📖 Overview
Udon Entertainment is a Canadian publisher that specializes in video game art books, manga, and graphic novels. The company was founded in 2000 and has built a reputation for producing high-quality art books that showcase concept art, character designs, and behind-the-scenes content from popular video game franchises.
The publisher has released official art books for major gaming properties including Dark Souls, Street Fighter, Okami, and Bayonetta. These publications typically feature concept art, character illustrations, and development materials provided directly by the game creators and studios.
Udon Entertainment works closely with game developers and publishers to create authorized art books that serve as comprehensive visual guides to beloved gaming worlds. Their publications often include developer commentary and insights into the creative process behind game development.
The company has expanded beyond art books to publish manga adaptations of video games and original graphic novel content. Their catalog includes both Japanese manga translations and original English-language comics.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Udon Entertainment's art books for their production quality and comprehensive coverage of game artwork. Many reviewers highlight the high-resolution printing and sturdy binding that preserves the visual details of concept art and character designs.
Fans of "The Art of Dark Souls" specifically appreciate the book's extensive collection of environment art, creature designs, and armor concepts. Readers note the inclusion of previously unseen artwork and development sketches that provide insight into the game's creative process. Several reviewers mention the book's organization, which groups artwork by game areas and themes.
Some readers express disappointment with the lack of developer commentary or extended text content in certain Udon art books. A few reviewers note that some books focus heavily on finished artwork while providing limited behind-the-scenes information about the development process. Pricing concerns appear in reviews, with some readers finding the books expensive relative to their page count.