What is your favorite thing about the character (Gerda) you illustrated?

I love it when I see girls wearing fluffy outfits, so I really liked Gerda wearing her fleecy cape and pudgy legs. Her nose and cheeks are red because I wanted to convey the sense that she lives in a chilly region, as well as the fact that she has fair skin. Gerda was one of the first original characters I was asked to create, and I was moved to see her come to life when I saw her talking in the game. She was so cute.

What did you focus on when designing the character, and did you need to make any design changes
once you received guidance from the writers, setting, and reference documentation?

I received a brief explanation of the world and her appearance by text. I intended for her expressions to show her as a bright and courageous girl. I figured she was likely to wear fur, so I made sure it was on her robe and shoes, and I also added leather on her belt and bag. I also tried to include embroidery, and trying to design what seemed like traditional or cultural clothing was fun. Andersen's The Snow Queen comes immediately to mind since the story is set in a snowy land and the character's name is Gerda...and I while I tried not to let that influence me too much, that imagery might have made its way into her design. I was relieved to learn my first draft submission was approved and everything went as smoothly as it could, but I was very nervous the whole time.

Other than the Servant you designed, which FGO Servant is your favorite?

There are many Servants I love, but I would have to say my absolute favorite is Senji Muramasa. When he was implemented, my first thought was, "Finally!“ I worked hard to get his NP level to max... He manages to wipe out all the enemies in most battles, so I take him with me even if he's at a disadvantage affinity-wise.

What inspiration or themes did you keep in mind when creating this memorial illustration?

I wanted to illustrate something that would remind everyone of a certain scene from the main story, and I wanted the illustration to feel like a warm light and a passing breeze. I was torn between illustrating Gerda with her squinting or with her eyes closed, and so I submitted both versions as drafts, and ultimately they took a different approach for the final illustration. I was thrilled and grateful that this illustration was used for the special video. I feel the change we made for her expression made it even more heartrending.