Shangri-La Frontier is an anime that has captured the hearts of many viewers with its unique world and engaging characters. The series creator, Katarina, and manga artist, Ryōsuke Fuji, recently shared insights into the creation of this captivating game world at Anime NYC. One of the key aspects of the series is the main character, Sunraku, who is depicted wearing a spoonbill bird mask. Katarina explained that she wanted to create a character who enjoyed the unexpected challenges in games, even if they were poorly designed.
Fuji, on the other hand, discussed the challenges and joys of designing a character like Sunraku with a bird mask. He found that the beak of the mask allowed for a wide range of expressions, adding depth to the character. The two creators also shared their thoughts on playing a game like Shangri-La Frontier in real life, with Katarina expressing interest in being a weapon-maker and Fuji enjoying interactions with NPCs.
When it came to designing the NPCs, monsters, and bosses in the game world, Fuji revealed that he thought about the visual impact of the battles first and then created the designs to suit those scenarios. The creators also discussed the collaboration process between the light novel and manga adaptations, highlighting the freedom Fuji had in designing characters without pre-existing visual references.
The lore of Shangri-La Frontier was developed meticulously, with Katarina first establishing the world-building aspects before delving into the character and story development. Influences from games like Dark Souls, Xenoblade, and Horizon Zero Dawn can be seen in the series, contributing to its rich and immersive world.
Overall, the insights shared by Katarina and Fuji shed light on the creative process behind Shangri-La Frontier and the thought and detail that went into crafting its unique video game world. Fans of the series can appreciate the dedication and passion that the creators poured into bringing this captivating world to life.