| All images in this section, unless otherwise noted, are copyright Shimataki Noboru, and are used by permission. All Rights Reserved. Legend of the Storm is copyright 2005 Whimsical Entertainment All Rights Reserved. |
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| About the Artist NOBORU SHIMATAKI was born in South Korea as ROBERT ZUNIGA on December 14, 1976. Trained at Pensacola Christian College, under the strict mentorship of Frank Hicks and Brian Jekel, Noboru perfected his skills in illustrating manga heavily infuenced by the Pre-Raphaelites and grandmasters of Japanese animation. Noboru's first love of illustrating began at the age of ten as he spent most of his childhood in Europe. What became of doodling stick figures in elementary class later progressed into cartoon influences from Jim Davis and Bill Watterson. Noboru's first exposure into manga came after watching the U.S.adaptation of the Macross Saga, Robotech. Years later, he would visit the heart of the manga and the anime capital of the world. In 1993, some of Noboru's early paintings were featured in Sun-Eighteen and showcased at the New Sanno in Tokyo, Japan. Many of Noboru's early and current illustrations feature romantic characters (mostly females in soft, melancholic gestures) which elicit feelings of nostalgia, warmth, love, and hope. Noboru is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, and has served in Operations: Joint Guardian (Kosovo), Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), in support of Special Operations. Noboru is currently pursuing his Masters in Business from Liberty University. |
