Bayonetta and Viola Facial Expression Sheets and Designs Detailed

There’s new insight into what went into making Bayonetta and Viola look unique in Bayonetta 3. PlatinumGames’ Lead Facial Animator Akifumi Sengan took to the company blog and a new video to go over how they made a familiar character look the same in a more realistic entry, while also differentiating and setting an entirely new cast member apart. There are also expression sheets for both characters

First, here’s the full Bayonetta 3 “Umbran Studies — Facial Expressions” video. In it, Sengan first talks about how the 3D models for Bayonetta and Viola’s heads are based upon real people’s faces who were scanned in. After that, an occlusion map was added on top of faces, to add more shadows and realism to their appearances.

There are also the expression sheets for both Bayonetta and Viola. Bayonetta’s design is also meant to be “cute. As for Viola, she’s designed to be expressive. Sengan compared her to a manga character.

PlatinumGames opened up about Bayonetta 3 character designs quite a bit before and after launch. For example, it shared concept art for supporting cast members Jeanne, Luka, Rodin, and Enzo.

Bayonetta 3 is available for the Nintendo Switch. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will come to the Switch on March 17, 2023.