While Hideki Kamiya (Ōkami’s director and writer) may have had the original idea for the Ōkami video game, it’s his work along with the people and President/CEO (Atsushi Inaba) of Clover Studio and their combined skills and efforts that had crafted an idea, into reality. The result of Hideki and Clover Studio’s hard work is a beautiful video game, which many thousands of people all over the world have profoundly enjoyed.
So often while looking for Ōkami fanart, have I come across genuine statements from artists saying that they “love” the game, and find it beautiful.
These aren’t just statements alone, but statements backed up by fanart that had real professional effort and emotion put into it.
There is no other video game that I have personally come across, which has obviously inspired so much positive and lasting emotions and memories in people.
By the way, Hideki is pretty much the Emperor of Twitter, with well over 200,000 “tweets” under his belt.
According to quantum theory, if you push your hand against a wall enough times, eventually your arm will go through the wall. That means, that pretty soon Hideki’s thumbs will go through his smartphone (probably while blocking someone)…1 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/the-elegant-universe-part‑1/ just an observation.
Anyway, back to Ōkami:
In my experience and opinion, this Ōkami video game is unique in that the vast majority of positive comments are very likely genuine (and not paid-for marketing by “fake” fans, like with so many other products, services and multi-media). I can also state that my own positive opinions of Ōkami are genuine, and that I haven’t been asked to, or been paid a cent to create and run this independent fansite! Call me “old-fashioned”, but those are the kinds of things that are nice to see, and how I personally operate.
Accounts vary (depending on who you ask), but unfortunately due to possible “personality differences” between CEOs and key staff leaving Clover Studio, it was dissolved by Capcom Games within a few weeks of Ōkami being released in North America, back in 2006.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20070928120104/http://www.errormacro.com/2006/10/capcom_dissolving_clover_studi.php
Hideki Kamiya and Atsushi Inaba may have decided to leave Clover Studio/Capcom some months before Ōkami was even released, to start their own company.3 https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016–02-07-a-brief-history-of-one-of-gamings-greatest-studios
It’s often stated that Clover Studio was shut down because of Ōkami’s relatively poor sales, but with a lot of key staff having quit before Ōkami was even released, it wouldn’t have made much sense for Capcom to keep Clover Studio running. Clover Studio’s last two games (Ōkami and God Hand) not selling very well, probably just made the inevitable decision to dissolve the studio easier.
“Capcom and Clover Studio CEOs arguing”
Nevertheless, Hideki Kamiya and the people of Clover Studio have clearly done a remarkable job at creating something special.
The fanart in this blog post, recognises Clover Studios’ presence by showing a four-leaf clover – the symbol/logo of Clover Studio.
Click on a picture to see it pop up in a “lightbox”. All fanarts shown are my personal favourites. (Featured art: Ōkami and Guardian Sapling – by black-dicefish)
Easily one of the most suitable Ōkami fanarts ever, to be used for the background of a painstakingly-crafted fansite dedicated to this beautiful video game.
Not only is there beautiful nature all around in this painting, but we have a magnificent Guardian Sapling tree in full bloom (no doubt thanks to Ammy’s Divine Rejuvination), clearly a freshly-scented breeze, Ammy curled up cute and sleeping, but also Clover Studio’s four-leaf clover shining brightly next to her.
A beautiful dedication to this remarkable video game, and those who created it.
Unsponsored fanart and other related creative works, and the often candid and positive emotions behind them, are of course a dedication to their subject.
Therefore, it brings me a lot of satisfaction to be able to beautifully fill a large fansite dedicated to Ōkami, without using any official artwork whatsoever!
The only times any official art was used, was when I posted a screenshot or official art to go along with what was being explained, such as on the fansite’s main (non-blog) pages.
Me being able to put together an entire fansite with only fan-made imagery, is a testament to how deeply this video game was able to reach its fans.
To give you an idea of the scale of this fansite’s future, I’ve got more than forty themed blog posts in various stages of completion, all filled with amazing Ōkami fanart, just like this blog post.
Thirteen amazing fanarts per blog post, in reference to Ōkami’s thirteen Brush Gods.
I stand in awe at what Ōkami’s fans were able to create! 
Putting together this fansite is my own dedication, and I’m very proud of the outcome.
Towards Darkness – by Grypwolf (Collab.)
A painting of Ammy and Oki being hunted down by demons… Well, Oki did want to fight demons for reckless and even selfish reasons, so here they are just like he wanted – he should be happy and smiling. I’m not a fan of him (or anyone) who attacked Ammy in the game, nor am I a fan of reckless unthinking characters, but at least Oki did start to mature throughout the quest.
The warrior character Oki (short for Okikurumi), as well as the tribe that he belongs to (the Oina), are based on the Ainu people of Northern Japan, and their demigod Okikurmi. In the near future, I’ll have a blog post dedicated only to Oki, and go into greater detail about the Ainu people and their history and beliefs, as well.
