This manga artist creates backgrounds with such extreme attention to detail that they could pass for standalone works of art.
Many may know Kiyohiko Azuma from his hit series Yotsuba&!, a manga about the life of a clumsy five-year-old named Yotsuba. The series is a fan favorite for its whimsical portrayal of a child’s happy-go-lucky approach to life; however, it has also drawn attention from fans for its extremely detailed background sketches.
Azuma’s attention to detail is immense, thus, at times, his backgrounds almost appear like hyper-realistic artworks.
In an interview back in 2014, he discussed his art style and the dichotomy between realism and stylized characters in crafting manga: “I lean toward realism, but at the same time, it’s not like I’m trying to make things actually realistic – what I’m going for is more like having a somewhat strange character within a realistic world.”
More of the artist’s urban landscapes can be found on this Tumblr and also at DesignStack. Check out some examples below.
[Photos via Spoon-Tamago]
