Takehito Harada is a character designer for Nippon Ichi Software (NIS). He is probably most famous for his work on the hit Disgaea franchise. We had the opportunity to sit down with Harada-san and discuss his work.

Interviewers: Osman Numair and Theodore Mak

T-ono: Could you please discuss your signature character, Pleinair, especially regarding Usagi-san (rabbit) and Same-san (shark)?

Harada: Pleinair was first drawn as a combination with a rabbit and a shark. Later on I wanted to make them sidekicks, so I kept them with her.

T-ono: So originally Pleinair was the entire art piece as one, the rabbit, shark, and the girl?

Harada: Yes, yes that’s correct.

T-ono:  I know that the Japanese Limited Edition version of Disgaea came with a mini art book, and that recently the Disgaea 3 Digital art book went on sale in Japan, but are there any plans for releasing a full printed Disgaea 3 art book soon?

Harada: We are still planning an art book and still working on character designs but the artbook is going to be release a little later.

T-ono: Who is your favorite character from the Disgaea franchise, besides Pleinair?

Harada: I like red devil Flonne because I really like bunny girls [laughing].

T-ono: Which character was the most difficult to draw or design? Why?

Harada: I really like to draw Rozalin, but it takes a really long time to draw.

T-ono: How do you choose the colors? For example, why is Flonne white, blue, blonde, etc.?

Harada: I choose the color that fit the characters personality. Not always, just most of the time.

T-ono: What is your involvement in the games you design characters for? (Using the recent Disgaea 3 as an example) Do you actually create the characters from scratch, or does someone else in the company ahead of time decide on names, personalities, etc.

Harada: I do in fact decide all the character’s personalities, and names. I also design the costume. I then give my concepts to NIS and sometimes they may make some changes or reject some ideas.

T-ono: In a previous interview, you mentioned that Laharl was first design with a coat, but then you decided to change it to a cape. But for the Disgaea 3 character, Mao, you used a coat that the character wears like a cape. Are there any correlations?

Harada: For Disgaea 3 the game’s setting is in a school, and in Japan all bad boys have a coat in school. I wanted the main charterer to look like a badass so I designed Mao with the coat on his shoulders.

T-ono: Asagi has been seen in Disgaea, Makai Kingdom, and various other NIS games only as a secret character. Can you please tell us a little more about Asagi, and her role in  Disgaea 3?

Harada: I actually first wanted to make Asagi as the main character for a game a long time ago, but NIS didn’t approve of the character. I really liked her so I tried to put her in all the games I work on and as for Disgaea 3, she must be feeling really sad in the game [laughing].

T-ono: Which game was she rejected for as the main character?

Harada-san: Um… [pause] That’s a secret!

T-ono: What do you use to make your art work? For example, do you use paper with copic markers, watercolors, pastels, etc.?

Harada: I do all my work on on the computer mainly using Photoshop.

T-ono: I see, so I assume you use a tablet?

Harada-san: Ah, yes, a tablet.

T-ono:  Do you work in a studio at NIS or at home and what does your typical schedule look like?

Harada: I do all my work at my home. When I start working on a project, I first work on character design for about four months. I then work on the cut scenes and dialogue. I then send my work to NIS and they work on the background for the cut scenes which takes about half a year. I then work on ads and publishing art, so in total it takes about a year to complete.

T-ono: On behalf of T-ono.net, I'd like to thank you, and the NIS team for this interview

Harada: Thank you!

We would also like to thank Jack Niida (NIS America Marketing Manager) who arranged for the interview, the charming Nao Zook ( NIS America Marketing Coordinator) who was acting as the translator, and again the rest of the NIS America staff.

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