Ōkami – by MelM0nster
The shadowy silhouette of the terrible serpent/dragon demon Orochi in the background, and the Tsukuyomi sword shown in the center which had sealed the demon away – later removed by a bonehead, unleashing Orochi’s evil across Nippon (mythical ancient Japan).
I won’t mention Bonehead’s name, because that might spoil the story for some people who haven’t played the video game yet. Needless to say, I’m not a fan of Bonehead either.
Once again, like Oki (also a bonehead), Bonehead started making better choices later in Ōkami’s story.
Just between you and me… all these boneheads in Ōkami who later on went to make something great of themselves, almost sound inspirational to me. 
I like how relaxed Ammy’s just standing there, with her friend Issun, and also her friend – the beautiful four-leaf clover.
Geeky details, slight spoilers:
The “Tsukuyomi sword” is named after the Shinto god of the moon, Tsukuyomi. In the video game, Orochi swallows the Tsukuyomi sword to prevent it from being used against him in the future.
Once serpent/dragon demon Orochi had been slain, the devoured Tsukuyomi sword was “reborn” from the demon’s corpse as a “Divine Instrument” Glaive called Tsumugari, allowing Ammy to use it as a weapon. The Tsumugari (and the Seven Strike) Glaives are based on more than just imagination:
The Tsumugari is a direct reference to the Japanese legend where deity (spirit/god) Susano‑o discovered the sword “Blade of Kusanagi” (also called “Kusanagi-no-tsurugi” and “Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi”) inside the tail of the dragon monster he had slain. Susano‑o then gifted the Kusanagi sword to his badly-scorned sister Amaterasu as a reconciliation gift.
This “Kusanagi sword” later becoming one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan.4 http://www.japanesemythology.jp/yamata-no-orochi/
https://mythology.wikia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto
The Seven Strike Glaive is a reference to the Seven-Branched sword, which dates back to the fourth century A.D., and is believed to have been a ceremonial artifact and gift by the then ruler of Baekche (ancient kingdom in the Korean peninsula) to the ruler of Wa (Japan).
The sword is housed at the Isonokami Shrine in Japan and is not on display, but a replica is displayed at the War Memorial in Seoul, South Korea.5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-Branched_Sword
By the way, to clarify why swords are being called “Glaives” in Ōkami (glaives are pole-weapons), I made a longer comment in the “A Picture of Ammy” blog post, but basically I believe it’s because instead of a pole, Ammy uses divine power to wield the sword, as though it were attached to an “invisible” pole.
Ōkami Clover – by Aja
Wow, that is one big clover! The first thought of mine was “big clover or small Ammy”, but then I saw small bug Issun bouncing above her nose. That’s one fine clover they’re both admiring!
Speaking of giant clovers… did you know that clover is a good source of Vitamin‑C? People actually eat them!6 https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/surviving-in-the-wild-19-common-edible-plants/
https://www.offthegridnews.com/off-grid-foods/clover-the-annoying-little-weed-that-is-edible-tasty-and-nutritious-too/
https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/clover/ 
You can even find recipes on the Internet of tasty meals and snacks that contain clover. I’m not much of a cook, but maybe in the future I’ll come up with some Ōkami-related recipes of my own, and they’ll feature clover as well.
Sun Drawn – by AbbyStabby
Ammy the sun goddess encircling a sun that she just drew/created with her tail. I like these kinds of Ōkami fanarts, and in the near future will dedicate an entire post to this subject! (Keep an eye out on my updates page for news on that.)
I live on acreage, and get so much Wood Sorrel (looks like clover) carpeting my land – they look especially beautiful when the morning dew beads on their leaves, click pictures to see:
Speaking of Wood Sorrel; people also eat that as well! Here’s a link to a Wood Sorrel pie recipe: https://www.wildedible.com/blog/wood-sorrel-and-sweet-onion-tart
Yummy! 
Here’s a pic of my doggie Axel standing in the Wood Sorrel – there’s literally tonnes of Vitamin‑C!
Ammy Sleeping on Clover – by Kell Berry
Aww, how cute. After a busy day painting divine intervention with her tail (still dripping with ink), Brush Goddess Ammy settles down on some beautiful big 4‑leaf clovers to nap.
Let’s not wake her.
Ōkami – by Leonid Poliakov
This drawing was only made recently, after the announcement by Hideki Kamiya, that there will be an Ōkami 2 (possibly).
An inspiring thing to know, about the sequel getting closer – it’s what spurred me into creating this fansite, and I’ve also started seeing more and more fanart showing up now.
Ammy may be sleeping in this drawing but things are happening (behind the scenes), it seems. 
Issun – by Pomarril
Good old bug Issun, standing next to a normal-sized clover and a beetle, heh. His sword is drawn and he’s expecting trouble – perhaps he heard a cockroach. 
I shouldn’t tease though, Issun became a great and dedicated lifelong friend to Ammy in the end – besides that, I had a late growth spurt and was amongst the smallest kids in school for a long time… Wouldn’t want to become a hypocrite by making fun of small shrimps! 
