Mutsumi Inomata

Mutsumi Inomata (いのまたむつみ) was a Japanese illustrator and animator. She was born in the Kanagawa Prefecture on December 23, 1960, and passed away on March 10, 2024.

Works

Mutsumi Inomata worked in a good deal of anime and video games since the 80s as a freelance. She is best known for her work on the characters and cover art for the "Tales of" series from Bandai Namco.

Inomata's paintings had a very bright, distinct, colorful watercolor style.

Inomata and Dragon Quest

Inomata drew multiple illustrations for the Dragon Quest series. Her artworks served to illustrate the CD Theater dramas for the first six games in the series, as well as for some of the novelizations. She also illustrated the Rubiss novel series, giving the goddess a bright red hair color.

One of her most notable influences on the series as a whole is her portrayal of Psaro, giving him a bishonen look with wild long silver hair, an appearance close to that of Jareth, the character David Bowie portrayed in the movie Labyrinth (1986).

Gallery

Cover Art

Some of Inomata's cover art in the Dragon Quest series include the following:

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  The descendant of Erdrick.
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  The descendant wielding Erdrick's sword.
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  The Hero and Princess Gwaelin.
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  Protecting the princess from a dragon.
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  The Hero resting.
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  The Luminaries of the Legendary Line.
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  The Princess of Moonbrooke.
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  The Hero Erdrick and companions.
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  The Hero in the Auroral Armour.
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  Goddess Rubiss in the novel 'Legend of Rubiss'.
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  Rubbiss in the second volume.
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  Rubiss in the final volume.
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  Ragnar McRyan.
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  Tsarevna Alena.
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  Kiryl & Borya.
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  Torneko Taloon.
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  Hero Solo
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  The Zamoksvans.
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  Mahabala sisters.
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  The Chosen united.
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  Hero Solo and Psaro.
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  Hero Solo facing Psaro.
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  Psaro and Rose.
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  Bianca and her hero.
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  The two as adults.
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  The Hero's children.
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  The Heroes of VI.
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  The Runaway Teen.
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  The Swordsman in Blue
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  The Swordsman and the Mysterious Girl
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  Cover art for Mutsumi Inomata's Dragon Quest Illustrations.
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  Cover art for the original Dragon Quest CD Theater.
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  Cover art for the second Dragon Quest VI CD Theater.
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  Dragon Quest III Cover art.
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  Cover art for the 30th anniversary of the Erdrick Trilogy novels.

Novel Illustrations

Some of Inomata's artwork in the Dragon Quest novels include the following:

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  The Hero and Garcilla.
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  Princess Gwaelin.
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  The Sunstone reacting to the Hero.
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  Gwaelin during her six month imprisonment.
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  The Hero's encounter with the Golem.
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  The Hero's final battle with the Dragonlord.
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  The Prince of Midenhall.
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  The Prince of Cannock.
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  The Princess of Moonbrooke.
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  An original character from the DQ2 novel.
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  The two princes battling a Badboon.
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  The Prince of Cannock being bashful.
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  The Luminaries encountering a new foe.
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  The Prince of Midenhall engaging in a duel.
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  Reclaiming a withered Erdrick's Sword.
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  The Princes wielding Erdrick's Sword and the Thunderbolt Blade.
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  The False Idol.
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  The high priest Hargon and Belial.
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  The Hero Erdrick.
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  Female Warrior.
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  Male Priest.
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  Female Mage.
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  Male Martial artist.
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  Male Merchant.
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  Male Gadabout.
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  An original villain the DQ3 novel.
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  The party of 3.
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  Defeating Robbin' 'Ood.
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  The Martial Artist defeating a Lump Wizard.
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  The Male Priest about to experience a Puff Puff in Asham.
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  The Hero getting disarmed of the Mountaincleaver.
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  The Hero and Mage with matching necklaces.
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  Hero Solo.
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  Ragnar McRyan.
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  Alena.
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  Kiryl.
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  Borya.
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  Torneko Taloon.
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  Meena Mahabala.
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  Maya Mahabala.
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  Ragnar partnering with Healie.
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  Psaro’s Pawn abducting kids in search of the hero.
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  Torneko with a Steel Strongbox.
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  Borya meeting the Legendary Hero.
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  Alena, Kiryl, and Maya hiding from a monster.
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  Kiryl dancing with Meena and Maya.
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  Hero Solo finding the Zenithian sword.
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  The Zenithian Hero.
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  Psaro the Manslayer.
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  The childhood of the Hero.
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  The Hero surrounded by Drackies.
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  Bianca and the Hero braving the haunted mansion.
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  Bianca’s giving Saber her ribbon.
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  A Walking Corpse and Cross Eye.
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  Saber reuniting with his master after 10 years.
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  The Legendary Monster Wrangler.
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  The birth of the legendary hero.
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  The Hero meeting his kids several years later.
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  The Hero meeting his father again.