Tokyo Ghoul Creator Shares Stunning Character Artwork

The last week has been a trying one for Tokyo Ghoul fans. The franchise has been subjected to some [...]

By Megan Peters

The last week has been a trying one for Tokyo Ghoul fans. The franchise has been subjected to some intense scrutiny thanks to its live-action adaptation. Later this year, a film based on Sui Ishida's dark story will make its way to theaters. However, the live-action movie has run into a snag as the actress cast as Toka Kirishima suddenly announced she was retiring. While her part of film has already been shot, the unsettling announcement has caused a stir amongst fans. But, now, it looks like Ishida is calming his followers down with a stunning piece of artwork.

MORE: Tokyo Ghoul Live-Action Film Sequel Plans Accidentally Announced

Over on Twitter, the artist shared a gentle, colored sketch of Toka with fans. The image shows the heroine's profile as she looks off to the side. With her short hair down, Toka is seen wearing a white-button up and looking unnaturally peaceful. To the right, a short phrase can be seen written in English which reads, "I trust your message."

As for the tweet itself, Ishida captioned the picture with a telling phrase. The text is written in Japanese, but fans have been quick to point out its colloquial meaning. First coined by Guts Ishimatsu, the phrase is used to describe the mental state of someone, and its meaning varies based on context. The version Ishida used roughly means, "I'm okay and you are as well."

Of course, fans are already speculating the artwork has to do with the recent snafu Tokyo Ghoul has found itself in. With Fumika Shimizu leaving the industry, the project will need to overhaul any reshoots as well as promotional activities. Fans are also worried about how the live-action franchise will move forward now. Reports have surfaced saying a second Tokyo Ghoul film was already being developed, but Shimizu's absence will force the movie to recast Toka as she is the story's female lead.

So, what do you think? Is the artist's post simply coincidental or do you think Ishida is saying something about Tokyo Ghoul's recent live-action headache?

You can check out Funimation's synopsis of the anime below:

"Tokyo lives in fear of creatures called Ghouls. When a young man becomes the first Ghoul-human hybrid, he must control his deadly hunger."

If you are not familiar with Tokyo Ghoul, then you can read up about the series below. The series is set in an alternate reality where creatures known as ghouls exist. The horrifying monsters survive by consuming human flesh and live amongst humans in secret. The story follows a boy named Ken Kaneki after a date-gone-wrong leaves him a half-ghoul. Struggling to adapt to his new life, Ken tries his best to fit into ghoul society, keep his monstrous status hidden from humans, and reign in the insatiable hunger he has for flesh.

The series debuted in September 2011 thanks to mangaka Sui Ishida. Weekly Young Jump first published the manga before it was adapted into an anime series by Pierrot. The anime premiered in July 2014 before a second season ran in January 2015. A third season has also been confirmed though no official release date has been attached to the project so far.

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