Famed illustrator and founding member of Key Itaru Hinoue has announced on Twitter and via the Animate Times blog that she has retired from VisualArt’s and Key, and is pursuing a career as a freelance illustrator. This comes just days before Hinoue’s final Key title Harmonia is scheduled to launch on Steam.

Seeking new employment, Hinoue has partnered with Animate Times to run a campaign advertising herself to potential employers. She is looking for work as an anime or game character designer, or for illustration on novels and light novels. They’re currently raffling off her autograph to people who spread the word on social media. Animate Times has also published an extensive interview with Hinoue, asking about why she has decided to go Freelance, which you can read (in Japanese) here.

In the interview she expresses that after designing schoolgirls for nearly two decades, she desires to produce more fantasy and horror oriented work, which is certainly reflective of her recent creative endeavours. She also mentioned that despite being her most recent work, she is most happy with her designs in Harmonia above all others.