Summer’s here, and with that comes blistering heat that needs to take it down a notch, a desire to live in the vicinity of a swimming pool, and any excuse to put anime characters in summer clothes while duel-wielding summertime treats.
【 #僕のヒーローアカデミア 】
美味しそうな食べものを手に…
いざっ！💥／
「ー夏ー」がテーマの
新規描き下ろしイラスト公開🎊
＼躍動感あふれるデザイン✨
新商品が続々と登場です！▼詳細はこちらからhttps://t.co/jWsZlsFaB1#ヒロアカ #heroaca_a pic.twitter.com/87taRWtkiC
— ムービック宣伝中の人 (@movic_pr) July 1, 2021
One of my favorite things about anime is the promotional art that gets released, more specifically, the art that puts the characters in different situations outside of their series. Sure, you’ll see supernatural artwork about a guy who swallows a finger and becomes the host of a malevolent curse, but you’ll also see that guy taking hold of a guitar to start a band with his friends because… um… Tower Records said so, I think?
Previews of the bonuses fans will receive once they reserve a copy of Bluray volume 1 pic.twitter.com/9roY3Qar7P
— Jujutsu Kaisen (@_JujutsuKaisen) October 2, 2020
Is it just a cute little AU for the heck of it?
Is it upcoming merchandise you can buy?
Yes to all and I love every second of it!
- Makin’ the Band
I already hinted at it, but yes, there are all sorts of fun promo images of anime characters in a band. If your anime series has a soundtrack released, there’s a chance that the image will be of the characters in a band as if they’re the ones who made the music. Maybe they’re on the cover of a music magazine, or maybe the creator REALLY needed to see the guy with the slick pompadour on drums.
Either way, that band AU is right there waiting for you.
- Home for the Holidays
Christmas. Halloween. Valentine’s Day. If there’s a major holiday that’s celebrated in Japan you’ll probably see some anime characters celebrating the occasion. Halloween art has always been a personal favorite, but see characters in Santa gear is always fun, too.
Though that’s also something that tends to happen in anime itself.
- Embracing Japanese Traditions
There are plenty of anime series that reflect traditional Japanese elements, but for those series that don’t, this is both a chance to see those characters in traditional Japanese clothing and a chance to see them embracing traditional Japanese traditions.
- Summer Summer Summertime
【SK∞ エスケーエイト】
暦とランガの描き下ろしデザインを使用した新商品が登場✨
定番アイテムからスポーツタオルまで！
作品ページからぜひお気に入りのアイテムを見つけて下さい🔎
早期予約キャンペーンも実施中！▼詳細はこちらhttps://t.co/8BZhRgyjDc#sk_8 #エスケーエイト pic.twitter.com/uBKts31wc3
— ムービック宣伝中の人 (@movic_pr) July 1, 2021
Summer brings about all kinds of anime art, from going to the beach to heading to a summer festival. Much like Christmas, you’re likely to see that beach motif in the anime itself depending on the series you’re watching.
Summer isn’t the only season that gets acknowledged in promotional art. You’re likely to see anime characters in casual clothing that fits the theme of a variety of seasons, from the changing of the leaves to signify fall, to the cherry blossoms coming to bloom.
- Masquerades
Not to be confused with Halloween, this promotional art has characters adorning masquerade masks so they can attend an event that probably never happened in their respective series. An evening of champagne, dancing, and, if you have the friend group I do, a murder mystery where the lights go out and someone is found “dead” on the dramatic fainting sofa.
- Slumber Party
Who sleeps with a teddy bear? Who has footie pajamas? Who wears a bonnet? All of this and more is revealed in promo art that lets your favorite anime characters finally get some rest.
Or.
Depending on the series.
A moment to be happy as a full team.
- Welcome to the Cafe
Probably the only promotional art I’m legitimately jealous of, anime characters tend to get cafe art because their series is getting a real-life pop-up cafe in Japan. Not only do you get to see your favorite characters dressed in cute cafe uniforms, but there are also themed foods, drinks, and merchandise for the series.
back to the mini promare cafe🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Qcnh30sgkf
— ㋐🍌🐟ジンちゃんさん＠プロメア応炎中🔥⛸🐬㋐ (@denkimouse) September 24, 2019
I need anime pop-up cafes to be a thing here, please.
- Crossovers With Other Series
Magazines like Shonen Jump are notorious for having characters from different series hanging out with each other, wearing each other’s outfits, imitating each other’s moves, or being drawn in a different mangaka’s art style.
Sometimes, if you look closely, you’ll see characters appear in someone else’s work.
Chainsaw Man makes a cameo in the manga! pic.twitter.com/6ijrt9da11
— Horikoshi Art (@Horikoshi_Art) June 27, 2021
That’s Chainsaw Man appearing in a chapter of My Hero Academia!
—
What are some of your favorite pieces of anime promotional art? More importantly, what AUs are you putting your favorite anime characters in?
(Image: Kohei Horikoshi)
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