Jed Henry and Dave Bull are the artists behind Ukiyo-e Heroes. Ukiyo-e Heroes takes classic video game characters and reimagines them in the style of traditional Ukiyo-e prints.

Ukiyo (or “Floating World”), which first came about in the Yoshiwara district, described an urban lifestyle of Japan during the Edo-period (1600-1867), and it was in this district where the Ukiyo-e prints originated. Ukiyo-e prints, or “Pictures of the Foating World,” depicted heroes, villains, and monsters, all filled with vibrant colour and creativity, which Japan is still known for today.

Reimagining their favourite characters in the style of Ukiyo-e prints allows Ukiyo-e Heroes to pay homage to Japan and the influence it has had on the video game industry. Continue reading past the break to view the prints in full.

Ukiyo-e Heroes