Glenn Vilppu's Second Tokyo Masterclass November 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th 2015

"A figure is not done well unless action appears it in it that expresses a state of mind." 
-  Leonardo DiVinci 

"If you don't have the gesture and the action, you literally don't have anything." 
 - Glenn Vilppu

World renown Disney, Dreamworks and UCLA drawing instructor Glenn Vilppu  is returning to Tokyo again for his second drawing masterclass with Master Drawing Japan.  It will be a four day drawing seminar on November 7th, 8th and 14th and 15th.

One of the most coveted drawing instructors in the animation and production art industry, Vilppu has taught the art of figure drawing for over 40 years in workshops around the world teaching principles and techniques professionals in the animation industry such as Disney, Dreamworks and Warner Bros.  

Vilppu will help participants master techniques of drawing the human figure in the first session and teach a special class on the human head in the second session..   He will give direct receive instruction and feedback to each participant.

Vilppu's mantra has been to teach "No rules, just tools" to enable artists to use them in any direction he or she wishes.  

The event will be held at Suidobata Fine Arts Academy in Ikebukuro.  

To learn more about this event please visit: http://www.suidobataabroad.com/glenn-vippuドローイングセミナー/

Weta Workshop's Greg Broadmore Is Coming To Tokyo

How do these movie titles make you feel?  King Kong (2005), Godzilla (2014), The Chronicles of Narnia, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Adventures of Tintin and the Academy Award nominated for Best Picture film, District 9.  

If you are at all familiar with the outstanding visual effects of these films, you might know that they were all designed under Peter Jackson's award winning special effects company:  Weta Workshop.  

You should also know that all these films were all designed in part or directly under the creative direction of Greg Broadmore.  

Sunday, October 17th, 2015, for ONE (1) day only next month, Greg Broadmore will be coming to Tokyo, Japan to conduct a concept design masterclass at Akiba Hall. 

At the event Greg Broadmore will discuss working as a concept designer on major blockbuster films,  his experience with Weta Workshop and do a live demonstration of for all the attendees. 

The event is being produced by Japan's Born Digital, Inc., INEI Studio and Master Drawing Japan. 

To make reservations and more details please go to Born Digital's website!  

Glenn Vilppu Tokyo Seminar August 16th and 17th 2014

"No rules just tools."  - Glenn Vilppu

Internationally renown Disney, Dreamworks and UCLA drawing instructor Glenn Vilppu will be giving a two day drawing seminar in Tokyo on August 16^th and 17^th.   

As a premier drawing instructor to the studios in Hollywood, Vilppu has taught the art of figure drawing for over 40 years and has done workshops around the world teaching principles and techniques of drawing to professionals in the animation industry such as Disney, Dreamworks and Warner Bros. 

In each 6-hour seminar, Vilppu will teach participants the master techniques of drawing the human figure as well as anatomy.   It will be an opportunity to receive instruction and feedback from a drawing master whose instruction has been coveted globally by artists and illustrators for generations.

Vilppu does not teach a style but teaches the tools to master drawing so that the artist to use them in any direction he or she wishes. 

The event will be held at Studio and Space IVVA in Harajuku, 12:00 to 18:00 on August 16^th and 17^th 2014.

To learn more about this event please visit:  http://studioandspaceivva.com/

Man Does Not Create, He Discovers

These are the paraphrased words of Antoni Gaudi that will greet you entering the Mori Art Exhibition:: Takehiko Inoue Interprets Gaudi's Universe.  

It would be plain to say the works of both Gaudi and Takahiro Inoue's were impressive and compelling.

The greater thing to come away with from exhibition is the consideration of  artistic creation and expression come from.  We are moved and compelled by what we observe. Nature served a great part in influencing Gaudi's hand.  As for Inoue-san it seems that Gaudi, the man himself has compelled his hand rather than his expressive voice.  Indeed he has interpreted Gaudi in his own way -- interpreting his work with Gaudi's voice would be of course, just copying.

"The creation continues incessantly through the media of man. But man does not create, he discovers.  Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator.  Copiers do not collaborate.  Because of this, originality consists in returning to the origin."  - Antoni Gaudi 

Takehiko Inoue Interprets Antoni Gaudi's Universe - ガウディ×井上雄彦

Another inspiring exhibition is about to hit Tokyo.   Takahiko Inoue (井上雄彦) artist of the hugely popular Japanese manga titles "Slam Dunk" and "Vagabond" apparently has has been admirer of modernist architect Antoni Gaudi for some time.  So much so that it inspired him to tour Spain and record his travel memoirs, in his art book, "Pepita:  Inoue Meets Gaudi" .

