In the art and entertainment industry copying other people’s work without their permission is generally frowned upon and can lead to disastrous effects if caught. Recently, a Twitter account has been created that claims that the creator and artist of the No Game No Life light novels, Yuu Kamiya, has been tracing over other people’s works from Pixiv and other various sites for his illustrations for No Game No Life.
The Twitter user, rotiflride, has compiled many comparison images of various No Game No Life illustrations that Yuu Kamiya has produced alongside the supposed original image where Kamiya has allegedly traced over. Many of the illustrations cited do share similarities, though only with the same poses. Kamiya himself could have used these images as a reference, rather than deliberate tracing. Even then, many artists do trace/reference other arts, but the distinction is that Kamiya is using it for commercial value for the No Game No Life series.
Here is one such example of a comparison, which is one of the more similar comparisons of the bunch. Kamiya’s illustration is on the bottom in the first image.
This also isn’t the first time a Japanese artist has been called out for tracing other artists’ works. Sou Miyata, the anime character designer for the anime adaptation of Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, was fired from his position after fans claimed that the promotional magazine scans for the anime share extreme similarities of the characters’ poses with other anime characters.
Here is another illustration comparison, with Kamiya’s work being on the right.
Many of these claims and comparisons showcase similar poses between the two illustrations, though even then many of these poses are seen as generic. Even so, many of these images share significant similarities, and whether Kamiya has either traced these images or used them as references, has yet to be confirmed. Of course the possibility of the images being a coincidence is also likely.
Here are some more comparisons images:
No Game No Life is a light novel series written and illustrated by Yuu Kamiya. The series began in 2012 in Media Factory’s MF Bunko J imprint and to date a total of 6 volumes have been released. The series received a manga adaptation last year from Kamiya and Mashiro Hiiragi, where it is currently running in Media Factory’s Monthly Comic Alive magazine. An anime adaptation of the series was produced earlier this year. It was animated by Madhouse (Death Note, Hunter x Hunter) and directed by Atsuko Ishizuka (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo).
Here is a synopsis of the series:
The story of No Game, No Life centers around Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister whose reputations as brilliant NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) hikikomori (shut-in) gamers have spawned urban legends all over the Internet. These two gamers even consider the real world as just another “crappy game.” One day, they are summoned by a boy named “God” to an alternate world. There, God has prohibited war and declared this to be a world where “everything is decided by games”—even national borders. Humanity has been driven back into one remaining city by the other races. Will Sora and Shiro, the good-for-nothing brother and sister, become the “Saviors of Humanity” on this alternate world? “Well, let’s start playing.”
There has been no official response from Yuu Kamiya or Media Factory, the publisher of the No Game No Life light novels. Whether if Kamiya did trace other people’s work, use them as references or pure coincidences, has yet to be seen. All we can do at the moment is speculate.
So what do you think about these comparisons? Did Kamiya really trace over other images? Does it matter? And what impact do you think it may have on the series’ future? Let us know below.
You can visit the anime’s official website here: http://ngnl.jp/
And follow them on Twitter: @ngnl_anime
Source Images – @rotiflride
Source Article – Reddit Anime
“No Game No Life”, images and all associated brands © 2014 Yuu Kamiya, Media Factory, Madhouse, No Game No Life Production Committee, and the artists’ respective owners