This is volume 3 of my new series of “Digest” posts introducing noteworthy Japanese art books. Read the first and 2nd article.
1) Ghost In The Shell Standalone Complex Maximized
A new art book for Kenji Kamiyama’s highly acclaimed anime series Ghost In The Shell – Stand Alone Complex. Comes housed in a big cardboard box with 1) Art book, 350 pages including character/prop sheets, genga sheets. 2) A screenplay book. 3) An interview book. 4) Special cardboard case. 5) CD-rom with interviews.
Visit the official page here, and here’s a blog with great pictures of the box contents.
– Dimensions – 15.8 x 12.1 x 2.6 inches
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 7350 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
2) Ghost In The Shell Standalone Complex 2nd GIG Maximized
A new art book for Kenji Kamiyama’s highly acclaimed anime series Ghost In The Shell – SAC 2nd GIG. Comes housed in a big cardboard box with 1) Art book, 350 pages including character/prop sheets, genga sheets. 2) A screenplay book. 3) An interview book. 4) Special cardboard case. 5) CD-rom with interviews.
Visit the official page here.
– Dimensions – 15.8 x 12.1 x 2.6 inches
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 7350 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
3) Toshihiro Kawamoto Artworks The Illusives I 1985-1995
A collection of art and illustration pieces by Toshihiro Kawamoto, co-founder of Bones and character designer/animation director for Cowboy Bebop. Features work from 1985-1995 including Venus Wars, Patlabor, Gundam 0083 STARDUST MEMORY and more. (see volume 2 below)
– Dimensions – 11.6 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
– Softcover, 144 pages
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 2940 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here. (There’s also a harder to find boxset that contains both books.)
4) Toshihiro Kawamoto Artworks The Illusives II 1996-2005
Volume 2 of Toshihiro Kawamoto, co-founder of Bones and character designer/animation director for Cowboy Bebop. Features work from 1986-2005 including Space Battleship Yamato, Cowboy Bebop, Wolf’s Rain and more.
– Dimensions – 11.6 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
– Softcover, 152 pages
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 2940 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here. (There’s also a harder to find boxset that contains both books.)
5) Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises) Roman Album
The Roman album for Miyazaki Hayao’s animated film Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises). This is a great companion to the “Art Of” Kaze Tachinu book (read review here) and while the former contains more character design/background art this one features layout boards, genga sheets and also a fair bit of CG/animation making techniques.
– Dimensions – 10.9 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
– softcover, 285 pages
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 2730 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
6) Takehiko Inoue – Pepita 2
Inoue Takehiko (Slam Dunk/Vagabond) travels to one of Japan’s most sacred shinto shrines, Ise jingu in Mie, purported home to one of Japan 3 treasures, the Sacred Mirror. The book contains sketches, illustrations and essays made during his journey, and also comes with a 79 minute dvd. See a youtube video of his trip here.
– Dimensions – 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
– Soft cover, 204 pages
– Color, in Japanese
– 1995 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
Japanese Art Books Digest 04
Japanese Art Books Digest 01
Japanese Art Books Digest 02
Japanese Art Books Digest 05
The Art Of Ghost In The Shell ( 2017 ) Book Review
January 31st, 2014 at 3:23 pm
A pair of expensive Sets(^~^;).
I’m also always wary or ‘roman albums’ but your little description is making me reconsider it.
I always get excited when someone mentions “Toshihiro Kawamoto Artworks The Illusives II 1996-2005”; it was the first artbook I ever bought (no one cares about this, but I’m going to shout-out Toshihiro Kawamoto anyways)It’s still one of my favorites – I always feel the confidence emitting from it when ever I flip through it.
January 31st, 2014 at 11:48 pm
ivto – Roman albums for Ghibli films are usually abridged version of the “art of” books, but this one is an exception, with lots of great content not found in the “art of” book.
Ditto on Toshihiro Kawamoto’s art book, I have a copy but it’s buried somewhere deep in my pile of other art books…gotta figure out where it is haha.