When it was founded in 2015, Kojima Productions needed a mascot that would succinctly summarize the message of the company and the mood that it wished to convey. Concept artist and illustrator Yoji Shinkawa designed the character Ludens based on a discussion he and Hideo Kojima had nearly 20 years ago, in which an astronaut in a high-tech and futuristic suit explored digital space.
The motto of Kojima Productions is “From Sapiens to Ludens,” explaining that Homo Ludens, “those who play,” are the people who use their creativity and inventiveness to build stories, invent tools, share experiences, and evolve the art of play. Even if Earth were reduced to a barren wasteland, Homo Ludens would survive, driven by imagination, hope, and the desire to create.
Beyond the existential, the mascot of Ludens is simply incredibly appealing and has inspired artists from around the world. This has led to the ongoing Ludens Design Challenge and the selection of artwork by Yoji Shinkawa for release in the 2021 Ludens Design Challenge Calendar, which is available to download for free from the Kojima Productions online store. The calendar features artwork from creators of all kinds, including clothing designers, product designers, concept artists, and graphic artists. It truly represents the meaning behind the term Homo Ludens.
A few rumors have flown around the design of Ludens, with some fans speculating that the face behind the skull mask is Kojima himself, while others believe it to be that of actor Norman Reedus, who played Sam Porter Bridges in 2019’s Death Stranding. It’s true that the enigmatic and sometimes murky meaning behind Kojima Productions’ debut game seems to mesh with the mysterious persona of Ludens.
Kojima, however, has stated that Ludens is simply a mascot of the company and does not represent any one specific person. In an interview during E3 2016, he stated that the face behind the mask is everyone, all users, “that’s each one of us wearing that mask skull.” On the other hand, in early concept sketches of the Ludens character, the word “Bridges” can be seen on his left shoulder guard. This was later replaced by the words “Extra-Vehicular Creative Activity Suit.” Regardless, this sketch has led many to believe that Ludens and the world of Death Stranding are linked, despite Kojima’s protests.
As with much of Hideo Kojima’s work, there is possibly symbolism behind the design of Ludens. In the logo movie that plays on the Kojima Productions website, the character is seen standing stalwartly on a barren planet as digital waves splash in the background. He lowers the protective visor on his helmet and plants a flag with the Kojima Productions logo firmly in the ground. Even his EVA suit seems to have a hidden meaning. Kojima has described it as possessing a pattern inspired by the Turing machine, while the skull mask features human fossil motifs.
Source: Kojima Productions, Twitter