Update: After my mother read this blog post, she wanted me to add that “at birth, my weight was four pounds and my size was fifty-four centimeters, and that I got the best and most expensive baby food on the market!” Hah, okay mum – it’s now official that it wasn’t your fault I was short.
Ammy Waka and Agata Forest – by Philipp Suchowski
Good ol’ Sleepy the Bear – he sure travels a lot, this time in Agata Forest (in the background to the right).
I read in the official Ōkami guide, that you can give Sleepy the Bear something else to balance and sleep on for extra praise. That bear sure is acrobatic, balancing like that in his sleep!
After going through a bit of a fitness phase, I looked into Pilates and found out that an advanced exercise involves balancing on a large exercise ball. Apparently, it takes a long time to master without falling hard on your face.
Sleepy the Bear was a Pilates master, long before Joseph Pilates (the creator of the Pilates exercises) was even born!
Reading more about Joseph Pilates, it’s quite clear that he was a man who had decided not to let circumstance rule his life, but instead always worked towards mastering his own destiny. Here are some of my favourite quotes of his:
“With body, mind, and spirit functioning perfectly as a coördinated whole, what else could reasonably be expected other than an active, alert, disciplined person?”
“Everyone is the architect of their own happiness”
“Change happens through movement, and movement heals.”
“Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor.”
“The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power.”
“The acquirement and enjoyment of physical well-being, mental calm and spiritual peace are priceless to their possessors.”
“Not only is health a normal condition, but it is our duty not only to attain it but to maintain it.”
“Moreover, such a body freed from nervous tension and over-fatigue is the ideal shelter provided by nature for housing a well-balanced mind, that is always fully capable of successfully meeting all of the complex problems of modern living.”
“It’s the mind itself which shapes the body.”
“To achieve the highest accomplishments within the scope of our capabilities in all walks of life, we must constantly strive to acquire strong, healthy bodies and develop our minds to the limits of our ability.”
– Joseph Pilates
Yes, I know that’s a lot of quotes, but they’re all good. Anyway, back to the fanart:
This must be Shiranui and not Ammy in the foreground, but does that mean the boy and bear are Kokari and Sleepy’s ancestors? What about Waka playing the flute? According to Ōkami’s story, he’s well over 100 years old, and still looks like a pasty twenty-one year old skater-dude!
Perhaps Waka also did Pilates exercises back then, just like Sleepy! 
Did you look at that photo of Joseph Pilates at age fifty-seven?! More like a surfer-champion in his low thirties, at most.
… Okay that’s enough showing off now, Simon – you’ll never be as good as Sleepy the Bear, because he can do this stuff in his sleep.
End of story!
Watching Over Kamiki – by EvilZera
Good old “Kamiki Village”, and probably Ammy’s favourite village too – her statue has spent 100 years there, in honour of her heroic achievement and sacrifice in defeating Orochi (the monstrous serpent/dragon demon destroying the land), back when she was known as Shiranui.
It’s nice how she’s looking over the whole village and the hubbub and life below, with such a relaxed smile on her face.
Oh, and… those magnificent mountains look a bit like boobs, which I also like.
By the way, the artist EvilZera must have been hungry when she created this fanart, because that orange on the house of (everyday human) Mr. and Mrs. Orange, totally looks like a hamburger.
I only noticed because I myself am hungry, and will now go to the kitchen to make myself a quick snack – back soon!
Amaterasu Ookami – by Torashiro Eiji
The way Ammy’s looking at that clover – it’s almost like she’s proud, heh. I’d be pretty darn proud after finding an awesome clover like that as well. Well done, Ammy!
Clover, Ammy and Friends – by Kurono-mj
Wowee… this is BIG! Not only is there a fat and healthy clover in the middle of the painting, but the game’s huge amount of characters were painted in the arrangement of four clover leaves. From what I see, that’s not even all of the characters!
Ōkami is a massive video game, and without being boring or repetitive. This painting does a very nice job of honoring the scale of Clover Studio’s achievement.
What an impressive array of fanart, featuring Clover Studio’s four-leaf clover.
Fans of Ōkami overwhelmingly want to see the video game’s original creators work on a sequel, and Hideki Kamiya (Ōkami’s lead designer, director and writer) and Ikumi Nakamura (Ōkami environment artist) have publicly stated in October 2019 that they want to create a sequel to Ōkami.
Sounds like a recipe for good things to come!
…Speaking of recipes: In my next post, I delve into the world of Ammy’s relationship with food, and some of its yet undiscovered mysteries.
This is a journey, that I will need your help with – grab your napkins, and meet me there!
Oh, before you go, here’s some more proof of how amazing a Pilates master Sleepy the Bear truly is… just look at all those animals trying – and failing – to match Sleepy’s amazing feats (they were all okay afterwards):
Do you have suggestions, would like to recommend some art or submit your own? Then feel free to get in touch or just leave comments, below:
