Fumikane Shimada

Fumikane Shimada, is an anime and video game illustrator and character designer from Okayama Prefecture.

Biography

Shimada is well known for sparking the mecha shoujo boom of the 2000s with his line of mecha musume illustrations. During this time he provided illustrations for various dōjin and commercial hobbyist magazines some of which were turned into popular figurines and model kits by Toranoana and Konami. Since then, Shimada has worked as a character and mechanical designer for various military-themed anime television series and video games.
In July 2013, Shimada was responsible for designing military recruitment posters and other promotional material for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Art style

Shimada's designs commonly combine bishōjo characters, moe elements, and mechanical systems such as military-style weapons, armor, or vehicles. Some of his most iconic character designs in this style come from the Strike Witches franchise. In it young girls with Kemonomimi use machines that attach to their legs to fly and fight aliens with weapons as part of a military force.

Main works

Year	Title	Role	References
	Hayate the Combat Butler: Nightmare Paradise	Mechanical design
2006-present	Busou Shinki
2009	Dariusburst
2013-present	Kantai Collection	Original character design, in-game sprite illustrations
2018-present	Alice Gear Aegis
2019	Sakura Wars	Guest character design for the Berlin Combat Revue
2020-present	Strike Witches	Character design
2021	Fate/Grand Order	Character design

Year	Title	Role	References
	Mecha musume	Character design
	Busou Shinki	Character design
	Frame Arms Girl	Character design
	Megami Device	Character design
	30 Minutes Sisters	Character design

Year	Title	Role	References
	島田フミカネ ART WORKS』, published by Kadokawa Group Publishing