Fumikane Shimada

• Name — Fumikane Shimada • Born — 26 January 1974 • Birthplace — Okayama Prefecture, Japan • Field — Character design, illustration

Shimada is well known for sparking the mecha shoujo boom of the 2000s with his line of mecha musume illustrations. During this time he provided illustrations for various dōjin and commercial hobbyist magazines some of which were turned into popular figurines and model kits by Toranoana and Konami. Since then, Shimada has worked as a character and mechanical designer for various military-themed anime television series and video games. In July 2013, Shimada was responsible for designing military recruitment posters and other promotional material for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Shimada's designs commonly combine bishōjo characters, moe elements, and mechanical systems such as military-style weapons, armor, or vehicles. Some of his most iconic character designs in this style come from the Strike Witches franchise. In it young girls with Kemonomimi use machines that attach to their legs to fly and fight aliens with weapons as part of a military force.

Anime • Year — Title — Role — References • 2006-2007 — Sky Girls — Conceptual mechanical design Original character design • 2007-present — Strike Witches/World Witches — Original character design • 2011-2012 — Busou Shinki • 2012-present — Girls und Panzer — character design • 2015 — Kantai Collection — Original character design • 2017-2019 — Frame Arms Girl • 2019 — Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise — Character design (Mobile Doll May) • 2021 — Midnight Fun Nora Version • 2023 — Alice Gear Aegis: Expansion • Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase Video games • Year — Title — Role — References • Hayate the Combat Butler: Nightmare Paradise — Mechanical design • 2006-present — Busou Shinki • 2009 — Dariusburst • 2013-present — Kantai Collection — Original character design, in-game sprite illustrations • 2018-present — Alice Gear Aegis • 2019 — Sakura Wars — Guest character design for the Berlin Combat Revue (Elise and Margarethe) • 2020-present — Strike Witches — Character design • 2021 — Fate/Grand Order — Character design (Galatea) Commercial magazines • Year — Title — Role — References • MC Akushizu — Cover (Vol.1, Vol. 3) • Spiegel Series — Illustration Figures and Model Kits • Year — Title — Role — References • Mecha musume — Character design • Busou Shinki — Character design • Frame Arms Girl — Character design • Megami Device — Character design • 30 Minutes Sisters — Character design Dōjinshi • Year — Title — Role — References • 幻の歩兵戦 • Strike Witches: Witches of Africa (ストライクウィッチーズ アフリカの魔女) — Illustrations Art books • Year — Title — Role — References • 島田フミカネ ART WORKS』, published by Kadokawa Group Publishing CD • Year — Title — Role — References • Senpai mo Kōhai mo Osananajimi mo Tsundere de Nemurenai CD (先輩も後輩も幼なじみもツンデレで眠れないCD) Cards • Year — Title — Role — References • MCTCG Fairy Lore (MCTCG妖精伝承) illustration project • Year — Title — Role — References • Bio-station Mars (火星生物局) — Original narrative/illustration work