White Phoenix Knights

[MommySlan]

As I previously mentioned on another post, I doodled a sigil for the Royal Army condecorated by the King of Midland himself, the White Phoenix Knights, as I was rewatching the 17th episode of Kenpuu Denki Berserk (aka Berserk 1997), Moment of Glory. (Volume 8; episode 30 in the manga)

The moment is indeed GLORIOUS (it plays EARTH by Hirasawa Susumu-san in the anime version, it's awesome!) and I was stricken by this sudden idea of what the new Kingsguard's coat of arms would look like... After a hard time searching on my phone, I finally managed to find a snap I took of it on the occasion. I hope you guys enjoy.

Please, feel free to share your thoughts about it. What I missed? How could've I improved the drawing? I'm pretty sure I missed a lot of details they put on heraldry which gives that authentic feeling Miura-sensei was a master to portray (like the Blue Whale Knights crest *-*) on his beloved craft.


P.S. I apologize for the any incosistencies. I'm not an expert on heraldry and I did this piece of fanart after a few drinks and a pleasant eating-&-watching Berserk marathon. I'm sure Miura-sensei version would look much more elaborated and coherent to the medieval feel he so tenderly portrayed on his work. I was aiming to portray a phoenix more familiar to me. (I grew up watching Saint Seiya, so maybe the one depicted on the Pandora Box of Phoenix Ikki's cloth was in the back of my mind as I did it, perhaps. =^u^=)

 

[Aazealh]

Thanks for sharing! It's a cool idea and you're probably the only one who's ever taken a shot at it.

Please, feel free to share your thoughts about it. What I missed? How could've I improved the drawing? I'm pretty sure I missed a lot of details they put on heraldry which gives that authentic feeling Miura-sensei was a master to portray (like the Blue Whale Knights crest *-*) on his beloved craft.

Paradoxically, I'd say it's probably too detailed. I don't have an exact picture in mind for what Miura might have done with it, but I imagine it'd be more streamlined and stylized, like the Band of the Falcon symbol. Who knows, though.

 

[MommySlan]

Understandable. I believe I was too focused on the phoenix motto. (and I had a little too much drink that night )

I tried to incorporate too many things in it, right? The double helix present on the bottom of the Holy See insignia inspired the tail design. (common in Asian representations of the fabled firebird, especially Chinese; like the Fenghuang)

I pondered if I should incorporate elements such as the Falcon of Light concept and its religious anecdotes, but I just kept the spiraling peacock-like tail to suggest that notion. The head is clearly derived from Griffith's helmet, another thing Miura wouldn't include on the official coat of arms, most probably.

As I mentioned before, this came out of a whim of inspiration and curiosity: "What if...?"

In conclusion, I'm inclined to say that I personally believe Miura conceived the perfect work: Episodes such as Moment of Glory, Sparks from a Sword Tip and, my personal favorite, Bonfire of Dreams, are so well-crafted pieces of storytelling that are able to trigger an emotional reaction within. And for that, I will always be grateful for Miura Kentarou-sensei. ^u^