Early Manga Sketches

[Kristen_SK]

Please let me know if this is not the correct place to post this. 

I got the AnE "Color Archive" recently and, while most of content is from the anime, there is section at the back labelled "Kazue Kato Interview" that includes some rough sketches from the manga as well as this little collection: 
http://www.fyresight.com/ane/early_manga_sketches.jpg

I'm guessing these were early designs since I recognize her early Rin design with the burn scar/tattoo and the early Shiemi design.  But, the big group picture is the most interesting.  It's unfortunately tiny, but am I seeing a female Takara?  And, two additional students who seem to have something strange going on with their eyes? 

Edit: Here's a close-up of the group image - http://www.fyresight.com/ane/early_manga_group_closeup.jpg

[Jumping Jehosaphat]

Ha-ha that does look like Takara has a bow in his/her hair XD. And those two students behind Takara just look like they have HUGE eyes *kawaii kawaii desuuuuuu*

Mephisto sure looks like a giant here. He is a head taller than Yukio!

Off topic- I have a pet peeve about the way most manga/anime (not just AnE) feel like they have to denote age by size, but whatevs. I'm just saying an 18 year old and his dad at least COULD be the same height. You never really see any kids taller than their dads; it's kind of weird.

[earthforge]

Takara does look like a girl. Kuro looks like a different demon. There are two additional students who look like siblings, both with eyepatches. I wonder if we'll see their characters recycled.

I find the old Yukio design much more adorable. Shiemi having long hair seems to make more sense for the character, but I think Kazue was trying to subvert that typical characterization.

[NeeNee]

Someone posted some of the bonus sketches from volume 1 on MF too, but the links don't work anymore. I'll upload them again later.

But those missing students are interesting. Do you think we'll still get to see them? (I think the weird eyes are just glasses, btw).

[Kristen_SK]

I'm also wondering if the two unknown students might find their way into the plot eventually.  And, it looks to me like the boy's left eye is noticeably darker than his right with the girl's eyes being the opposite.  Which makes me think earthforge is right about them wearing eyepatches. 

[Wikkelsoee]

I don't know why, but Izumo looks more friendly here.

[NeeNee]

^ You think so? I think it's Takara who looks a lot more friendly.

And Bon looks like he could pass for a demon, srsly. Probably a dragon too. XD

[Paradox]

Haha Takara was supposed to be a girl. NeeNee is right. He/she looks more friendly.

Kuro (in case that is supposed to be Kuro) looks like a big Coal Tar.

The odds are that the two unknown students might appear. Mephisto's demon butler was depicted on a chapter picture in the first volume.
I don't see eyepatches either. They're wearing just glasses. Maybe the shades and low quality appear irritating.

[Anya]

- Rin looked more like Night
- Yukio had longer hair
- so did Shiemi
- Nii-chan was a bird
- there were two Takara puppets and its zombie was a girl
- Kuro was a Pokemon
- Izumo was friendlier
- Koneko was more handsome
- Bon looked like a hoodlum
- Shima was boring
- the additional two look like siblings and nice people
- Mephy and Paku didn't change
- Shura was wearing bigger bikini top

[Kristen_SK]

Speaking of the appearance of Mephisto's butler on the cover image for chapter 2... he appears to have early!Shiemi's bird on his head too.  Or at least a very similar bird.

[Paradox]

Has anyone a scan of the sketches from volume 1? I find it really interesting.

[NeeNee]

Chino posted some here, but they're from the Japanese version. You can see what they were meant to look like though.

Early!Rin (he was originally called Yukio):


Early!Yukio (he was originally called Rin):





Here's some more pics from Sinrixa:

Here's some character bio's and "early sketches" from vol1
These aren't all the extras in the vol but I figured they would be the ones you'd be most interested in ^^ I might upload more later but I don't like the idea of putting the entire thing online cause that almost defeats the point of buying it. XD

They're very big... I have a high-res camera XD

   

(click to show/hide)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9675.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9677.jpg

    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9662.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9663.jpg

    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9666.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9667.jpg

    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9668.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9669.jpg

    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9670.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9671.jpg

    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9673.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Andrine/100_9674.jpg

Summary of the comments on the brothers:

Kato: I drew these after my previous series ended, so they're over two years old. They weren't exorcists, but anti-paranormal agents who exterminated supernatural creatures.
 
