The graphic novel that is finally showing a 'graphic' side.

Twill be a long series about the rise and rise of a VK band in Tokyo, Japan. The whole idea is explore every aspect of behind the Visual Kei music scene. Which means...fun fun research for me. But it will be worth it because I think its a unique music sub-culture and its definitely worth taking a good look at. Anyways, because I'm aiming to feature 'cameo appearances' for actual real-life VK bands or band members (even if its just a photo or a scene where they say 1 thing) I did need my ENTIRE cast to represent REAL people. Enter the use of Jdrama actors. I've selected for each of the fictional characters a japanese actor/actress to model their looks loosely on - so that when they interact with the characters based closely on real musicians its doesn't look like they are speaking to a cardboard cartoon cut-out. It was also done because visual-kei require the use of make-up and such to change the appearances of the character and I wanted to be able to visibly show the changes - something which is near to impossible on a very cartoony style of drawing.

The 5 starring roles are of course each of the band members (who are backed up by a long list of supporting characters all through).

Names and roles:
Kioshi Naito (KIYOSHI) - vocals, guitar
Hiroyuki Sano (Hiro) - piano, rhythm guitar
Yuichi Inihara - bass
Sho Inihara - lead guitar
Taru Tamazaki - drums

Have a gange at their ref-models:



Takeru Sato (Kioshi), Shun Oguri (Inihara twins), Yusuke Yamamoto (Taru) & Shoon Yamashita (Hiro).


Okay, So I'm not a moron. I am aware (this goes out only to all those who know what the hell I'm talking about) that there is a large age difference between certain members of this...ref-cast.
However I do have my reasons for choosing them.

Takeru Sato has a face thats pretty androgynus which in my mind is kinda like a little reference in itself to how all the guys in VK bands manage to look extremely feminine (Miyavi....). My second reason is that his features - I've notice - are either filmed/photographed to appear very soft and young or very sharp and mature. Since Kioshi is the LEAD in the story, he will require to fill both light comical roles as a character as well as hard-hitting dramatic ones.

Shun Oguri was kind of a biased choice to begin with. He's quite a big name in Japan as far as actors go and has been a favourite of mine since I watched Hana Yori Dango. However, I realized I actually had good reason for using him as he has the ability to act very happy-go-lucky and cheeky and be beleivable and the do that same for a quieter brooding role like Sano Izumi from Hanazakari no Kimitachi e. This works perfectly for the identical twins...who have been so far a pain to illustrate. The only problem I have with using him is that since he (I think) the oldest on this list it means I have to soften the features quite a bit to begin with.

Now I was hesitant about using Yusuke Yamamoto as a reference. Originally I wanted to base Hiro's look off of him simply because he has played very...shall we say "cutesy" roles in a lot of things he's been in. However I remembered the first time I saw him he was in a very moody and angry role and his scowl face (like in the pic above) was so Taru that I almost had a heart attack. No...I'm kidding...What I find really funny about using Yusuke to base Taru's look is that he also has this signature cheeky cute cat smile which I think all his fangirls simple squee over.

Yamashita Shoon is the youngest and therefore the less well-known of all the guys on this list. He has an adorable baby face though and I simply had to base Hiro's look off of him. Hiro being the short cute gay one. I probably use Shoon very lightly as a reference as it tends to collide with my earlier refrenceless drawings of this character who was one of the first to start developing.


* I'll soon post a whole load of character sketches and stuff, you'll see what I mean when I say I only base the characters on these actors. It's not me drawing them as my characters, its me using their faces as a basis of creating a realistic inidvidual look.