At this year’s Anime Central Convention, fans were treated to an exciting behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the anime Heavenly Delusion. During Production I.G’s panel, director Hirotaka Mori shared some fascinating insights into the series’ art direction.
Mori revealed that the acclaimed video game The Last Of Us had a significant influence on the anime’s visual style. As a fan of the game, Mori was deeply impressed by its post-apocalyptic reality and atmospheric visuals, so much so that he bought its art book to use as a reference for Heavenly Delusion.
The Last Of Us, created by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is an action-adventure video game series that has received widespread critical acclaim.
The game has won numerous awards, including several Game of the Year accolades, and is often cited as one of the greatest video games ever made. Its success is reflected in its sales, with over 37 million copies sold across the globe as of January 2023.
Heavenly Delusion, produced by Production I.G, aired from April to June 2023. Directed by Hirotaka Mori, the anime featured scripts by Makoto Fukami, character designs by Utsushita from Minakata Laboratory, and music composed by Kensuke Ushio.
The series is based on the Japanese manga written and illustrated by Masakazu Ishiguro, serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon since January 2018. As of February 2024, the manga has been collected into 10 tankobon volumes.
The influence of The Last Of Us on Heavenly Delusion’s art direction highlights the intersection of different media and how inspiration can travel across various forms of storytelling.
Mori’s admiration for the game’s art demonstrates the impact of high-quality video game design on other creative fields, enriching the visual storytelling of Heavenly Delusion and providing fans with a unique and compelling viewing experience.
