The art

Sep 19, 2013 8:47 AM

Offline

Oct 2011

Even if art is a less significant in a light novel than in manga I believe it's still extremely important. It gives an explicit face to put to names which I find very important in how I read each character's dialogue and thoughts.

Hakomari's art is interesting. In the first 3 volumes it is lower quality than most other light novels, looking more like high quality sketches than proper artwork. Yet I felt that the art style was great for Hakomari. Since the story is a bit out there and requires a lot of thinking, I felt that the rough art worked very well.

In volume 4 the art improves and looks more polished. I very much like it as it has more consistency and definition.

Then in volume 5... it's totally different. There is a new artist with a completely new art style and in my opinion it's just terrible. The characters are too lanky and "bishounen" looking. It also changes the girls' school uniforms from black to the generic white with blue.

Personally I prefer the original rough art to the others. What do you guys think about the art styles?

Sep 19, 2013 2:33 PM

EusthEnoptEron

Offline

Feb 2008

147

Hakomari's art is interesting. In the first 3 volumes it is lower quality than most other light novels, looking more like high quality sketches than proper artwork. Yet I felt that the art style was great for Hakomari. Since the story is a bit out there and requires a lot of thinking, I felt that the rough art worked very well.
Read more at http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=664907#Gvb5SyreZMbxwbaJ.99

Actually, I love this kind of artwork and would prefer it over the generic moe style #41940 any day. That being said, I think the artist grew worse with every volume released; I don't really like the art in the fourth volume because it seems somewhat lifeless and "off" (eyes, glances, body posture, etc.)

Regarding v5&6: first off, believe it or not, but it's still the same artist. I don't really like the art, either, but I can live with it. Also, I agree that the guys look way too bishounen-ish. :D

It also changes the girls' school uniforms from black to the generic white with blue.

I can't tell for sure, but I think that's probably just their summer uniform. At the very least, a similar design already existed by the time the first volume came out: http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/images/5/54/UtsuroNoHako_005.jpg

Sep 20, 2013 2:11 PM

Pariah695

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Oct 2011

Wow, it's the same artist? I thought it was labeled as a different person in the afterwords. Weird that he just decided to change it up like that.

Oct 14, 2013 2:31 AM

RadiGen

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Nov 2010

375

I actually like the art from Volume 1 best, I think it has the most balanced style.

I agree the art for V5&6 was a bit off and too bishounen-looking. Was good though. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I actually thought that assuming from the artwork, they timeline fast-forwarded to college or something.

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The art

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