The following artworks show a range of different design notes. Alongside a fantastic character graph demonstrating all of the different heights of certain main characters, there are also various flow chart and skeleton diagrams, providing a fascinating insight into the design process.
Character Comparison Graph – With Hand-written Note
A height comparison chart of character skeletons from Shenmue 2, created on February 8, 2000, by Kawabata. The image shows 3D model placeholders of various character types, ranging from children to elderly individuals, including named characters like Ryo and Joy. A handwritten note is attached in the upper right corner.
Text:
キャラクタースケルトン別スケール比較 – “Character Skeleton Scale Comparison”
作成日：2000/02/08 制作：川端 – “Creation Date: 2000/02/08, Created by Kawabata”
Notes on Base Model:
The final letter of the skeleton model name:
M = Male standard
F = Female standard
S = Child
E = Elderly
Variations exist depending on clothing and purpose.
Handwritten Note:
大江さんへ – “To Mr. Oe,”
伊藤さんへ – “Please hand this to Mr. Ito.”
渡してください。モデルの詳しい説明は、後日マニュアルを配布する予定です。-
“Detailed explanations of the models will be provided later in a manual.”
2/8 川端 – “8 Feb Kawabata”
Character Comparison Graph – Without Note
A height comparison chart of character skeletons from Shenmue 2, created on February 8, 2000, by Kawabata. The image shows 3D model placeholders of various character types, ranging from children to elderly individuals, including named characters like Ryo and Joy.
Joy’s Ducati Monster M400 – Test 3D Render
A 3D model sheet of Joy riding a Ducati Monster M400 motorcycle. Various angles show her in a bikini top, shorts, and boots while handling the bike.
Text:
JOY + DUCATI MONSTER M400
IMAGE test model
Joy’s Ducati Monster M400 – Design Document
A reference sheet featuring Joy with a Ducati Monster M400 motorcycle. The bike is shown from side, front, with measurements provided for height, width, and length.
Text:
全長 20.6 – “Overall length: 20.6”
全幅 7.34 – “Overall width: 7.34”
シート高 0.76 – “Seat height: 0.76”
ジョイの身長 162.0 – “Joy’s height: 162.0”
ステップに足を乗せる – “Foot on the footrest”
足を立てる – “Standing with feet grounded”
※搭乗時、-0.02 サスペンションを沈ませている – “*Suspension sinks -0.02 when ridden.”
ジョイ + DUCATI MONSTER M400 – “Joy + DUCATI MONSTER M400”
スケール対比図 – “Scale Comparison Diagram”
2000年2月8日（火） – “February 8, 2000 (Tuesday)”
クオリティに関しては、キャラクター、バイクともに調整段階です。バイクは実写をもとに制作されています。 – “The quality of both the character and the bike are undergoing tuning. The bike model measurements are based on real life.”
作成：川端 – “Created by: Kawabata”
Akira Character Reference Mapping – Technical Reference Sheet
A technical reference sheet for character texture mapping, detailing the texture file naming conventions and part identification for 3D character models. The diagram shows a blocky humanoid figure with labeled segments representing different texture parts. Each part is marked with two-letter codes such as “ka”, “mu”, “kr”, “ul”, etc. There are additional diagrams illustrating isolated parts like “os” (presumably object parts) and a separate labeled box showing “sf”, “sr”, and “sb”.
Text:
ソフトイメージで貼る – “To be applied in Softimage”
キャラクター名 – “Character Name” (3-letter identifier for the character)
パレット名- “Palette Number” (ranges from P1 to P5 for different texture sets)
品質 – “Quality” (1 for low-polygon [70] models, 2 for high-polygon [250] models)
パーツ名 – “Part Name” (two-letter identifier for specific body parts)
識別記号 – “Identification Code” (freely settable)
Black Dragon – Polygon Model Structure Diagram
A diagram showing the hierarchical structure of a character’s polygon model, labeled as “Black Dragon” version. The model is divided into multiple parts, with the chest as the central structure branching into various components: head, arms, waist, and legs. Each section contains subcomponents like hair layers, limbs, and joints. The image also marks shaded areas representing polygons designed for joint stretching.
Text:
キャラクターポリゴンモデル親子構造 “黒龍 “版 – “Character Polygon Model Hierarchical Structure ‘Black Dragon’ Version”
Shenmue 2 – Model Structure Diagram
A hierarchical diagram of the Shenmue 2 model structure, outlining the skeletal framework of a character. The structure details various components such as chains, joints, effectors, and different object types, with rotation and transformation data included.
Text:
シェンムー 2 モデル構造 2000年 2月 7日 – “Shenmue 2 Model Structure, February 7, 2000”
Notes:
If elements are on the same level, the one with the higher hierarchy key is displayed on the left.
Objects beginning with l, m, n, o have static rotation (0,0,0) when no rotation is applied.
Legend:
c = チェーンルート (Chain Root)
j = ジョイント (Joint)
l = エフェクター (Effector)
g = ゴースト (Ghost)
m, n = ローテーションの入る
nullもしくはメッシュ (Null or mesh with rotation applied)
o = マトリクスに従属するメッシュ (Matrix-dependent mesh)
Shenmue 2 – Skeletal / Model Structure Diagram
A diagram illustrating the skeletal and model structure of Shenmue 2 characters. It features a hierarchical node system with various colored labels representing different components, such as skeleton chains, joints, effecters, rotation keys, and explicit translation keys.
Text:
シェンムー 2 骨とモデル構造 – “Shenmue 2 Bone and Model Structure”
作成日 : 2000年 2月 9日 – “Creation Date: February 9, 2000”
作成者 : 川端・西村 – “Creators: Kawabata, Nishimura”
Legend:
c_ – Chain (Skeleton)
j_ – Joint (Skeleton)
g_ – Effector (Skeleton)
l_ – Ghost (Null)
m_ – Rotation SaveKey (null, or model)
o_ – Matrix-dependent mesh (Model)
R XYZ – Rotation SaveKey
T XYZ – Explicit Translation SaveKey
1 2 3 4 – Parent hierarchy numbering
(Rot, X, Y, Z) – Values used when creating bones
Notes:
When converting the model, freeze o_ or m_ at the center.
If elements are on the same row, the one shown on the left has a higher hierarchy.
Objects starting with l, m, n, o have static rotation of (0,0,0) i.e. no rotation is applied.
“Sibling” refers to elements with a direct parent-child relationship.
