With news on the upcoming Bayonetta 3 finally coming down the pipeline, creative fans are taking advantage of the first glimpses of Bayonetta's updated character design. One fan decided to draw the Umbra Witch's Bayonetta 3 look in the distinctive art style of the Persona franchise.
The Bayonetta games may not have the most realistic graphics out there, but Bayonetta herself made waves in her first appearance for having the proportions of a grown woman rather than an anime-style teenager. While the Persona art style usually brings vivid life to anime-style teenagers, in this image, Redditor datcravat uses it to add a youthful spark to Bayonetta's mature charms.
Datcravat's take on Bayonetta bears a striking resemblance to Persona 5's Haru Okumura, especially in the shape of the face and the top part of the hair. Although the new hairstyle Bayonetta sports in the Bayonetta 3 trailer is significantly longer and less wavy than Haru's orange curls, the thick, chunky braids datcravat gave her may evoke a similar look. Bayonetta's heavy makeup and puffy sleeves are also reminiscent of Haru's stylish look as Noir, a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
In the past, Bayonetta's black and red colors, sleek outfits, and penchant for dual-wielding - or quadruple-wielding - magical pistols have led to her being compared to Joker, the protagonist of Persona 5. Some fans have even theorized that she is his mother, as his biological parents have yet to be shown in the Persona franchise as of writing. While this isn't the first time a Bayonetta shared universe has been brought up, recent Bayonetta 3 teasers suggest that if a shared universe exists, it will likely focus more on Platinum Games titles such as Astral Chain.
As of writing, it appears that Bayonetta fans have embraced this piece of fanart with open arms. One Redditor expressed fondness for Bayonetta's resemblance to Bayonetta 1's Cereza, while another congratulated datcravat for remembering to include Bayonetta's beauty mark. Several users discussed the possibility of Bayonetta making a cameo in future Persona games, while others brought up the complexity surrounding the usage rights of Bayonetta as a character. One user immediately asked how much datcravat charged for commissions. Another stated that this drawing looked a bit like Ann Takamaki, another Persona 5 character, cosplaying as Bayonetta, while a third declared that this piece was better than Bayonetta 3's official art. A number of fans joked that Joker's mom had finally shown up, too.
Bayonetta 3 releases in 2022 on Nintendo Switch.