This tribute to  Gaudi, Spain and its people resulted in Inoue being awarded the honor of becoming Spain's goodwill ambassador.  

All this is culminating in a final celebration of the 400th Anniversary of diplomacy between Japan and Spain. (400?!)   An exhibition at the Mori Arts Center in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills:  Takehiko Inoue Interprets Gaudi's Universe  will start July 12.  

100 art pieces and works comprising of rough sketches, models and architectural designs related to Gaudi will be brought from Spain to Japan, along with 40 original illustrations by Inoue himself. 

Takehiko Inoue is living what most certainly must be living a dream as he is currently living in Barcelona and working in a studio within Gaudi's very own Casa Mila.  

Why Does Japan Love Disney So Much?

ディズニー夢と魔法の90年展　スッキリ!! 20140320 投稿者 dm_5232ea58af3f6

Matsuya Ginza department store is holding yet another Disney event on it's exhibition floor in Tokyo's Ginza district.   Disney's 90 Years of Dreams and Enchantment.  Definitely worth taking a look. 

There is a story about Walt Disney who sat through a storyboard pitch for a cartoon involving Mickey, Donald and Goofy by one of his directors.  The director decided to take a different turn in the characteristic approach of what Disney's headline trio were known for.  I'm certain as in many cases the director was nervous about approval from Walt.  However during the pitch, Walt apparently couldn't restrain himself from laughing at the gags proposed in the cartoon.  Even to the point where Walt was in tears from the laughter.   Surely the director had a "hit" on his hands. 

The director closed his pitch and likely waited for Walt to catch his breath and wipe the tears from his face before asking, "So you like it right?!"  

"NO", Walt responded.  "You killed my characters!"  

Despite the fact the fact it was funny it was a string of "gags" that likely could have been done with any character and it out of the context of the individual characteristics Mickey, Donald and Goofy were known and appreciated for.    

The anecdote is because (and this is not a criticism) but you couldn't stand anywhere in the exhibition without hearing   Kawaiiiiiiiiiiii!  (Or, Cuuuuuuuute! In English) squealed  every 30 seconds by not just Japanese schoolgirls but greatly housewives and OL's (Office Lady).    Again it's no criticism because Disney characters ARE cute and appealing, but there was no further elaboration about what exactly is "cute" about them outside of how they are rendered.    I hope the greater appeal is in what they DO not just how they look.   

(The Walt Disney anecdote above can be found in the volumes of Didier Ghez's, "Walt's People".)

Tokyo Celebrates Walt Disney's 110th Birthday

Once made the mistake of telling a Tokyo resident that Walt Disney couldn't actually draw Mickey Mouse well.  She never spoke to me ever again.  Seriously.

The image of Walt Disney is damn near sacred in Japan.  Or Tokyo anyway.  It's difficult to leave your house and not see at least one Disney related image between home and your final destination.
In honor of Walt Disney's 110th birthday, the Disney Family Museum put on an exhibition with the Matsuya Ginza department store in the high-end shopping district of Ginza.

Occasionally pedestrian, but it was  very much worth taking a look (despite the aftertaste of the sledgehammer merchandising).  Lots of artifacts from Walt's personal possessions as well as artifacts from the past and wall in the Bambi section that paid tribute to Tyrus Wong that was nice to see.

Below are some shots from the exhibition.    Apparently Walt's early drawings of Mickey Mouse were there, but I didn't get to see them.  They closed the doors on me.   Retribution for spoiling someone's magic I guess. That's what I get.  

 

Eiko Ishioka - 石岡 瑛子 - (1938 -2012)

Her work is the antithesis of femininity in Japan. Her designs were always BIG and BOLD and sometimes a little BAD. Instincts say there will be a tribute to Eiko Ishioka during the 84th Academy Awards this coming Sunday. For those who she is not a household name with will likely say --- "Oh, she's the one who did that?".

Whether it's Eiko's work for Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, The Fall, Miles Davis' album design "Tutu", or even that Parco ad with Faye Dunaway eating an egg on camera ---- it's all there. The balance, energy and that statement that reads as her work is all there.

There was clear theatricality in her work. A magic that translated well to film. Ask some people and they will tell you the real star of Coppola's Dracula wasn't the actors but Eiko's costumes. Who's going be the Art Director for Tarsem Singh's films now?

She never threw together random and clashing bold elements just to hustle your attention. She created a new mythologies that did away with traditional imagery but was faithful to the energies of the characters or set pieces. I feel she was not beyond caricature or absurdity. Not with the intent of lampoon. Simply her artistic editorial.

