Halcyon Realms - Animation.Film.Photography and Art Book Reviews

Gatchaman – Kuri Ippei Art Works Book Review

yonghow — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:42:21 +0000

Kuri Ippei (whose real name is Toyoharu Yoshida) is a manga artist most well known for his co-creation of the 70s hit anime series Gatchaman (Battle Of The Planets). Together with his brothers Tatsuo and Kenji Yoshida, they founded the anime studio Tatsunoko.

This book is a collection of his illustration works created for the numerous anime series by Studio Tatsunoko, including Speed Racer (see image below), Gatchaman, Casshan and many more.

Gatchaman is the only Tatsunoko anime I am more familiar with, though it was created quite a while before my time. It seems a Japanese live-action film is planned for release in August 2013, though it doesn’t look like a high quality production to me (yet). Check out the teaser below :

(above) Illustrations for the anime series Casshan, which was adapted into a live action film (Casshern) directed by Japanese MTV director Kazuaki Kiriya. ( then husband of singer Utada Hikaru ). The film had some fairly promising visuals and action sequences but ultimately fell short in the narrative department. There’s also a 2008 anime franchise reboot called Casshern Sins, but I am unaware of its quality. Any readers who have seen it can fill us in, please.

(above) There is also a section near the end of the book dedicated to his personal art works, as well as some previously unreleased art pieces.

“Gatchaman – Kuri Ippei Art Works” details :

- Dimensions – 9.5 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
- Softcover, 205 pages
- Color, in Japanese

Note : The slipcase cover for the book doubles as a detachable foldout poster, and as such the spine binding is a little delicate, flimsy even. Use caution when browsing the book.

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Wolf Children Storyboard Book Review

yonghow — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:54:30 +0000

This book collects the complete production storyboards for Mamoru Hosoda’s anime film Wolf Children (Ookami Kodomo No Ame To Yuki). Read also the amazing art book for the film here.

Storyboards are supporting materials use to aid the completion of a film and are not always drawn/polished to high detail/quality, but what a happy bonus when it is ! This is certainly true of all the storyboards drawn by Miyazaki-san.

(above & below) The children’s recurring transformation from human to wolf and back allows for one many comedic opportunities, but as the film progresses it takes on a darker tone as they struggle to integrate with society.

The accompanying text that comes with each panel contains a short description of the action, dialogue, sound effects and sometimes additional notes by the director that gives you deeper insight into the motivation of the scene.

There is also an interview with the director Mamoru Hosoda regarding his style of storyboarding, found at the end of the book. (in Japanese only) I’ve yet to read the entire interview, but in the first question Hosoda-san reveals that all the storyboards prior to this film was drawn not in the studio or at home, but instead in a family-styled restaurant. ( Restaurants like Jonathans or Saizeriya operate 24/7 and allow customers to dwell for extended hours. )

A great companion to the fantastic art book for an animated film that is equally amazing. Recommended.

Also available are storyboard books for Mamoru Hosoda’s earlier films Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

“Wolf Children Storyboard Book” details :

- Dimensions – 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
- Softcover, 496 pages
- Black & White, in Japanese

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Cimitero Monumentale, Milan, Italy.

yonghow — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:02:18 +0000

The Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) in Milan was one of the last places I visited during my Italy trip. Rome is renowned for its beautiful sculptures and I was sure the cemetery would be a treasure trove of stone & marble art work, just like Paris’s Montparnasse Cemetery.

The light was amazing that day with clear, beautiful blue skies, although from the pictures it’s hard to tell how frigidly cold the whole place was, as it was almost completely devoid of human activity. The perfect escape from the chaotic streets of Milan.

(above) I was quite transfixed by the serene look on the central figure and utterly amazed by the craftsmanship. So many of the sculptures in the cemetery were so life-like I half expected them to spring to movement.

(below) One of the many long corridors in the subterranean columbarium. Very moody.

(above) A beautiful mosaic fresco, one of many you’ll see in the cemetery.

(above) Now this exhibit was the queerest and most fascinating I saw in the cemetery. Encased in a glass display was what looks like the remains of a dried flowering plant, possibly a rose. It has expired a long time ago, but the containment has kept it safe from the elements and what remains resemble a sacred, biological relic. Not unlike something in a fantasy film, one you would imagine see in a Mike Mignola comic perhaps.

Milan was not my favourite among the places I visited in Italy ( that must go to Florence, and the Uffizi ), but this place was a sanctuary. The sculptures you see here are no less beautiful than those you can find in the more famous museums, and better still you won’t be jostled around by throngs of visitors with bad camera flash ethics. I love this place.

A Green Turtle & A Boy – Kazuo Oga Art Book Review

yonghow — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:11:03 +0000

A Green Turtle & A Boy (Umigame To Shonen) is a picture book/short novel illustrated by famed Ghibli background artist Kazuo Oga ( read more about his amazing 2007 background art exhibition ) and written by Japanese novelist Akiyuki Nosaka.

Many of Nosaka-san’s novels have been adapted into successful films, including The Pornographers, directed by Imamura Shohei, and The Grave Of The Fireflies, the sombre Ghibli film directed by Takahata Isao.

The story is set in Okinawa during WWII, and tells the tale of a young boy orphaned by the war and his encounters with a sea turtle during those tumultuous times.

An english translation (by Hayakawa Atsuko) of the short novel is also included in book.

I’m a big fan of Kazuo Oga’s work and had to pick this up once I saw it in a bookstore on my recent Tokyo trip. There is a gentleness to his soft watercolors that I really love.

“A Green Turtle & A Boy – Kazuo Oga” picture book/short novel details :

- Dimensions – 8.8 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
- Hardcover, 80 pages
- Full color, in Japanese/English

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Visiting Katsuya Terada’s 10 Ten Retrospective Exhibition

yonghow — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:52:47 +0000

I visited Katsuya Terada’s 10 Ten Retrospective exhibition held at the Kyoto International Manga Museum (running till the 30th of June 2013) while on the Kyoto leg of my recent Japan trip. The museum is located very near the Karasuma Oike station, just 3 stops away from Kyoto JR station.

(above) The main entrance to the museum. It had started to rain by the time I arrived.

(above) The museum lobby/reception, located next to the museum shop. Tickets are purchased through the 2 ticketing machines shown above.

(above) Also on exhibit are many of the fantastic illustrations from the sketch travel project. ( read more here. ) Your museum ticket grants you access to these exhibits as well, which is cool.

(above) A giant panel featuring Terada’s illustration. This is one of the few art pieces where photography is allowed.

The exhibition is split into 2 rooms, one featuring giant art panels like the one shown above, and the 2nd room displaying black & white comic panels from Terada’s manga.

Admittedly, I do feel that the number of art pieces that were on display were a little underwhelming. This is especially evident when you look at the art book released in conjunction with the exhibition. Many of the art work in the book have never been published before, but unfortunately they were not on display at the exhibition either.

ps. I’ll love to hear your views if anyone has been to the exhibition as well.