Mika Pikazo Talks About RE:BEL Exhibition and Future Plans
Mika Pikazo spoke to Anime News Network about the RE:BEL exhibition held as part of Anime Expo 2026. In the interview, the artist shared her creative process, her understanding of color and composition, her sources of inspiration, and her plans for the future. Pikazo is one of today's most visible Japanese illustrators, known especially for the character design of Kizuna AI and her work on Fire Emblem Engage.
RE:BEL stands out as an exhibition that brings together the artist's signature pop aesthetic and vibrant color palette. This project by Pikazo offers fans a close-up look at her bridge between digital and traditional illustration. In the interview, the artist emphasized that she prioritizes emotions in her color choices and that every drawing should tell a story.
Mika Pikazo began her career as a freelance illustrator; she then took part in projects such as various official designs for Hatsune Miku, Pokémon TCG cards, and the character design of Kizuna AI, a pioneer of the VTuber world. In 2023, she undertook the character design for Nintendo's Fire Emblem Engage, earning the admiration of a wide player base. This diversity shows how broad her sphere of influence is in both the anime and gaming industries.
In the interview, Pikazo said she wants to take part in more international projects in the future and aims to bring her art to audiences from different cultures. These statements reveal not only a portrait of an artist, but also the central role illustrators play in today's anime and gaming industries. Pikazo's success is an important example of how individual artists can create an impact on a global scale in the digital age.
Fans may encounter more collaborations and character design projects from Mika Pikazo in the coming period, along with new stops for the RE:BEL exhibition. The artist's future vision shows that she has become not just an illustrator, but also a global brand. Those who visited the exhibition during Anime Expo 2026 had the chance to get one step closer to Pikazo's colorful world.
