, is an anime and video game illustrator and character designer from Okayama Prefecture.
Biography
Shimada is well known for sparking the mecha shoujo boom of the 2000s with his line of mecha musume illustrations. During this time he provided illustrations for various dōjin and commercial hobbyist magazines some of which were turned into popular figurines and model kits by Toranoana and Konami. Since then, Shimada has worked as a character and mechanical designer for various military-themed anime television series and video games.
In July 2013, Shimada was responsible for designing military recruitment posters and other promotional material for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
Art style
Shimada's designs commonly combine bishōjo characters, moe elements, and mechanical systems such as military-style weapons, armor, or vehicles. Some of his most iconic character designs in this style come from the Strike Witches franchise. In it young girls with Kemonomimi use machines that attach to their legs to fly and fight aliens with weapons as part of a military force.
Main works +AnimeYearTitleRoleReferences2006-2007Sky GirlsConceptual mechanical designOriginal character design2007-presentStrike Witches/World WitchesOriginal character design2011-2012Busou Shinki2012-presentGirls und Panzercharacter design2015Kantai CollectionOriginal character design2017-2019Frame Arms Girl2019Gundam Build Divers Re:RiseCharacter design (Mobile Doll May)2021Midnight Fun Nora Version2023Alice Gear Aegis: Expansion Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase +Video gamesYearTitleRoleReferencesHayate the Combat Butler: Nightmare ParadiseMechanical design2006-presentBusou Shinki2009Dariusburst2013-presentKantai CollectionOriginal character design, in-game sprite illustrations2018-presentAlice Gear Aegis 2019Sakura Wars Guest character design for the Berlin Combat Revue (Elise and Margarethe)2020-presentStrike Witches Character design2021Fate/Grand OrderCharacter design (Galatea) +Commercial magazinesYearTitleRoleReferencesMC AkushizuCover (Vol.1, Vol. 3)Spiegel SeriesIllustration +Figures and Model KitsYearTitleRoleReferencesMecha musumeCharacter designBusou ShinkiCharacter designFrame Arms GirlCharacter designMegami DeviceCharacter design30 Minutes SistersCharacter design +DōjinshiYearTitleRoleReferencesStrike Witches: Witches of Africa (ストライクウィッチーズ アフリカの魔女)Illustrations +Art booksYearTitleRoleReferences島田フミカネ ART WORKS』, published by Kadokawa Group Publishing +CDYearTitleRoleReferencesSenpai mo Kōhai mo Osananajimi mo Tsundere de Nemurenai CD (先輩も後輩も幼なじみもツンデレで眠れないCD) +CardsYearTitleRoleReferencesMCTCG Fairy Lore (MCTCG妖精伝承) +illustration projectYearTitleRoleReferencesBio-station Mars (火星生物局)Original narrative/illustration work
Notes
References
External links
Fumikane Shimada on Twitter