My Neighbor Totoro Art Celebrates Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
An artist on Twitter has posted an original piece of art for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice inspired by Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro. After its release, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice inspired a multitude of fanart from artistic fans. This piece inspired by My Neighbor Totoro is one of the latest, as well as one of the most creative.
After initially being released back in 2019, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was met with critical acclaim across all media outlets. The game was praised for its setting, combat, and mechanics, and was another massive hit for FromSoftware. Sekiro was FromSoftware's first steep departure from the usual formula they had been known for creating in Dark Souls and Bloodbourne, as this game had no character customization, multiplayer elements, and introduced weapon arts and stealth that would come to be implemented more recently in Elden Ring. With the many fans the game accumulated, artists flocked together to create their own art, and this newest piece is certainly something special.
On Twitter, VideoGameArt posted an illustration of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice inspired by Studio Ghibli's hit animated film My Neighbor Totoro. This work of art, done by illustrator Niko Geyer, shows the royal heir Kuro being shielded from the rain by his loyal bodyguard and main character of the game, Wolf. The art was originally posted on February 23rd in honor of the then imminent release of Elden Ring. But, the illustration has now garnered even more popularity thanks to its repost from VideoGameArt.
Fans of both Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and My Neighbor Totoro should be quick to notice the similarities between the original illustration by Niko Geyer. Arguably the most recognizable artwork for My Neighbor Totoro displays the titular Totoro and one of the main characters Satsuki standing in the rain with an umbrella next to a bus sign. As inspiration for this, the fan illustration displays Wolf doing his usual bodyguard duties and shielding the Dragon Heir Kuro from the rain. But, in a cheeky twist, Wolf is using his own version of an umbrella. More specifically, the Loaded Umbrella Prosthetic tool. While in-game it is used for blocking incoming attacks, its purpose is more innocent in this illustration, simply blocking the rainfall. Furthermore, the sign they are standing next to say's "Unseen Aid," another mechanic from the game in which Wolf keeps all his accumulated currency after he dies.
The attention to detail in this work is obvious. Not only did Niko Geyer create a highly detailed illustration, but there is also clear love for both of these pieces of media put together in this picture. The illustration pulls from My Neighbor Totoro's art style while implementing easter eggs from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Fans of both these works will truly understand the references in this piece and fully appreciate it. Niko Geyer certainly deserves much appreciation for the hard work that was put into this piece, as well as the other illustrations they created.
Source: VideoGameArt/Twitter