Yukio Okumura (Rin):
 - Hot-tempered
 - Tattoo-like burn on the right side of his face
 - Amazing physical capabilities; can crush an apple in his fist
 - Can generate fire with his mind
 
Rin Okumura (Yukio):
 - Three moles. Ever since he was a kid he's had allergies and stress-related asthma. When he sees blood, he faints.
 - Medication to prevent an attack; always has inhaler; always coughing
 - Intelligent and a feminist
 - Probably likes computers
 - Slightly psychic and sometimes prescient; almost normal

Yeah, early!Yukio was a real wuss. It can't be practical chasing things for a living when you start wheezing under stress and topple over when seeing blood.

I would have liked to read that story though. It's a shame she didn't write it. It actually sounds different enough to make an interesting manga all of its own.

(This Yukio would be much more dependent on Rin though. He looks gentlier, too... I wonder if he also had a nasty side.)

[VacuumTan]

Has anyone a scan of the sketches from volume 1? I find it really interesting.

I'd post a photo taken with my cellphone if you wanted them all together from the official Kazé volume [I once raped a manga with a scanner- it wasn't too pretty. I'd rather take photos.].

About the group-picture sketch:

Compared to now, Konekomaru was a freaking giant. Or at least it feels like it, since he's even a tad taller than Izumo. However, Yukio looks shorter and Shiemi is taller. Everyone's height does look off. Especially Mephisto's.

~ Bon's hair is cool. How does that work?
~ Izumo's expression looks haughty- going from tsundere to alpha-bitch.
~ Shima looks like a rapist.
~ Konekomaru's face. Just... what.
~ Takara as a girl is kind of cute. And is that a huge flower in her hair?
~ Mephisto looks so elegant here.
~ Paku's eye-size makes her look more adorable like this.
~ Kuro is a Coal Tar's forbidden love-child with a Pikachu.
~ The not-there boy is totally cute!
~ The not-there girl looks like a snarky megane-girl. And like she's sleep-deprived.
~ The skirts look cuter with the ruffle-petticoat-designs.

For the other sketches:

I really, really love Shiemi's initial design. She wouldn't have been as cute as she is now, but I think it's really, really beautiful.
... Is Shura smoking a pipe? Err, and she looks strange with a bra her size.
Is the top-row middle picture Yukio? If he is, then I like that longer hair a lot better. And that smile... dear God. If he'd look scruffy like in the Volume 1-stuff... nah.

Yeah, early!Yukio was a real wuss. It can't be practical chasing things for a living when you start wheezing under stress and topple over when seeing blood.

At least no one would have to worry about the MLG little bro.

I would have liked to read that story though. It's a shame she didn't write it. It actually sounds different enough to make an interesting manga all of its own.

It'd be strange reading it with the same names and all, though. At least to me. But whenever she finishes AnE, Kato might as well make that a short series. Kinda like a "coulda been, didn't do".

[Paradox]

Uhm...I should have mentioned that I've actually bought the volume, but it is easier to talk about it when we have a picture...sorry xD And I wanted to read the english translation.

I don't much like early!Yukio. "When he sees blood, he faints. Medication to prevent an attack; always has inhaler; always coughing"? I'm not really into it. And "sometimes prescient" is lame.

The second page with early!Mephisto and early!Shiemi is interesting as well. Just like the story concept. Something about Satan=Iblis, 13 keys and a blood diamond (?).

[NeeNee]

Here's (part of) the page with goth!Shiemi and her tower. There's also some sketches of Mephisto and Satan, and a comment that Mephisto was supposed to be "a sort of guardian after the twin's grandmother died." (Also, "Yukio plans to become Mephisto's familiar." Wut?? )

I'm guessing the story must have changed quite a bit here... did Shiro even exist in the beginning? Though I must say I can imagine our anti-paranormal agents with a granny. It kinda fits, somehow.

I don't really get the story concept though. The 'twins' part is kind of obvious, but the room that won't open and the "blood diamond -> journalist -> punk -> family"? Completely incomprehensible.

I think she just dropped that part of the story...

It'd be strange reading it with the same names and all, though. At least to me. But whenever she finishes AnE, Kato might as well make that a short series. Kinda like a "coulda been, didn't do".

Yeah, the names would have to change. But aside from that, it could make a cool manga.

It wouldn't be hard to change their brother relationship so that it's not a copy. And their characters are already pretty different, because early!Rin never smiles.