The following artworks are a fascinating insight into the design process for Shenhua, from black & white quick sketches, to full colour glorious portraits. We also get a glimpse of some Virtua Fighter RPG scene designs, some of Shenhua’s expressions and abilities!
Shenhua – Profile (Design Order Sheet)
Description:
VF RPG Design Order Sheet
Request Date: June 6, 1996
Original Concept: Makoto Goya (呉屋 真)
Requester: Nobukatsu Hiranoya (平野谷 信勝)
Creator: Eigo Kasahara (笠原 英伍)
Chapter 5 – Guilin: All Areas
Character Name: Lao Shenhua (羅 星花)
No.: 04
<Order Details>
• Name: Lo Shenhua (ラオ シンファ)
• Gender: Female (typically has a “blank” facial expression)
• Blood Type: B
• Date of Birth: January 30, 1970. 17 years old ( Akira is 19 at this time)
• Height/Weight: 155cm / 43kg
• Clothing: Ethnic attire as created by Miyawaki? (Includes a hat, a thin scarf-like ethnic-style item, slightly frayed pinafore skirt, trousers, shoes – refer to illustrations).
• Appearance Location: Throughout Guilin
• Frequency of Appearance: Heroine
• Relationship with Akira: Love interest?
• Required Facial Expressions: Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, as well as pain and terror. (Refer to scenario details; further to be added as scenarios progress.)
• Required Movements: Refer to scenario; additional animations will be added in scenario updates.
<Personality>
• Has a pure and innocent heart.
• Has a selfless kindness that leads her to act without hesitation for the sake of what’s important.
• Lacks a sense of caution towards others.
• Due to her upbringing in a secluded rural village, she is naive and unaware of the outside world. As a result, she sometimes causes trouble for Akira by misunderstanding situations.
• Shenhua inherits the bloodline of a family from the elite Manchu Eight Banners – an imperial military force directly serving the emperor – particularly known for their mastery of qi (mystical energy).
• She is a descendant of the legendary martial artist Lao Shu Xing (羅枢星), who was known as the “Lightning Hero”, and has an innate ability to sense and manipulate qi.
<Other>
• Has no interest in makeup.
• Can cook but her dishes are hit-or-miss.
<Notes>
• Appears starting from Chapter 5. Full appearance from Chapter 5 onward (planned).
• At her first appearance, she is 155cm tall and weighs 43kg, but eventually grows to 165cm tall and weighs 49kg. (The model is expected to change at least twice during the story.)
• Her outfit will change as the chapters progress (with each chapter, after Mengcun).
(Signatures and stamps at the bottom indicate approvals and submission details.)
Shenhua Face – Early Design (Black & White)
An black & white illustration of Shenhua in a close up portrait. She wears a textured beige cap and has dark brown hair styled in two braids secured with yellow ties.
Shenhua Face – Early Design (Colour)
A colored illustration of Shenhua in a close up portrait. She wears a textured beige cap and has dark brown hair styled in two braids secured with yellow ties.
Shenhua – Early Design (Colour)
A character illustration of Shenhua wearing a rustic outfit.
Text:
アキラと同行する少女 – “A girl traveling with Akira”
宮脇 – “Miyawaki”
Shenhua in Prayer – Quick Sketch
A black and white line drawing of Shenhua in profile, facing left. Her hair is braided and flows behind her. Her hands are raised in front of her, as if reaching or gesturing.
Shenhua in Prayer – Sketch
A sketch of Shenhua in profile, standing with her arms raised in front of her. Her braided hair flows gently behind her.
Shenhua in Prayer – Full Colour
An illustration of Shenhu a standing on an elevated area. Her hands are raised in a graceful pose, and the background features a warm, golden sky with scattered clouds illuminated by the setting sun.
Shenhua on Mountain Top – Sketch
A black and white sketch of Shenhua standing on a mound, with her arms outstretched. She wears a flowing dress, with the wind lifting the fabric. Several birds are flying in the sky above her. The background features cliffs and distant trees.
Shenhua on Mountain Top – Full Colour
Shenhua standing on a mound, arms outstretched, with birds flying in the sky above and cliffs in the background.
