Kazuyuki Kurashima

Kazuyuki Kurashima – Veteran Japanese Game Artist & Character Designer

Kazuyuki Kurashima is one of Japan’s most respected game artists, character designers, and visual creators. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has helped shape the visual identity and personality of numerous iconic games.
His work is widely praised for expressive character design, imaginative worldbuilding, charming pixel art, and emotional depth that resonates with players across generations.

Early Career and the Square / Love-de-Lic Foundations

Kurashima began his career in the early 1990s, contributing character and monster artwork to titles that would later become beloved worldwide.
Among his notable early works are Live A Live, a cult classic renowned for its distinctive narrative structure and visual style, and Super Mario RPG, where he was responsible for monster character design and visual supervision.

After leaving Square, he joined the influential creative group Love-de-Lic, formed by former Square developers, which introduced a new wave of experimental expression to the Japanese game industry.

Iconic Works and Collaborations

From the late 1990s through the early 2000s, Kurashima’s designs played a key role in shaping player experiences across many titles.

He served as character designer on moon: Remix RPG Adventure, a game widely regarded as one of the most original and charming RPGs of its era.

His work on UFO: A Day in the Life and Endonesia demonstrated remarkable versatility across genres and artistic styles.

For the Nintendo DS title Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland, he created distinctive and unconventional character and monster designs.

Following the dissolution of Love-de-Lic, Kurashima co-founded the independent game studio Onion Games with longtime collaborators.
There, as Art Director and Lead Pixel Artist, he was instrumental in defining the visual identity of critically acclaimed indie titles such as Million Onion Hotel, Black Bird, and Dandy Dungeon.

Broad Range and Recent Work

Kurashima’s design work is not confined to any single genre or era.
His credits include Little King’s Story (monster design) and Black Knight Sword (art direction), among many other visually distinctive projects.

More recently, he contributed to Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, where he worked specifically on monster design, creating the Pokémon Greavard and Houndstone.

Art Beyond Games

Beyond game development, Kurashima is also active in illustration, pixel art, and visual storytelling across a variety of media.
His work includes album artwork, picture books, and collaborative visual projects, blending nostalgic charm with contemporary creativity and earning recognition in both digital and traditional illustration circles.

Legacy and Impact

Kazuyuki Kurashima stands as one of the most versatile and beloved visual creators in Japanese game history.
From classic Squaresoft titles to modern indie masterpieces and the globally influential Pokémon franchise, his work consistently embodies expressive character design, imaginative worlds, and an artistic voice that feels both nostalgic and timeless.

His appearances at conventions, panels, and art events offer a rare opportunity for fans to connect directly with a creator who has helped define multiple generations of Japanese game art.

Location:
– Tokyo