Nina is an illustrator and first generation Japanese-Canadian born in Vancouver, BC. She currently designs video game merchandise and apparel while drawing award-winning comics on the side.
In 2007, she uploaded a manga-style image of the Simpsons titled “The Simpsonzu,” not expecting anything special. It went viral overnight. Suddenly she was being featured in numerous newspapers and magazines from all over the world and within a week, she got a call from Bongo Comics. They had a manga-style Simpsons story written and wanted her to draw it. It became her first art job, and she went on to pencil 40 stories for Simpsons Comics and Bart Simpson Comics, as well as illustrate pieces for the Vault of Simpsonology book series.
In 2009, her Death Note parody “Murder She Wrote” (Simpsons Treehouse of Horror #14) received an Eisner Award for “Best Short Story,” one of the most acclaimed awards in comics. She also created the graphic novel Yokaiden for Del Rey Manga and illustrated The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Story.
In 2011, her favourite Japanese TV show Game Center CX visited Los Angeles for an overseas trip special. Though she couldn’t attend, she drew a commemorative piece and had a local fan gift it to the host as a poster print. The show’s producer was so impressed with her art, he made it the cover to the DVD release of that very episode. He has since hired her to draw a birthday gift for the host, and a variant poster for Game Center CX: The Movie. They collaborated on a children’s book in 2016, which has since been released as I’m Stuck In A Video Game with an English translation by Nina (who is fluent in Japanese).
Most recently, Nina teamed up with friend and comedian Ian Boothby who wrote the Eisner-Award Winning “Murder She Wrote”. Together they created Sparks!, a childrens’ graphic novel published by Scholastic in 2018, which won multiple awards, including a 2019 BC Book Prize in the illustrated children’s literature category. Its sequel, Sparks! Double Dog Dare, was released in 2020.
Today, she is busy working as a full-time artist and designer for Fangamer, an Arizona-based video game merchandise company. Through Fangamer, she has designed shirts, pins, hats, plushes, and other apparel and accessories for numerous video games hits such as Undertale, Hollow Knight, Okami, Dark Souls, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Persona 5, and more.
As of 2022, Nina still lives in Vancouver, and her dream job is to draw something for Beck.
CV
nina matsumoto
comic art & illustration • vancouver bc, canada
Artist & Designer at Fangamer (2017-present)
Designer of apparel, prints, and merchandise. Creates illustrations and designs for client IPs based on own vision. Works within a creative team to provide feedback to other projects.
Freelance Artist (2007-present)
Self-employed illustrator hired for T-shirt design, book covers, book interior art, promotional posters, and more. Past clients include Capcom USA, Game Center CX, Polygon, Supergiant Games, and Sterling Publishing.
Penciler at Bongo Comics (2007-2018)
Regular penciler for Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson Comics, and other offshoot titles. Illustrated books tied into the Simpsons franchise.
other comic work
| Artist | Sparks! Double Dog Dare | 2020 |
| Artist | Sparks! | 2018 |
| Penciler | Elements Anthology: Fire | 2017 |
| Artist/Writer | Cloudscape Comics – Bones of the Coast | 2017 |
| Artist | Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales: Asia Edition | 2016 |
| Artist | Iron Circus Comics – New World | 2015 |
| Artist & Cover Artist | Cloudscape Comics – Mega Fauna | 2014 |
| Artist | Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales: Africa Edition | 2014 |
| Artist | Cloudscape Comics – Waterlogged: Tales from the Seventh Sea | 2013 |
| Artist | Del Rey Manga – The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Story | 2010 |
| Artist/Writer | Del Rey Manga – Yokaiden 2 | 2009 |
| Artist/Writer | Del Rey Manga – Yokaiden 1 | 2008 |
other artwork
| Illustration | WayForward - Bloodstained: Classic Mode end credit art | 2020 |
| Cover art | Adult Swim Games - Duck Game | 2019 |
| Book Cover | Gascoin Company (Japan) – Game Center CX: Sakka Kibe no Chousen | 2018 |
| Poster art | Mega64 - Anime Expo Exclusive | 2018 |
| Cover art | Twitch Speedrunning Community | 2017 |
| Poster art | Mega64 - SDCC Exclusive | 2017 |
| Poster art | Mega64 - Anime Expo Exclusive | 2017 |
| Cover Art | Thimbleweed Park | 2017 |
| Cover Art | Capcom USA - The Disney Afternoon Collection | 2017 |
| Poster art | Mega64 - PAX West exclusive | 2016 |
| Book Illustration | Gascoin Company (Japan) – Game No Naka Ni Haichatta | 2016 |
| Illustration | Polygon - Big @ E3 header | 2016 |
| Poster art | Mega64 - Anime Expo exclusive | 2016 |
| Public Art | Comics in Transit Project | 2015 |
| Illustration | UDON – published in Capcom Fighting Tribute book | 2015 |
| Promotional Poster | Vancouver Comic Arts Festival | 2015 |
| Book Illustration | Sterling Publishing – Fit To Be Bride | 2015 |
| Title Logo | Conatus Creative – River City Ransom: Underground | 2014 |
| Film Poster | Gascoin Company (Japan) – Game Center CX: The Movie | 2013 |
| Game Cover | Conatus Creative – River City Ransom: Underground variant cover | 2013 |
| Logo | Vancouver Anime Convention Society | 2012 |
| DVD Cover | Gascoin Company (Japan) – Game Center CX in USA DVD | 2012 |
| Illustration | Ohta Books (Japan) – Game Center CX V book | 2011 |
| Illustration | UDON – published in Mega Man Tribute book | 2011 |
| Book Cover | 100 Page Press – Own Your Space: A Guide to Facebook Security | 2010 |
| Book Cover | 100 Page Press – Own Your Space | 2009 |
| Characters | Juniour Heroes – Legends of the Tide character designs and art | 2007 |
| Book Cover | UBC – Uprooted: UBC’s Undergraduate Literary Magazine | 2004 |
awards & recognitions
| Chocolate Lily Award Winner | BC's Best Chapter Book/Early Novel Sparks! Double Dog Dare | 2021-2022 |
| Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Winner | Best Grades 4-6 Graphic Novel for Sparks! | 2019-2020 |
| BC Book Prize Winner | Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize for Sparks! | 2019 |
| Ontario Library Association | Best Bets pick for Sparks! | 2018 |
| Canadian Children's Book Centre | Best Books for Kids and Teens pick for Sparks! | 2018 |
| YALSA “Great Graphic Novels for Teens” Pick | Yokaiden 1 & Yokaiden | 2010 |
| Winner “Best Short Story” | Eisner Award for Murder He Wrote | 2009 |
| Winner “Best New OEL Manga” | About.com for Yokaiden 1 | 2008 |
| Winner “Outstanding Science Fiction Comic” | WCC Awards for Saturnalia | 2004 |