Akira creator Otomo Katsuhiro’s Genga Exhibition was a big manga/cultural event in Japan and received a whole lot of press and media coverage, with feature articles appearing in many magazines. Amongst these publications Brutus ( review coming up soon ) and Geijutsu Shincho contain good material and I wanted to share with you guys. ( Please retweet/Like to help me share this article. Thanks ! )
The contents of the magazine include many reproductions of his illustrations and comic strips, in depth articles including interviews, discussions of his work, future projects and more, over 100 pages of great stuff. Even if you can’t read Japanese, the images are still of great value.
(above left) A rare glimpse of Otomo-san’s first comic strip “The Sound of Gunshot” published in the anthology Action Manga way back in 1973, when he was just 19 years old.
(above & below) An eight page spread of Otomo’s new comic strip “Morning Attack of DJ Tech”, which was also on display at his Genga Exhibition. I don’t believe this strip is included in his fantastic exhibition catalogue or Kaba 2, but it’s sure worth the price of this magazine I think.
(above and below) Great pictures of Otomo’s home and atelier where he does most of his work these days. There are a couple more good ones in this magazine special a few years ago. Back when I was still working on Freedom in Sunrise Ogikubo Otomo had an office, but he was seldom in the studio.
(above and below) Layout boards and a production still from Otomo’s latest anime short “Hinoyoujin” ( Short Piece ). There were special screenings held during the opening of the Genga Exhibition and will also be screening at this year’s Annecy. I haven’t seen it, but I need to !
Definitely a must have for Otomo fans. :]
“Geijutsu Shincho Otomo Katsuhiro Special” magazine details :
Dimensions – 28.2 x 20.6 x 1 cm
Soft cover, 180 pages ( Otomo Special about 100 pages total )
Color, Black & White, in Japanese
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You might also be interested in these items :
Otomo – Geijutsu Shincho Magazine 2016 Book Review
Geijutsu Shincho – Yasuhiko Yoshikazu Special Magazine Review
Yamada Akihiro – Geijutsu Shincho Magazine 2022 Book Review
Brutus Magazine – Otomo Katsuhiro Special Book Review
Genga – Otomo Katsuhiro Original Pictures Art Book Review
May 25th, 2012 at 3:23 am
Great review! I got my copy and the Brutus issue as well! Both features so much rich coverage on Otomo! I’m still waiting for my copy of the Genga book! You’re so fortunate to have experienced the exhibit in person! Wish I could have made that trip to Japan!
May 25th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
i picked up both as well, and i have to say that if anyone is on the fence about one or the other, this is the premier Otomo magazine to get. the BRUTUS is really good as well, but this has so much more to it, not even including the brand new, exclusive comic. get this magazine, and then think about it; it probably won’t be around forever.
May 26th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Gutted this is sold out. I’ve been a long time fan and I NEED this XD great review 🙂
May 26th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
love seeing people like Otomo still using pen nibs and the like.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Sean – Yes that was something that I wanted to mention in the article but forgot ! Otomo must be one of the few artists these days who is still using traditional paint media, this is true even for his latest pieces for art created for the Kaba 2 art book.
May 27th, 2012 at 4:23 am
you know, i have had that talk recently with other illustrator friends of mine. we all still use either a Gpen/pen nib or a brush and ink. it’s one of those things taht has never gone out of style, and though i’m relatively young, it was just what i gravitated to. probably with more than a little influence from Otomo influencing me at such a young age. people can keep making more and more kinds of pens, or tools or whatever, but the classics are classics for a reason. they provide the right kind of control, and they are simple tools that make you actually learn how to use them. i am still amazed at his ability to work in full color on paper, though. no one does that, it’s unbelievable.
May 27th, 2012 at 7:38 am
I agree! Nothing beats using traditional means of drawing. I do respect those that have made the transition to tablet. I was watching a documentary on Moebius and it showed him drawing digitally. It was amazing to see him do that with such ease.
But, when I see any of the artist work on traditional tools, I’m still in awe of the work they put out. In fact, I was browsing through the Art of Brave and looking at the side by side comparisons of digital art production compared to the pencil and ink work? I couldn’t help but feel I preferred the pen and ink work.
Beautiful. Really beautiful. Not edging out digital work, which has its place as well. Just seeing both side by side, I feel a stronger connection to traditional work. Which is why Otomo’s work has always attracted me.
February 4th, 2013 at 3:23 am
In this magazine otomo discuss his tecniques?(especially painting tecniques),i`m really interested in it,if you know let me know