Ryoko Kui (九井諒子, Kui Ryōko) is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known for her manga series Delicious in Dungeon (2014–2023), serialized in Enterbrain's seinen manga magazine Harta, as well as her work Terrarium in Drawer, winning the Excellence Award in the Manga Division at the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival.

Ryoko Kui
九井諒子
NationalityJapanese
Area(s)Manga artist
Notable works

Biography edit

Kui posted her early works on Pixiv and COMITIA before making her official debut as a manga artist in March 2011 with her short story collection Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue Kui Ryouko Works[1] (竜の学校は山の上 九井諒子作品集, Ryū no gakkō wa Yamanoue Kui Ryōko Sakuhin-shū).[2] Prior to this, she published a webcomic on her personal blog named UORIR: Amble (UORIR: アンブル編 (UORIR: Anburu-hen)) which ran from 2008–2012.[3]

In 2013, Kui won the Excellence Award in the Manga Division at the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival for her work Terrarium in Drawer.[4][2] Her 2014 work, Delicious in Dungeon was published in the magazine Harta and received the 2015 Comic Natalie award, the 2016 Kono Manga ga Sugoi!, the 2016 Kono Manga wo Yome! [ja], and the 2016 Zenkoku-sho ten'in ga eranda osusume komikku [ja].[2] Delicious in Dungeon received an anime adaptation in 2024, with Kui noted as being "very involved" with its production.[5]

Style edit

Kui's style is noted for its portrayal of reality and fantasy with her unique point of view.[2] Megumi Sakamoto writing for Comic Natalie described her characteristic style as embodying "unnaturalness" (違和感).[6] Kui was noted in an interview with Comic Natalie to have an affinity with dragons, and has had dragons featured in several of her works.[6]

Prior to Delicious in Dungeon, Kui read The Neverending Story and The Lord of the Rings, as well as researching the rulebooks of Dungeons & Dragons after having seen it arise several times for her research prior to the manga's serialization.[7][8] Kui is a noted fan of computer role-playing games,[9][10] having previously drawn fan art for Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn,[11][12] Baldur's Gate 3, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, and Planescape: Torment.[10][13] As a child, she observed her father play Wizardry on the Famicom, as well as Dragon Quest, Ultima, and Fire Emblem.[8] Kui cited Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge as one of the primary inspirations for Delicious in Dungeon.[14]

Bibliography edit

Manga edit

  • Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue Kui Ryouko Works (竜の学校は山の上 九井諒子作品集, lit.'The School of Dragons is on the Mountain – Ryoko Kui Works') ISBN 978-4-78-160545-6
  • Seven Little Sons of the Dragon: A Collection of Seven Stories (九井諒子作品集 竜のかわいい七つの子, Kui Ryōko Sakuhin Shū Ryū no Kawaii Nanatsu no Ko) ISBN 978-4-04-728408-1
  • Terrarium in Drawer (ひきだしにテラリウム, Hikidashi ni Terrarium) ISBN 978-4-78-160948-5
  • Delicious in Dungeon (ダンジョン飯, Danjon Meshi)

Art books edit

References edit

  1. ^ "竜の学校は山の上 九井諒子作品集 – 九井諒子/著, イースト・プレス – 日本語のコミック – 無料配送 – 北米サイト". YESASIA (in Japanese). YESASIA.COM LTD. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "九井諒子のプロフィール・作品情報". コミックナタリー (Comic Natalie) (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "《UORIR》在線漫畫". 動漫戲說. 動漫戲說 ACGN.cc. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "九井諒子おすすめ作品一覧". 電子書籍ストア ブックライブ (in Japanese). BookLive Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Valdez, Nick (March 5, 2024). "Delicious in Dungeon Creator Was "Very Involved" With the Anime". ComicBook.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Sakamoto, Megumi. "九井諒子「九井諒子作品集 竜のかわいい七つの子」カバー制作過程を密着レポート – コミックナタリー 特集・インタビュー". コミックナタリー (Comic Natalie) (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Townsend, Verity (February 16, 2024). "Delicious in Dungeon author surprises fans with immaculate gaming taste, mentions Disco Elysium and Papers, Please". Automaton West. Active Gaming Media Inc. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  8. ^ a b 週刊ファミ通 2024年2月29日号 No.1837 (Interview) (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. February 15, 2024. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Cryer, Hirun (January 8, 2024). "Netflix's new anime banger Delicious In Dungeon comes from a Baldur's Gate-obsessed artist who lovingly recreated the game's characters". GamesRadar. Future US Inc. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Macgregor, Jody (January 14, 2024). "The creator of Delicious in Dungeon drew portraits of the Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 cast you can use in-game". PC Gamer. Future US, Inc. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Rivera, Joshua (January 4, 2024). "Chef's Table meets Baldur's Gate in Netflix's first anime banger of 2024". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Manaloto, Nicolo (January 14, 2024). "Delicious in Dungeon's creator is a massive Baldur's Gate fan". UnGeek. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  13. ^ Wutz, Marco (January 15, 2024). "Delicious in Dungeon and Baldur's Gate Cross Over in This Lovely Mod". Men's Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Gayton, Christina (May 2, 2024). "Delicious in Dungeon was inspired by a video game you might not have heard of". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "ハルタ 2016-AUGUST volume 37". KADOKAWA オフィシャルサイト. Kadokawa Inc. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  16. ^ "ハルタ 2017-FEBRUARY volume 41". KADOKAWA オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Kadokawa Inc. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "ハルタ 2020-MAY volume 74". KADOKAWA オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Kadokawa Inc. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "ハルタ 2021-FEBRUARY volume 81". KADOKAWA オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Kadokawa Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "ハルタ 2022-AUGUST volume 96". KADOKAWA オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Kadokawa Inc. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2024.

External links edit