At this year's Anime Central convention, attendees were given interesting details about the creation of the anime “Celestial Illusion (Tengoku Daimakyou)”. During the Production IG panel, Anime director Hirotaka Mori shared how the acclaimed video game “The Last of Us” influenced the series’ artistic direction.

Mori, a self-proclaimed fan of “The Last of Us,” commented that the game’s post-apocalyptic world and visual atmospheres left a deep impression on him. He was so fascinated by the video game art that he bought the art book for “The Last of Us” to use as reference for the art direction of “Tengoku Daimakyou”. Additionally, he made direct requests to Production IG studios to have the anime reflect a similar aesthetic.

"The Last of Us" is an action-adventure video game series created by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The franchise has received critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including several Game of the Year nominations. The first game was cited as one of the best video games ever created, and the second installment won several Game of the Year awards.

The anime “tengoku Daimakyou”, produced by Production IG, aired during the Spring-2023 season (April-June). The series was directed by Hirotaka Mori, with scripts written by Makoto Fukami, character designs by Utsushita of Minakata Laboratory, and music composed by Kensuke Ushio.

These revelations offer a fascinating insight into how outside influences can shape the creation of an anime, bridging two disparate worlds, such as video games and animation. Fans of both franchises can appreciate how the artistic vision of “The Last of Us” has left its mark on “Tengoku Daimakyou,” further enriching the anime viewing experience.

Source: Mogura Manga