Starting his career as a VOCALOID music producer and now a mega-popular Japanese singer, Kenshi Yonezu's incredible musical prowess is undeniable. He's frequently lent his voice to anime theme songs and has become a staple on mainstream shows like Kohaku Uta Gassen for years.
But don't let his musical genius fool you into thinking that's his only talent! Recently, Yonezu unveiled the single cover he illustrated himself for "BOW AND ARROW," the opening theme for this season's figure skating anime, "Medalist." The exquisite artwork has left fans wondering if there's anything this guy can't do.
The cover, drawn by Kenshi Yonezu, features "Medalist" protagonist Inori Yuitsuka. A quick comparison to the original manga shows that Yonezu's grasp of the character and his artistic skill are truly next-level.
▼ Original manga artist TSURUMAIKADA's illustration of Inori Yuitsuka & Tsukasa Akeuraji.
And that's not all! Kenshi Yonezu also recently performed "Plazma," the theme song for the theatrical film "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-." He even drew the protagonists, Yoha Amate (Machu) and Nean, for that single's cover. While his style is distinctly different from the original, it clearly showcases Yonezu's unique artistic flair.
His repeated artistic endeavors have left netizens in awe, consistently demonstrating overwhelming drawing talent that makes you wonder if he's even a singer first! Coupled with his consistently profound lyrics that reveal an astonishing understanding of the source material, sparking intense fan debates over their meaning, it's enough to leave you both impressed and a little intimidated.
If you recall, last September, Kenshi Yonezu also collaborated with UNIQLO for a UT collection. Out of the six designs, only the far-right one, featuring the "Chikyuugi" (Spinning Globe) single for "The Boy and the Heron," was drawn by Hayao Miyazaki.
The rest, including "M87" for "Shin Ultraman," "KICK BACK" for "Chainsaw Man," "Tsuki wo Miteita" for "Final Fantasy XVI," and designs for his albums "STRAY SHEEP" and "POP SONG," were all illustrated by Kenshi Yonezu himself.
It's safe to say that Kenshi Yonezu has not only achieved unparalleled success in music but also consistently wows with his artistic talent. No wonder "Chainsaw Man" author Tatsuki Fujimoto once jokingly told him to stay away from drawing manga, or another major artist would emerge!