Kantoku C78 book ‘More Check’

After the ‘Hiragi’ doujin at C77, artist Kantoku (from 5年目の放課後) released the ‘More Check’ illustration book and the ‘Check Ero 3′ h doujin this past Comiket.

The most remarkable artwork in the book is no doubt this one below, which reminds me of the luscious, enchanting backgrounds seen in Makoto Shinkai’s movies, like “5 Centimeters Per Second“ or “The Place Promised in Our Early Days“.

Amidst that landscape of the setting sun are two girls in Kantoku’s typical style that manages a perfect mix between girly cute and sensually appealing, as well as between shapely and slender.

Combining a checkered pattern shirt sleeve with classic blue and white shimapan all in a typical scene for many anime or manga, thanks to Kantoku’s artistry, it still feels fresh and looks superb.
Plus, who could resist a cute girl blushing when rendered so well as is the case here?

Do love how the artist also marries more subdued colors with light and shadow play that give the images that extra punch, without having to resort to overly vivid colors.

Also respect how Kantoku is one of the few artist who -like Tony Taka- is able to render girls in suggestive poses, state of undress or even intimate moments, yet still keep the atmosphere of the image focus on artistic beauty and not have it degenerate into cheap nudity or explicit imagery.

Getting to eat the strawberry of a cake has never looked so appetizing thanks to Kantoku’s skill in drawing such cute girls as the one seen below.

Got to love the added spicy details of her swimsuit tan lines and the loose shoulder straps of her brassiere. To keep with this book’s theme, her underwear of course has a checkered pattern.

Next to the full page illustrations the book also has several pages that each feature several girls, all drawn in fashionable outfits with a checkered pattern somewhere, labeled along the style Kantoku applied and including commentary by the artist.

The final pages include black and white sketch like images accompanied by commentary.

Always do love seeing artworks in that sketch-like phase and these seem to also include more risky imagery that actually doesn’t come across as too explicit due to being displayed in black and white.

Another great book by Kantoku which I’ll no doubt track down to acquire when possible.

You can always catch scans of the ‘More Check’ book at Moe Imouto, as well as the accompanying h doujin ‘Check Ero 3′ which was also released at C78.