Itaru Hinoue and Na-Ga usually reuse older designs for their newer works for a reason. I appreciate that they’re always finding inspiration from their own designs to use for their newer designs however!
Itaru Hinoue has been designing characters for over 20 years, and Na-Ga has been designing characters for over 10 years. It’s completely natural that their newer designs would feel similar to their older designs because they’re always following a specific head shape and art style, so they are always limited on what they can do for the designs, and also because since they’ve designed many characters for a long time, it’s natural to not have as many original designs as they used to. They consider the medium that they’re given and make designs based on that. They have to also consider how the design compares to past Key designs.
Designs are for sure limitless! But because both Itaru Hinoue and Na-Ga have created a sort of prerequisite for what a design should have, they feel an obligation to stick to what they know best, and due to that, they are limited for what they can do. Many things go into the designs, and it’s just their styles.
It’s why their designs usually have bangs, or why the girls have the same body types, or why the girls never have crazy messy hair, or even why they have the same big eyes. It would mess with the established ideal designs for the medium they’re doing designs for.
I think it’s actually very amazing that Na-Ga and Itaru Hinoue are still doing more and more designs, as I am always glad to see more designs come out from them! Whether the designs are new or reused, I always find it amazing to see both Itaru Hinoue and Na-Ga’s art growth as time passes! They’re amazing artists and have shaped up many wonderful designs for Key!
