If you follow Japanese artists, you've probably seen them regularly sharing their incredible creations on platforms like X and Pixiv.
But recently, 15-year-old artist Tanukichi ( @Tanukichi_mingo ) dropped his latest illustrations on X, showcasing some seriously powerful art skills. He claims he only started drawing last year, putting his "art age" at just about one year. Yet, his work has undergone such a jaw-dropping evolution that it's caught the eye and earned the praise of professional artists and manga creators alike.
The buzz started when renowned illustrator and character designer AKIMAN (Akira Yasuda) retweeted Tanukichi's work, exclaiming, "Only one year of drawing and he's doing this? The evolution across these three or four pieces is insane, I can't even comprehend what happened." He was clearly blown away by the artist's rapid progress, finding it almost unbelievable.
Even Mobile Police Patlabor manga artist Masami Yuuki and other industry pros chimed in, noting that 15 is often the age of fastest artistic growth, agreeing that Tanukichi's progress is indeed astonishing and truly "god-tier."
Despite the high praise from industry veterans, Tanukichi responded with impressive maturity, humbly stating, "Honestly, I'm just drawing while looking at examples; I wouldn't say I'm truly good yet. I hope to draw my own original characters someday."
So, let's take a look at how his art has evolved. Here are some pieces Tanukichi posted last year.
▼ He also draws manga-style work like this.
Tanukichi also generously shared one of his "growth secrets," revealing: "Start by setting your canvas resolution high, and you can pack in so much more detail!" He admitted he's still in the observation and imitation phase but is steadily building his own style and goals.
Just look at his recent work, and you can tell something clicked, leading to an instant, massive style evolution.
Comparing his drawings of Director Tomino from last October to now, the growth and stylistic shift are undeniably significant.
In a past self-introduction post, Tanukichi mentioned that he decided to practice by mimicking illustrations from artists on X after watching Look Back last year, making it roughly one year since he started.
Akira Yasuda even offered lengthy advice to the young artist, providing a detailed analysis of his work:
★ The increased canvas resolution results in finer lines and more refined compositions;
★ Character designs now incorporate expressions and personality differences, further distinguished by clothing styles;
★ Color expression has transitioned from monotonous to an elegant, airy style;
★ He's started using professional manga techniques like solid black fills (beta) to enhance visual impact;
★ The overall composition shows a balanced and layered portrayal of character groups, indicating mature control over the frame.
It's truly remarkable that Akira Yasuda would offer such in-depth feedback to a young online creator, showcasing his willingness to mentor the next generation and his approachable nature.
Other netizens were equally amazed, with some describing his growth speed as astonishing, "like Amuro Ray during the One Year War" from Mobile Suit Gundam. Others lamented, "I was still drawing stick figures at 15..." and "This is Olympic-level talent and effort."
This 15-year-old artist's rapid development has not only sparked a massive online discussion but has also led many seasoned creators to offer guidance as if they've discovered a hidden gem. We can certainly look forward to his astonishing future in the art world!
via： togetter