s not drawings and painting and costumes or make-up. It’s all the same thing. It’s all connected.”

Ironically enough, this retrospective exhibition started with a brand new piece of artwork. “I’ve been working on a Greek mythology piece, it’s huge – 4 metres by almost 100 metres, ” Amano revealed. “We were looking for somewhere to exhibit it. I’d been talking to so many people and I met Fabio three years ago and that’s how this project started.”

It’s clear that this retrospective of Yoshitaka Amano doesn’t signify an end to his creativity, even if that creativity strikes at slightly odd times… “Every day, when I have time, I go to my studio in Shibuya and I’m just drawing,” Amano revealed.

“I’m always drawing, even during dinner!”

Interested in seeing more of Yoshitaka Amano’s work? Fanatical’s FantasyVerse has a whole collection of Vampire Hunter D on sale now.