Shenhua Wind Shift
A black and white sketch of Shenhua, standing in a strong wind. Her scarf and hair are swept to the side and leaves and debris swirl around her.
Shenhua Crying
A sketch of Shenhua in a distressed state, crying with tears streaming down her face.
Shenhua Explosion
A dynamic sketch of Shenhua in a defensive stance, with her cap flying off behind her and dress flaring out. Her expression is intense and focused, with hands outstretched in front of her, fingers spread wide.
Shenhua Expressions
A series of facial expression sketches of Shenhua, wearing her signature cap and braids.
The expressions include surprise, calm, determination, anger, joy, and frustration.
The bottom drawing is labeled ” ジョーク ” (“joke”), indicating a humorous or exaggerated pout.
Shenhua & Ryo (Akira)
Shenhua in brown clothing alongside Akira in a white tank top, shown in a close up illustration.
Shenhua & Ryo – Sketch
A rough sketch featuring Shenhua in the foreground with her hands raised in front of her.
Ryo Hazuki is depicted in the background looking determined, facing away from Shenhua.
Shenhua & Ryo – Sketch w/ Handwritten Notes
A rough sketch featuring Shenhua in the foreground, her hands clasped together.
Behind her, Ryo Hazuki’s face is prominently drawn in profile with a stern look.
Text:
メインビジュアル – “Main Visual”
CG 化 お願いしたいですので 詳しくはメールにて – “I would like this made into CG, so please refer to the details in the email.”
バックは夕日 – “The background is a sunset.”
他にバックちが う も の に 一点 で きれ ば – “If possible, one alternative background.”
部長チェック済み –> 8/12 – “Checked by department head –> 8/12
8/16 出来れば もっと早く。 – “8/16 Sooner, if possible.”
Shenhua & Ryo (Akira) Walking – VFRPG Sketch
A black-and-white sketch depicting Shenhua and Akira walking along a wide path through a mountainous landscape with grass and rolling hills. Shenhua appears to be scolding Akira, who looks taken aback. In the distance is an outline of what may be the Great Wall, suggesting the possibility that the two are themselves may be walking along a section of the wall.
At the bottom right is a date “3/30” and the signature of Miyawaki (宮脇)
Text:
“VF RPG”
“山中の二人旅 ” – “Two travelers in the mountains”
Shenhua on the Great Wall – Sketch
A sketch of Shenhua walking along what appears to be the Great Wall of China. She is wearing a cap and scarf, with her garments and several large leaves being swept by the wind. Shenhua’s expression shows curiosity or wonder as she gazes upward.
Shenhua Face
A black-and-white character sketch of Shenhua, featuring her in a textured cap and two braided pigtails.
Text:
シェンファ — “Shenhua”
Shenhua Face
Shenhua With Hat Off – Sketch
A small black-and-white sketch of Shenhua kneeling on the ground and smiling, touching her hat
which sits in front of her. She has her hair in a long plait.
Shenhua Poses
A pencil sketch of Shenhua shown in two different poses. On the left, she wears her cap and on the right, she holds her cap in her left hand.
Shenhua Happy
A pencil sketch of Shenhua wearing a traditional Chinese-style outfit with short sleeves and a mandarin collar. Her posture is relaxed, with one arm folded across her chest.
Shenhua Emotions
A pencil sketch of Shenhua depicted in two different emotional states. The upper drawing shows her with a serious, determined expression. The lower drawing captures her in a distressed moment, mouth wide open as if shouting or crying out
Shenhua Portrait
A pencil sketch of Shenhua depicted from two angles: a front view and a side profile.
Shenhua – Full Colour
A full-body illustration of Shenhua. She wears a cream-colored hat and her hair is styled in two braids. The text “莎花” (Shenhua) is written in the bottom right.
Shenhua Side – Full Colour
Shenhua in her brown outfit with a scarf flowing in the wind. She holds her hands in front of her.
Shenhua Sitting – Full Colour
Shenhua sitting on the ground, with one leg slightly raised and the other resting flat.
Text:
シェンファ – “Shenhua”.
