Exciting news ! In conjunction with Kodansha’s release of the AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames art books from the Otomo Complete Works, an art exhibition showcasing animation cels from the movie will be held in August 10th-31st 2023 at a venue in Ikebukuro ( MIXALIVE Tokyo ).

Interesting, the idea for this animation cel exhibition came about when Otomo was rummaging his house for AKIRA layout drawings to be used in the Layouts & Key Frames art book, as he mentioned in this tweet below –

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— ???? (@otomo_zenshu) May 9, 2023

Otomo mentioned that while looking for layout drawings in his house he also discovered many animation cels, and they are all in great condition, so he thought that fans would want to see them. However, he also said that because these cels are from his own private collection, they are not a complete set representing the entire movie.

As much as I would love to attend the exhibition, I’m already set to visit Tokyo next week and won’t be able to head there a 2nd time this year. The last time I attended a big scale Otomo exhibition was way back in 2012 for the most excellent Genga exhibition.

The silver lining for those for us who can’t make it to the exhibition will be the Layout & Keyframe art books, which include many beautiful cel reproductions as well. The 2nd volume is slated for release on 17th May and there should also be a third volume coming later on.

A reminder that the AKIRA Animation Layouts & Key Frames Vol 2 will be released next Wed 17/5. Pre-order – https://t.co/08vFP6kkFU

I'll get a copy while I'm in Tokyo, & review it in early June. Read my review for Vol 1 here – https://t.co/bYwfwlKjYqpic.twitter.com/JmVNU3HA8l

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) May 12, 2023

I also recommend taking a look at the whole list of Otomo Complete Works books that have already been published. I intend to review all of them as they come.

Official page for the AKIRA Cel Art Exhibition


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