2017, Photoshop/Illustrator. Logo for MTAC’s 18th year theme, “18th Battalion”.
War is hell. There should be a lot less of it, to say the least. But there is a lot of anime about war, and about the eternal struggle of humankind — our own personal wars within our hearts and minds.
Originally going for a more Western-familiar and extremely-common coat-of-arms look, I eventually broke away from this idea in favor of traditional Japanese wooden plank shields, which have a pleasant look and are more theme-appropriate.
This was a challenge, as this is a genre I am not very into personally; however, the fun is in the challenge, to ultimately present with something harmonious that also fits within one’s aesthetic, as well as to find and learn something new in the process.
Watch its debut video, created by MTAC volunteers, here:
One of the things the era of samurai left us with are priceless works of art, and I hope the serenity of the plank shield’s shape helps you appreciate the crafts of old — even if originally intended for battle.
