Akihiko Yoshida's Character Designs.

Concept art for Final Fantasy XIV

Previously, I had posted an entry about Yoshitaka Amano. Now I'll focus on Square Enix's (originally Squaresoft) adjacent concept artist responsible for the majority of remaining character designs. Akihiko Yoshida joined Squaresoft in 1995 and has since become the visionary behind characters in titles such as the Final Fantasy Tactics series, Vagrant Story, Tactics Ogre, and Final Fantasy XII.

A comparison between Yoshida's vision for the remake

 of Final Fantasy III and the final, in-game product.

His art style is as distinct as Amano's and equally unique. Yoshida's style is defined by an organic color palette and a rough, rugged texture. This is accentuated by his reliance on traditional medium, rather than the digital tools most artists in his field presently turn to. His figures are often characterized by exaggerated joints and waist, many times with pronounced/large eyes, and commonly with a minute/nonexistent nose.

"Vagrant Story"

Original design of Delita Heiral for Final Fantasy Tactics 

and an animated cutscene included in the game's 2007 remake.

Original design of Ramza Beoulve for Final Fantasy Tactics 

and a capture from a cutscene included in the game's 2007 remake.

If you find the style of his character designs from Final Tantasy Tactics appealing, you can view over thirty more at THIS SITE.

You can also read more about Yoshida at THIS SITE.

And I'll leave you with one of his environmental  pieces, it was the first image publicly released for Final Fantasy XII as a sort of 'teaser':