Kunihiko Ikuhara

Style Ikuhara is an incredibly unique artist, but draws a lot of influence from Osamu Dezaki, making interesting anime that focuses on maximal impact on minimal drawings. Key examples would be *Onii-sama e...* and *Versailles no Bara*. Their directing also show similarities in how they try to provoke feelings from the viewer. One particular recurring trait would be their Dutch angles, which is used to depict unrest and disorientation.

Ikuhara's usual stylistic and narrative devices include pretense, deception, metaphors, bluffs, and repetition of gags. His iconography is consistent to the point people made humorous bingo's for his works. His enthusiasm and history with theater led to his most apparent stylistic trait, namely a stage play-like presentation with a mise-en-scène policy of showing only what is necessary, maintaining a tight control of his canvas at all times. Images themselves become a strong narrative tool. The themes of his work often tackle adolescence and LGBTQ-issues and turns them into cartoonish fables that gets to the heart of the issues.