Riffing off a 2001 chat between Tsukihime creators Kinoko Nasu, Okashige (OKSG) and Takashi Takeuchi, Reddit users conducted an extensive investigation into the identity of the unnamed foreign model that artist Takeuchi used as the inspiration for the game’s main heroine, Arcueid Brunestud. Over two decades after the game’s release, it was discovered that the model’s name is Amanda Dyer, a Canadian fashion model who was working in Japan at the time. Dyer has since taken her role as Acrueid’s real-life counterpart in stride, and Tsukihime fans are all for it.
Dyer, who modelled for the Japanese fashion magazine SPUR when she was only fifteen years old, finds it amusing how she and Arcueid have so much in common. While Dyer isn’t a vampire like Arcueid, she has been a longtime fan of vampire stories and an insomniac. In her official webpage, Dyer also talks about being constantly told that she looks younger than her real age.
The model even has a similar outfit to Arcueid’s iconic white long-sleeved shirt, purple skirt, and black boots. Arcueid’s personality also reflects Dyer’s own, as both are independent and intense. Because of their similarities, Dyer found the revelation that she was the inspiration for Arcueid to feel more “like puzzle pieces clicking together than some random coincidence.”
After discovering her connection to Tsukihime, Dyer had several fans reach out to her through various platforms. In an Anime Trending interview, she reveals that she continues to be in awe of fans’ personal stories of how Arcueid’s character inspired and even helped them through difficult times. Aside from her connection to Arcueid, Tsukihime fans have become more invested in Dyer as a person. She constantly receives messages from fans who have seen her work and will occasionally be recognized out in public.
Her relationship with Tsukihime fans goes both ways. Since finding out about the franchise, Dyer has taken it upon herself to read up on the lore, characters, and story. Several fans have provided her with useful links and resources – all of which Dyer appreciates as she delves into a world she was a part of but knew nothing about.
Dyer’s next Tsukihime-themed goal is to obtain some collectibles of her own. She would also love to work with Type-Moon in some official capacity, as her previous contributions were an indirect result of her modelling career. If you’re a Tsukihime fan and want to get in touch with Amanda Dyer and people with similar interests, Dyer has created a new Reddit account and an official Reddit community, the latter of which is tastefully called “arcdyer.” You can also connect with her through her webpage or on Instagram.
