Mika Pikazo Talks RE:BEL ROBOTICA and Character Design at Anime Expo
Pikazo's shift toward character interiority, shaped by her VTuber work, now defines how she approaches projects like RE:BEL ROBOTICA.
Reporting from 1 source: Anime News Network.
At Anime Expo 2026, illustrator Mika Pikazo discussed her creative evolution, from focusing on visual appeal to understanding characters from the inside. She also touched on her mixed media project RE:BEL ROBOTICA, which began as a doujin and now includes a serialized online story, two novels, and an upcoming TV anime from Amute Creative Studio.
Mika Pikazo, known for designing VTubers Kaguya Luna and Hakos Baelz and for character designs in Fire Emblem Engage, sat down with Anime News Network at Anime Expo 2026. The conversation covered her illustration process and the evolution of her approach to character design.
Pikazo said her focus has moved from whether a character looks cute to what the character is feeling. She now thinks about how a character would think and behave before drawing them, and she considers how each personality would express emotion differently, such as an energetic character laughing with an open mouth versus a serious character giving a small smile.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.