The following artworks contain an exciting look into the plans for three young expressionless girls that appear to follow Yuanda Zhu’s commands without question, ganging up to cause devestation with their nimbleness and concealed blades when probed to attack. Find original sketches of the triplets, along with 3D model renders and location shots.
NOTE: The triplets were first revealed to us during Yu Suzuki’s 2014 GDC Shenmue Postmortem, where he shared images of all 11 of Shenmue’s original chapter structure, when the series was known as Virtua Fighter RPG. Chapter 4, which was originally known as Shanghai shows the triples stood surrounding Yuanda Zhu’s wheelchair as shown below:
Triplets – Character Order Sheet
Description:
VF・RPG Character Order Sheet
Date Requested: 7 July 1996
Original Concept: Makoto Goya (呉屋 真)
Requester: Nobukatsu Hiranoya (平野谷 信勝)
Creator: Eigo Kasahara (笠原 英伍)
Chapter 2: Hong Kong City Area (Zhu Yuan Da’s house), Kowloon
Character Name: Triplets (3 people as one set)
No. 07
<Order Details>
• Name: Triplets
• Gender: Female (expressionless)
• Blood Type: B (same for all)
• Date of Birth: April 24, 1973 (10 years old)
• Height/Weight: 145cm / 30kg
• Clothing: Red Chinese dress
• Appearance Locations: Zhu Yuan Da’s house in Hong Kong (room), Kowloon (help Akira and Fei)
• Appearance Frequency: Minor characters (they reappear at Zhu Yuan Da’s hideaway later)
• Relationship with Akira: friends (at this point, Akira does not realize they are friends)
• Expressions Required: Expressionless (refer to scenario)
• Motions Required: refer to scenario; additional motions to be added as the scenario progresses
<Personality>
• Do not express anger or frustration.
• Do not speak much, and when they do, it is in a business-like manner and without emotion.
• No known close connections with others, but absolute obedience to Zhu Yuan Da’s orders.
<Other>
• Zhu Yuan Da’s triplet “nieces”. However, it’s uncertain as to whether they really have blood ties.
• They have no parents, and live with Zhu Yuan Da.
• They receive education from Zhu Yuan Da. They do not attend a school or educational institution.
• They possess extraordinary physical coordination (on par with an Chinese acrobatic troupe).
• Each of the three uses a different concealed weapon.
• Their coordinated three-person attack is difficult for ordinary martial artists to defend against.
< Notes>
• The model is shared among the three members (only one model type is needed; clothing is the same).
• Appears in Chapter 2 and later in the Shanghai scene (the chapter where Zhu Yuan Da appears).
Triplets – Character Sketch
Character design sketches of one of the triplets. She has hair styled in two buns with floral hair accessories, drawn from multiple angles. She is wearing a traditional Chinese-style dress.
Text:
赤い服 — “Red outfit”
神出鬼没的な三つ子。 — “A mysterious and elusive triplet.”
Triplets – Character Head Reference Sheet
A character reference sheet featuring a young girl (one of the triplets) with two symmetrical hair buns. The character’s hair is parted down the middle with a straight fringe and small earrings. The sheet shows front, side, and back views.
Text:
12才 — age 12
Triplets – Character Expression Sheet
A character expression sheet featuring a young girl with two symmetrical hair buns and blunt bangs. The sheet presents four facial expressions: a joyful smile with closed eyes, a subtle smile with relaxed eyes, a downward gaze with a gentle smile, and a cheerful grin with closed eyes.
Text:
にっこり — “Smiling”
Triplets – Character Design (Full Colour)
A colored character design of one of the triplets, dressed in a traditional red Chinese outfit with gold details, standing with her hands together in a formal pose. Her hair is styled in two buns. A small sketch of a bow is also present on the right side.
Text:
130くらい？ – “About 130?” (Height)
色白 – “Pale complexion”
Triplets – Side Profile Sketch
A side profile sketch of one of the triplets, wearing a traditional Chinese outfit. Her arms are tucked inside her sleeves, and her hair is styled in a bun with detailed hair texture.
Triplets – Rear View Sketch
A back view sketch of one of the triplets, wearing a traditional Chinese outfit.
Triplets in Town
A busy urban street scene with warm yellow tones, featuring narrow alleys, wooden balconies, and various townspeople engaged in daily activities. Three girls in red, likely the triplets, are visible in the foreground and among the crowd.
Triplets – Character Model 3D Render
A 3D character model of one of the triplets wearing a red traditional Chinese outfit with gold trim. The character is shown in various angles: front, side, and back, with close-ups highlighting her neutral expression, a straight fringe, and hair styled in two buns.
Triplets – Character Model 3D Render 2
A 3D character model of one of the triplets at age 14, wearing a red traditional Chinese outfit with gold trim. The character is shown in multiple views: front, side, back, and close-ups featuring a neutral expression, a subtle smile, and closed eyes.
Text:
朱元達の三つ子 14歳時 — “Zhu Yuan Da’s Triplets at Age 14”
作成 mda 伊藤孝司 — “Created by mda Takashi Ito”
Triplets – Head 3D Render
A 3D character model of one of the triplets at age 10, wearing a red traditional Chinese outfit with gold trim. The model is shown with various facial expressions, including a smile, a pained grimace, and a neutral face, with views from multiple angles.
Text:
朱元達の三つ子 10歳時 — “Zhu Yuan Da’s Triplets at Age 10”
作成 伊藤孝司 — “Created by Takashi Ito”
Triplets – Cangzou Iron Lion 3D Render
A 3D-rendered scene of one of the triplets in a red traditional Chinese outfit sitting on a stone ledge, leaning against the Iron Lion of Cangzhou, with a cloudy blue sky in the background.
Triplets – Tree Courtyard 3D Render
Three identical girls in red traditional Chinese outfits with gold trim are shown walking through a courtyard lined with trees. Each one is raising her hand to her forehead in an identical gesture. The background features traditional Chinese architecture.
Text:
朱元達の三つ子 イメージ画像 – Zhu Yuan Da’s Triplets Image
作成 伊藤孝司 – Created by Takashi Ito
