It’s really saddening to see her go away from KEY but atleast she will have more oppertunities to spread her work. I do hope she comes back to KEY one day to be part of major work or just partner up again.
Quite a varied array of reactions. Some people are giving up on Key, others think this is a great move.
This is sad news. Thank you for all of your work, Itaru Hinoue! Good luck with your future endeavors.
Wow I’m really shocked and sad. I learned of KEY through her art of Kanon and AIR. I feel like she adds a lot to the company. But I’m happy for her that she wants to do this. She now has a chance to expand her designs further and be more creative, so more power to her. I’ll always love her designs, her style, and everything she’s given. I wish her lots of luck in the future and look forward to her projects!
Not surprised in the least.
… HORROR WORK, NOW. HMMMMMM IMMA BE FOLLOWING MOMMA KEY.
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Wow. I was surprised to hear that myself too. Itaru Hinoue’s art designs always impressed me with the early beginnings of KEY and it saddens me that she decided to retire. I guess for her being a freelance illustrator would give her many opportunities to progress that fits into her schedule. I really do appreciate the time, energy, and efforts she brought that made me personally love the characters by bringing them to life in her designs. I wish the best for her and I hope things work out for whatever she does that makes her happy while pursuing her dreams for the future. Thank you Itaru Hinoue for everything you done to make KEY for what has been one of the most inspiring art designs that you created! We will never forget you. 
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I have mixed feelings about this 
When I spotted the news in Japanese, I was shocked. Then I felt a pang of sadness because her art is so iconic and will probably always be one of the first thing that will come to our minds when we think about Key. But then, I felt happy for her because going freelance means she will have more opportunities to grow as an artist trying different themes and concepts outside of what she did… I’ll keep following her work and supporting her, no doubt about that!
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…has it occurred to anyone how amazing publicity this is for Harmonia?
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Well, most likely it was planned beforehand.
Such a big news just a 4 days before official English release on Steam. It may not have an impact on casual players, but for Key (and, especially, Itaru-fans) efficiency is that of a nuke.
I doubt that it would sky-rocket the sales, but it won’t go unnoticed.
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Certainly sad news.
She has become such a talented artist under Key and I was hoping Key was working on another project with her. I will certainly keep following her and I really hope she can create great things somewhere else.
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I value my Rewrite Introduction Note Plus book signed by Hinoue and her art book sooooooo much more now.
I have mixed feelings about this like most others.
I’m glad she’ll be able to have more freedom for what she wants to draw and that she’ll also have more room to grow.
But I am also sad from the whatever events caused her to make this decision. Also that she was one of the original founders and now she’s leaving is a little saddening.
Nonetheless I am still grateful for what the entire company has done as a whole and will definitely continue to try and support both of them separately.
EDIT: On a side note I REALLY REALLY hope to meet her one day. I know she came to America about a year and a half ago at AX 2015 and I wasn’t able to go then.
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If she works on an actual horror title I will be so on board.
This is sad, but I do feel like this could be good for both her and Key as a whole. She will be able to gain a lot of new experiences and have more room to pick her projects, and Key can use Na-Ga as kind of the pillar of familarity and hopefully bring in some fresh blood.
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I wholeheartedly agree with her: Harmonia are definitely her best character designs yet.
Farewell, co-founder of Key :love:
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I have a really bad feeling. Like this is just the beginning of the end. Like the Key members will start leaving one after another…
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She hasn’t been valuable to Key since Clannad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’m really sad.
I love her designs. They might be not as casual and modern as Na-Ga’s, but I always feel that Hinoue’s are more KEY-ish. Good luck Hinoue! :komue:
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