Are you wondering who LĒ Yamamura is?
Before we tell you, answer us this.
What Do These Have in Common?
- The creatures of Netflix's Leviathan.
- Magic: The Gathering.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio.
- FANTASIAN.
- Puzzle & Dragons.
- Studio Chizu's Belle.
- The Wings of Fire series.
You may have played them. Watched them. Or instantly recognised them.
LĒ Yamamura's creative work has been part of all these worlds.
One of Japan's most outstanding and in-demand creature designers and illustrators, Yamamura's work spans games, animation, film and global publishing.
But perhaps her strongest creative signature is this:
Creatures.
With a strong foundation in anatomy, she creates highly original beings that blend realism and fantasy—creatures that may be impossible, yet somehow feel believable.
And now, she brings that perspective to the international jury of The GIANT Hunt.
What Does It Take to Judge a Monster?
Imagine submitting your original monster character to The GIANT Hunt.
It could have wings, claws, horns, scales—or an anatomy unlike anything in the natural world.
But looking beyond whether it simply looks impressive, what does it take to evaluate the design?
Does it feel original?
Does its anatomy and form work together?
Do its features make sense for the creature you have imagined?
Does it feel like it belongs in its world?
That balance between imagination and believability is central to LĒ Yamamura's work.
Designing Entire Worlds of Creatures
For Netflix's animated series Leviathan, Yamamura served as Creature Designer, responsible for designing all the creatures featured in the production.
That means thinking beyond a single monster.
Each creature is part of a larger world. Together, they help create the feeling of an entire ecosystem.
It is this experience—combining anatomy, fantasy, originality and visual storytelling—that makes her an exciting creative voice for creators participating in The GIANT Hunt.
What Could This Mean for Your Submission?
Your original monster could have the opportunity to be reviewed by an international jury member whose career has been built around designing creatures and contributing to imaginative worlds.
Someone who understands that a great creature can be more than a visually striking design.
It can tell a story.
Suggest a world.
And make people believe, even for a moment, that the impossible could exist.
You imagined it.
You designed it.
You brought it to life.
Now, give it the opportunity to go further.
