Artist spotlight - Redjuice: An Artistic Odyssey Illuminating Beatless, Hatsune Miku and Beyond

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In the vast universe of contemporary digital art, one name shines with the brilliance of a thousand supernovae: redjuice. This Japanese illustrator and graphic designer known for their distinctive and colorful artwork have left their mark on the industry. redjuice has honed their craft with a blend of traditional and digital techniques, resulting in an artistic legacy that is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Think of them as the Da Vinci of the digital age, creating masterpieces with a few clicks of a mouse and a touch of genius.
After redjuice started sharing his art on websites like pixiv, his views boomed to the millions rather quickly. With his rising popularity, redjuice started to get noticed in the professional world and he joined supercell, a vocaloid music band (and yes, that means Hatsune Miku is involved). He worked on vocaloid PVs when he first started, with his first major work being the original World Is Mine PV which currently has over six million views on NicoNico. 
redjuice has created illustrations for various projects, including album covers, light novels, and manga. Today we will take a look at some figures from redjuice’s illustrations including Hatsune Miku, Guilty Crown and Beatless.

Shaping the Landscape of Vocaloid Culture

Supercell made a significant impact on the world of music and virtual pop culture. Known for their fusion of captivating melodies and Vocaloid technology, they rose to fame with their hit song Melt featuring the virtual idol Hatsune Miku. Supercell's pioneering approach to music led to a fresh wave of interest in Vocaloid music, helping to establish it as a genre in its own right. Their collaborations with various talented artists and composers, including redjuice, played a pivotal role in shaping the Vocaloid music landscape, and they continue to be celebrated for their innovative contributions to the music industry.redjuice's association with Supercell was nothing short of a game-changer. As the illustrator behind the character designs for Hatsune Miku, redjuice breathed life into the iconic virtual idol, giving her a distinctive visual identity that resonated with fans worldwide. This collaboration between redjuice's artistic prowess and Supercell's musical genius marked a turning point in the world of Vocaloid music, as it showcased the potential for seamless integration between music and art. redjuice's work with Supercell set a new standard for the synergy between visuals and music, contributing significantly to the widespread popularity of Vocaloid culture.redjuice's illustration for the song World Is Mine became an iconic representation of Hatsune Miku's character. In this artwork, redjuice depicted Miku with her trademark teal hair and distinctive headset microphone, gazing confidently at the viewer. The illustration captured Miku's playful yet confident persona, symbolizing the essence of the song's lyrics. World Is Mine is one of Hatsune Miku's most well-known songs, and redjuice's artwork has become synonymous with the track, often serving as its visual representation. This illustration further solidified redjuice's reputation as an artist who could infuse depth and personality into virtual characters, leaving a lasting imprint on the world of Vocaloid culture.redjuice's was also responsible for creating the design for the 2010 Good Smile Racing version! While still keeping his own signature style, the racing version has a bit more of an upbeat vibe.

Guilty Crown and Supercell Going Professional

In 2011, redjuice's career reached new heights when he was commissioned to create the original character designs for Guilty Crown. Simultaneously, Ryo, the mastermind behind Supercell's musical compositions, was chosen to compose the songs for the Guilty Crown anime. The series featured a fictional band named EGOIST, whose music was skillfully crafted by Ryo. Even after the conclusion of the anime, EGOIST continued to captivate audiences with their mesmerizing melodies, releasing several albums, all adorned with redjuice's captivating illustrations.As Guilty Crown and the collaborative efforts of Supercell and redjuice gained traction, their collective impact extended far beyond the realms of anime and music. The seamless integration of the fictional band EGOIST's music within the series not only elevated the anime's emotional resonance but also solidified Supercell's position as a groundbreaking musical entity. redjuice's striking character designs added a layer of depth to the anime's narrative, enhancing the visual storytelling experience for audiences worldwide.Yuzuriha Inori, a central character in Guilty Crown, is the stoic and mysterious vocalist of the fictional band EGOIST within the series. Inori's character underwent a compelling evolution throughout the narrative. Initially depicted as an enigma shrouded in secrecy, Inori gradually unraveled layers of vulnerability and resilience, revealing a multifaceted personality that resonated deeply with viewers.This figure from Good Smile Company is a wonderful representation of her. She is given an innocent expression and her sculpting shows a delicate appearance. The outfit she wore from the series has also been faithfully reproduced. The outfit along with the dynamic posing of the figure, makes her look a bit like a goldfish, elegantly swimming through the air.

Redjuice's Visual Tapestry in Beatless

Beatless is a Japanese science fiction light novel series written by Satoshi Hase and illustrated by redjuice. It was serialized from 2012 to 2013 and later adapted into various media formats, including a manga series and an anime television series. The story of Beatless is set in a future where highly advanced humanoid robots known as hIEs (Humanoid Interface Elements) coexist with humans. The plot follows the protagonist, Arato Endo, who encounters an unusual hIE named Lacia. As the story unfolds, it delves into the ethical and societal implications of AI and the relationships between humans and artificial beings.The audience is immersed in a world where the lines between humanity and artificial intelligence blur. As technology and humanity collide, Beatless weaves a tale of intrigue, inviting us to ponder the implications of a world where the boundaries between the natural and the artificial are increasingly ambiguous, and where the very essence of consciousness is brought into question. At the heart of the mesmerizing visuals that bring Beatless to life is, of course, redjuice. redjuice seamlessly translates the nuanced emotions and complexities of the characters and their synthetic counterparts onto the canvas, infusing each illustration with a sense of ethereal beauty and thought-provoking depth. Through his masterful strokes, redjuice skillfully captures the intricate balance between the humanity and artificiality of the hIEs.Lacia, the central hIE from Beatless and the main heroine (can we call robots that?), embodies a blend of sophistication and intrigue that transcends conventional expectations of artificial intelligence. Her sleek exterior, coupled with a calculated demeanor, serves as a canvas for a character shrouded in mystery and intellectual depth. Beyond her physical attributes, Lacia's interactions with the world around her exude a subtle charm, teasing at the complex emotional landscape that lies beneath her perplexing facade. Lacia's character embodies a dichotomy of intellect and mystique. Her every calculated move and nuanced interaction serves as a testament to the intricate emotional depths that artificial intelligence can possess. As she maneuvers through the intricate dynamics of human-robot relationships, Lacia's presence ignites contemplation about the intricacies of consciousness and the evolving nature of artificial sentience.In stark contrast, Kyouka emerges as a dynamic force, infusing the storyline with a fiery spirit and a relentless determination that reverberates throughout the series. Her spirited persona, complemented by a passionate temperament, disrupts conventional notions of robotic limitations, hinting at the profound capacity for emotional understanding within the realm of artificial intelligence. As Kyouka's journey unfolds, her evolution becomes a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, intertwining with the complexities of the human experience and underscoring the profound connections that bind humanity to the ever-expanding landscape of technological progress. Kyouka's evolving presence acts as a catalyst for introspection, highlighting the boundless potential for empathy and emotional connections humans may one day have with technology.

If you cant get enough of the redjuice aesthetic, a figure of Viola is available for pre-order from his GIRLS FROM HELL Series!Let us know who your favorite illustrator is in the comments below!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed this one!

by Timothy

Addicted to Kancolle Arcade. If I'm not raging with my fellow teitoku, you can find me hiking, playing the drums or taking pictures of random park benches to satisfy my love of anime pilgrimage!

Comment (1)

John Paul

Beautiful figures from beautiful artwork. I love redjuice’s style, especially shown in the Beatless figures.

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