Art Art Evolution

[Asarii]

Have you come across a manga where the artwork in its first chapter was drastically different from its last/most recent? Was the change drastic to the point where it seems like it was drawn by two different people?

Mangakas will no doubt go through a transition like any other artist. Since their occupation involves drawing nearly everyday, this change can appear more evident. Show us which series and mangaka had a drastic change in artstyle!

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Yu-Gi-Oh's mangaka, Takahashi Kazuki, made a huge improvement in his artwork. The characters' features became more defined and sharper as the story progressed. I definitely like the artwork post-evolution. (Sorry, I couldn't find good scans for comparison.)

 

[Roflkopt3r]

Miura Kentaro changed his style in Berserk a little. Not very surprising as Berserk is going on for 21 long years now. Well, measured with that it's actually amazingly stable. However, the first chapters looked quite different, to me it seems that he developed his style over the Golden Age arc and sticked to it ever since.

Gutts in comparison:

Spoiler

First Volumes - Black Swordsman Arc

Relatively young Guts in Golden Age Arc:

A little older Gutts in Golden Age:

Gutts since end of Golden Age:

 

[Nii]

Nice thread Asa
I will go with the obvious one:

Naruto. Best example would be the flashback chapters

Shiki Fujin old

Shiki Fujin new

Iruka old

Iruka new

Kyuubi old

Kyuubi new

 

[Kaiten]

What about Bleach? Kubo's style has changed drastically over the years.

Old
Middle
Now

 

[<.Haruka.>]

on Arakawa under the Bridge, I observed Ric/Kou looks like has differently drawn before (especially his hairstyle), imo.

> Ric before

> Ric after

 

[Asarii]

I love the responses! Keep more coming.

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I think Meitantei Conan/Detective Conan/Case Closed also had a significant change in its artwork. Especially with Conan's face:

Then
Now

 

[R4n]

one click to tv tropes should give TONS of example... ;p
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArtEvolution

 

[Nii]

Is it just me? I can't see that much difference in Conan's face but maybe it's because I never read the manga.
@R4n that sure is nice but it's more fun to think of series on your own

I wonder why Asa hasn't brought that out before me:

Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Beginning
Middle
Now

 

[R4n]

Well, Amano Akira sensei is one fine example for art evolution. Her debut work (i think?) petit petit rabbit is almost unrecognizable as her work because of the huge difference in art style.

Spoiler

I am not the one who scanned this.

Talking about KHR, i think the latest art is not as good as the art in Varia arc. I think it deteriorates a bit. Well, her colored illustration is better than the ones in Varia arc though... Whether the art deteriorates or not, might depends on taste..

 

[Asarii]

@naruto-niichan: I find the art evolution in the anime is much more evident. The first season to the current one is quite drastic. In fact, I heard that the anime staff evolved along with Aoyama Gosho's changing style through the time.

You know I was thinking of KHR. XD That had quite the drastic change too.

@R4n: Aww, I like the current style with the inking and the toning.

 

[Iceiphoenix]

D.Gray-man has changed a lot too, especially since Hoshino sensei went monthly. I personally liked her art better from around chapter 70-160

Early group pic

Somewhere in the middle

Kind of recent group pic

***

 

[Nii]

@Asa I watched Conan when I was a little kid and didn't find it really interesting (could be because it was the german version ) so I don't know but a friend of mine said you're right maybe I should rewatch some episodes but that would take way too long (i believe). How many eps has the Anime series?

another good example would be Alive: The Final Evolution. A underrated work from two great mangakas I really enjoyed. Hope the last chapters will be scanlated soon. Anyway, here are some pics.

Beginning

Middle

Now

 

[R4n]

^ i was really impressed by the art evolution and i really wanted to read the manga. But Alive is licensed and finding the scan for chapter 1-13 is extremely hard.
Maybe it is not the right way to ask, but do you know where i can find them?

@IcePhoenix: I really love Hoshino's colored illustration. She used a very daring mix of colors like purple and green, but she can make it works really well without hurting the eyes. (at least for me)

 

[Nii]

^ i was really impressed by the art evolution and i really wanted to read the manga. But Alive is licensed and finding the scan for chapter 1-13 is extremely hard.
Maybe it is not the right way to ask, but do you know where i can find them?

Sure, every new fan of the series is a good thing I read it around 2 years ago on Onemanga but that's not an option anymore. Searched a bit and you should find most of the chapters at mangarush(.com). There are 78 chapters so far, if you need more advice just pm me.

another example's Bakuman. I was kind of surprised because I hadn't thought that the change was so drastic but when I look back now it sure was
two quick examples

Old

New

 

[Asarii]

How many eps has the Anime series?

Around 700+? 8D The change should be apparent with the movies as well.

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The transition from vintage to contemporary manga is very drastic. Based on the art alone I could probably tell which series is from which decade even though I wouldn't have known anything about it.

It would be interesting if there was a veteran mangaka who experienced this transition. Will they adapt with the art trend at the time or will they stick to what they've always done regardless? For example, if we compare early Fushigi Yuugi (early 90s) to Watase Yuu's most recent manga, her art evolution evolved with the times. (That is, her art style is more contemporary now.)

 

[Newkerzy]

Sure, every new fan of the series is a good thing I read it around 2 years ago on Onemanga but that's not an option anymore. Searched a bit and you should find most of the chapters at mangarush(.com). There are 78 chapters so far, if you need more advice just pm me.

another example's Bakuman. I was kind of surprised because I hadn't thought that the change was so drastic but when I look back now it sure was
two quick examples

Old

New

Hmm, not much of a difference. You'd have to have a REALLY good eye to notice the change.

 

[Jaymie]

Hmm, not much of a difference. You'd have to have a REALLY good eye to notice the change.

Not really. Mashiro's face and hair look completely different, and Takagi's hair is less detailed, but a lot better looking. The newer chapters of Bakuman look like Obata has settled in and is a lot more comfortable drawing than he was in the beginning.

 

[R4n]

Bakuman has a drastic change in style (although not as drastic as other series). It is not really clear in the images, you have to see chapter one and the latest chapter yourself.

 

[Asarii]

I think Obata-sensei was trying to transition out of the realistic art style of Death Note. (I don't count Ral Grad.) Despite the fact that Bakuman has a completely different story and theme, people will still try to compare it to DN because the author is also the same. By changing the art, the readers will read it as a separate manga.

If you look at this colour page he made for the Bakuman compilation book, he still has the ability to switch back between art styles. I consider the change in Bakuman a unique case of Art Evolution.

 

[CBlitz]

D.Gray-man has changed a lot too, especially since Hoshino sensei went monthly. I personally liked her art better from around chapter 70-160

Early group pic

Somewhere in the middle

Kind of recent group pic

haha the there's an enormous change from the middle to the recent, every male character looks significantly more bishounen. But that's probably because of the switch from Weekly Jump to Jump SQ