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This interview aims to explore Ai Yokoyama's career and her insights into character design and animation.

March 22, 2026Open Access

Interview with Character Designer Ai Yokoyama at FicZone 2025

Key Points

This interview aims to explore Ai Yokoyama's career and her insights into character design and animation.
Conducted an interview with Ai Yokoyama during FicZone 2025.
Discussed her career trajectory from Madhouse to freelance work.
Explored her artistic influences and techniques in character design.
Yokoyama highlights her approaches to character design and collaboration in animation.
She shares her experiences with shōnen projects and digital versus analogue methods.

Abstract

This interview with Ai Yokoyama —illustrator and character designer from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan— was conducted during FicZone 2025. Yokoyama is known for her versatile work in animation, including character designs for Bayonetta: Bloody Fate under Mari Shimazaki’s supervision, as well as contributions to series such as Basilisk, Usukozakura – GARO the Movie, X-MEN, and Space Battleship Tiramisu. The interview explores her career trajectory from Madhouse to freelance work, her artistic influences, techniques, and approach to character design, animation, and collaboration with musicians. Additional topics include her experiences with shōnen projects, realistic illustration styles, and her perspective on evolving digital and analogue methods in anime production. The article also documents her participation in live drawing, fan interactions, and the celebration of Basilisk’s 20th anniversary at the Anime Expo 2025.Originally published in Spanish on CoolJapan.es

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