During day 3 of ToyCon Nexus 2026, members of the media had an opportunity to meet legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, of Final Fantasy fame.
As a long-time fan of his creations, I definitely did not pass on this event and flew back to my home country just to be a part of this occasion.
During the question and answer segment, Amano-sensei shared his thoughts on creativity, evolving technology, and the enduring legacy of his work. From discussing the role of AI in art to offering advice for aspiring creators, Amano reflected on the principles that built the foundation of his decades-spanning work.
[The following is a transcript of the press conference, including questions from other members of the press at the event]
Brian (UnGeek): Fans have known you to be very much “hands-on” with how you approach your art. With the advancement of technology, what is the best characteristic or trait that an artist should have, regardless of what tools they use?
Amano: Advancements in computers and AI are very impressive. But for me, since I enjoy drawing a lot, I think (enjoyment of creating art) is the most important thing an artist should have. Regardless of advancements in technology, you need to be able to enjoy your work in order to find art, and that is the most important characteristic.
Red (Manila Times): What are your common inspirations for doing artwork?
Amano: From my head (laughs). Aside from my imagination, everything comes from my head. I have been drawing for a lot of years now, and all of the media I see, everything is part of my imagination, and that is how I translate it into art.
Red: If a fan tells you, “I’m stuck, I’m bored creatively, what is your advice to those people?”
Amano: As an artist myself, I also experience this. My best advice is to stop thinking and just move your hands and just draw whatever you want to draw. As long as you keep drawing, the imagination will eventually come out. The important thing is to stop thinking for now and just let your body dive into that artistic feel. Let your hands move on themselves, and you will eventually start to be motivated when it comes to drawing. As an artist myself, I also experience this from time to time.
Rudolph (Obskura and then Some): I’ve been a fan of your work for a while, so I am curious about what your future plans are for Magic: The Gathering, Final Fantasy, and anime. Any future plans in the works?
Amano: I am planning to make one in 2028, but at the moment, we can’t tell you yet, and I want it to be a surprise. But in 2028, I will make a new project, and there is a hint (indicated by the ToyCon shirt Brian was wearing). There is also a promotion that I want to show at the end.
Roy (Rondo of Nerd): What are your thoughts on meeting foreign music acts who happen to be fans of your work? Most recently, you met with The Weeknd, and he used your art as his profile pic (Instagram). What are your thoughts on that?
Amano: The Weeknd just came to visit. Actually, most of them are meetings. I cannot divulge much about it because it is planned, but yes, eventually I will come and meet other artists, but most of it is private because of company policy.
From the Roaming Historian: I appreciate meeting with you, Amano-Senpai. I always check out the UTs from Uniqlo, especially those that are designed by Final Fantasy. For my question, what are your advocacies to promote your works of art, as well as how can you teach them to the next generation of art creators?
Amano: If you keep (making art), you will know a lot of the world. Your vision will spread. You will have more vision of your art and explore more possibilities, and that is where you can experiment more on drawing and exploring your artistic design. You need to (make it) otherwise it won’t come out.
Justin (Just in Case): Final Fantasy has influenced generations of artists. Is there anything from your early work that you would redesign today?
Amano: Aside from Final Fantasy, I want to promote other works. I treat all of my works of art equally. I am also happy with how Final Fantasy turned out. This is my biggest accomplishment. I do not treat Final Fantasy as one entity. Each (title) is a different work of art. It is Final Fantasy, but it is never truly “final”. It is still not over, and it will continue.
Chad (Reimaru Files): Thank you for creating and making beautiful worlds in video games and anime, and bringing to life those characters. My question is, a lot of artists are inspired by your work. Given the chance, if you could learn one thing, may it be a lesson, a trait, or a technique from today’s generation, what would it be and why?
Amano: It is a very difficult thing to answer. Each artist has different styles. It is best that we learn from ourselves. I created my own style, which is why it is hard for me to answer the question. The most important thing is to do what you really want to do. Do what you think others can’t do, for example, with A.I, there are a lot of advancements in A.I. nowadays that can replicate the work, so you can do your own style to the point that A.I. cannot experiment.
Adrian (Nerd Rage PH): People have turned you into a legend because of your talent and contribution to art. What is that one myth about your process that you want to dispel to people?
Amano: I don’t know (laughs). I just draw what I like, and if everyone appreciates it, I love it as well.
From PRTV Prime Media: As anime, manga, and Japanese games gain a worldwide audience, is it appropriate for international fans like me to demand alternative plots or endings from creators, or should authors be free to tell the story they originally intended?
Amano: In games and media nowadays, there are a lot of alternate endings. For me, I think it is an interesting choice to see anime, games, and media to have alternate endings and plot points as well, but at the same time, it is already decided by the creator what ending comes. But I think that the alternate plot points you mentioned are interesting for an artist.
Nico (Anime PH): Final Fantasy became a single-player game and is now online. What is your reaction to the growing gaming evolution?
Amano: I think it is amazing and very interesting. The first (online Final Fantasy) game was 11, then 14, then we have other (online) games like Fortnite as well, which is very popular.
You had a once-in-a-lifetime group pic with Amano, and you did not look at the camera.
Whether speaking about imagination, artistic identity, or the future of gaming and entertainment, Amano’s message remained clear: create what you love and never stop drawing. Your art will eventually come out.
As fans eagerly await his teased 2028 project, the legendary artist continues to inspire a new generation of creators with the same passion that defined his remarkable works of art.
That concluded the question and answer part of the session. It was nice going back to Manila and rubbing elbows with seasoned media personalities for this event.