Production Column: Part 6

The illustrations in *The Witch of the Dark Castle* are in full color. To provide some context regarding typical analog gamebooks, their illustrations are usually printed in grayscale or black and white.

These illustrations serve as the defining feature that conveys the unique character of each gamebook. They range from illustrations that convey the situation at a glance, to awe-inspiring ones meticulously detailed down to the finest points, to wildly imaginative and unforgettable ones that leave a lasting impression... Using only black and white or simple lines, they achieve a rich variety of expressions that draw the viewer into the world of the story.

There is an illustrator, game designer, and author named Hugo Haru, who created the illustrations for books such as *The Sorcerer of the Dark Castle* by J. H. Brennan, published by Futami Shobo (though those interested in this work may already be familiar with him...). As a elementary school student at the time, I was completely captivated by his realistic yet bizarre and eccentric pencil drawings. I even tried to copy them, and through his work—from the precise pressure of his lines to his choice of pencil lead hardness—I felt a strong sense of the possibilities of pencil drawing. (I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Hugo Hal. Thank you so much!)

I created the illustrations for *The Witch of the Dark Castle* using *Paint Tool SAI*.

I experimented with various techniques: drawing the line art meticulously before adding color; applying color first and then refining the composition to ensure everything came together; finishing the illustration in black and white before adding color; and even drawing with a pencil, scanning the drawing, and then working on the digital version.

My hope is that each time an illustration appears, readers will sense a slightly different impression in the art style—that was the intention behind these experiments. Also, the illustrations in this work contain many homages that anyone who played gamebooks or video games in the 1980s will surely recognize! I would be delighted if you could find and enjoy those as well.

Digitalis Publishing Yoshio Nishimura