# Japanese Folkloric Illustrations Heitor Seió Kimura's Japanese Folklore Images are Flawless By Paul Maccarone | Published 2013-07-27 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japanese-folklore References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/359516/Crisp-Illustrations-Of-Creatures-From-Japanese-Folklore/) & [cargocollective](http://cargocollective.com/hkim) Heitor Seió Kimura's illustrations of Japanese folklore are both on-point and an expert display of vector graphics. In Japanese folklore these supernatural creatures are called "yokai," and are part of many different stories that range from mischievous, cruel and some are even associated with good luck. Whether it's the images of 'Baku' or 'Yatagarasu,' all of the illustrations effectively utilize vector art to create a rich and imaginative design. Combined with a minimalist background, these creatures leap out of their encapsulated circles through the use of vibrant colors and dynamic shadows. Preserving the history of the stories was important to the Brazilian artist as much of the folklore of the past fades from memory in modern times. It's apparent that Kimura respects Japanese folklore a great deal as all of the mythical creatures are the focal point of each illustration. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 90% | Activity: 63% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: South America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Vector Graphics in Illustration:** Exploring the use of vector graphics in illustration to create rich and imaginative designs. - **Preservation of Folklore:** Recognizing the importance of preserving traditional folklore through artistic representation. - **Minimalist Backgrounds in Design:** Embracing minimalist backgrounds to create a focus on the mythical creatures in illustrations. ### Who This Affects Most - **Graphic Design:** Opportunities for graphic design professionals to incorporate vector graphics in their illustrations. - **Art and Culture:** Explore new ways to preserve and celebrate traditional folklore through various art forms. - **Publishing and Storytelling:** Incorporating minimalist backgrounds in designs can enhance the storytelling experience in books and other publications. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Anime Horror-Style Reimaginations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/junji-ito-artwork.md) - [Monochromatic Ghost Character Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monochromatic-ghost-character-sculptures.md) - [Sci-Fi-Inspired Classical Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sen-donnan.md) - [Horror Manga-Inspired Graphic Tees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uniqlo-and-junji-ito.md) - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md) - [Juxtaposing Japanese Kimonos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reversible-sukajan-kimono.md) - [Japanese Folklore-Themed Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kunitsugami-path-of-the-goddess.md) - [Collaborative Animation Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/junji-ito-x-sanrio.md) - [Collaborative Sculptural Art Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neojomon-biomorphic-fantme.md)