Some people do caricature with pen and pencil, some can do it with a camera. She was able to do it with fabric and materials.

Below is her obituary and perspective on her method madness in her own words. Eiko Ishioka Obituary, source: The Guardian.

Happy Halloween From Tokyo

Always loved Japan's answer to Fantasia, Robot Carnival(1987).

The segment, "Nightmare" directed by Takeshi Nakamura (中村 たかし) pays homage to Disney's Night on Bald Mountain from Fantasia and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad segment, Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Happy Halloween. Enjoy.

Gucci x Hirohiko Araki = 幸せ

Johnny-Come-Lately again, BUT at least this time, you have two days left to catch this.

Anyone remember the anime or manga series Baoh? JoJo's Bizarre Adventure? If art, animation, illustration, Gucci or fashion stirs anything in you, this is something you might want to check out.

Observing its 90th Anniversary (80th Anniversary in Japan), Gucci has collaborated with manga artist Hirohiko Araki in connection with his 30th Anniversary (in the business I have to assume). I was more familiar with the anime and manga series, Baoh which was published back in the late eighties in Japan but didn't get translated for U.S. audiences until the early nineties.

This might not seem like the obvious match up, but maybe fans of the manga or anime, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure might know that Araki has named some of his characters after famous fashion designers. To his advantage, there even an echo of his characters in the Gucci logo as one part of the JoJo's story it set in Italy and JoJo is known there as "GioGio". (Is that reading too much into it?)

I blogged earlier about the death of illustration in light of the way film poster art has been hijacked by Photoshopped photography. But things like this bring optimism that the powers that be understand illustration and the hand-drawn line still has a significant impact on people. American comic artist J. Scott Campbell did a similar comic art/ fashion collaboration with Express Jeans in 2003 and Hogan Milan Fashion Week in 2007. Dig around, I'm sure you'll find images.

The exhibition hall showcasing this work can be found at the GUCCI Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo....until, ah, October 6th. There you will find original artwork and illustrations by Araki as well as a full sized figure of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure character, Rohan Kishibe. Also if you're in town grab a copy of the October issue of Japanese fashion magazine, Spur. Inside is a 16 page manga of "Rohan Kishibe Goes to Gucci".

If you can't get to Shinjuku in the next couple of days, or get a hold of Spur, I've included images from the magazine and the event below. Enjoy.

Don't Sleep on Frédéric Back

I meant to post this a long time ago, but if you're in Tokyo tomorrow is the last day to catch this amazing Studio Ghibli sponsored exhibit on Canadian animator, Frederic Back. 

Animator, illustrator, muralist, author, Knight, and Academy Award winner has a plethora of his work in film and television at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo on display until tomorrow I'm afraid.

There are over one thousand drawings from his days of studying Fine Art in France, to his illustrations, his educational animation work at Radio Canada to (what I found most emotionally moving) tons of sketches he made traveling cross country in Canada with his wife on their honeymoon. Of course there is original work from his Academy Award winning films, The Man Who Planted Trees, and Crac.

There's a sleepy, dreamlike quality to his work that comes off almost like post-Impressionistic art in animation. Nothing to sleep on. Very inspiring.

The Harimaya Bridge is available... so what movie are YOU going to see?

Four years ago, I had the honor of being one the many who helped this film come to life. But The Harimaya Bridge had its inception as much as more than ten years ago. Proof of the reward of perseverance.

This feature film is now available via video on demand (VOD) on most cable and satellite systems in more than 100 million households in the U.S. and Canada.....how cool is that??

The Harimaya Bridge stars Ben Guillory, Saki Takaoka, Misa Shimizu, and Danny Glover (who also severed as the film's producer).

The film is about American man who must go to rural Japan after the sudden death of his estranged son there, and the secrets he discovers his son left behind.

The film had a nationwide release in theaters in Japan and a limited release in the U.S. The LA Times called it "powerful" and "a unique, complex, consciousness-raising accomplishment". So you don't have to just take my word for it because I worked on it.

YES, I am going to drop the "S" word: SUPPORT good films. This is Summer we are assaulted by countless tentpole movies like: Transformers 3, Pirates of the Carribbean, whichever superhero movie you want to pick.... Fine all well and good, but if you want something that is entertaining as well as something you can say was time well-spent, well you have a choice...

Learn more here:

http://www.gravitasventures.com/the-harimaya-bridge/

http://www.theharimayabridge.com/

http://www.facebook.com/TheHarimayaBridge

Please watch, and please help spread the word. Thanks!