This is volume 2 of my new series of “Digest” posts introducing noteworthy Japanese art books. Read the first article here.
1) LUPIN the Third Genga Collection
A collection of genga (keyframe) drawings and layout boards (handpicked by animation director Koike Takeshi) from the 2012 Lupin anime TV series.
– Dimensions – 11.8 x 8.5 x 1 inches
– Hard cover, 128 pages
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 3675 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
2)BRAVELY DEFAULT Design Works THE ART OF BRAVELY 2010-2013
The official art/guide book for Square Enix’s Bravely Default ( Flying Fairy + For The Sequel ) games, featuring character, background, monster designs and more. Contains art work by famed Square Enix artist Akihiko Yoshida, who also gave us the beautiful art work in the Tactics Ogre Art book ( read review here ).
– Dimensions – 11.6 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
– Softcover, 255 pages
– Color, in Japanese
– 2800 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
3) Redline Genga Collection
A collection of genga drawings from the 2009 Madhouse animated film, directed by Koike Takeshi, who also handpicked the selection of drawings appearing in this book.
– Dimensions – 13.8 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
– Softcover, 127 pages
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 3780 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
4) REDLINE SUPER ANIME ALBUM
Art/Visual guide book for Madhouse’s animated film REDLINE, directed by Koike Takeshi. Contains character and mecha (car) designs.
– Dimensions – 11.6 x 9.1 x 0.3 inches
– Softcover, 96 pages
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 1470 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
5) Space Pirate Captain Harlock Concept Art Book
The official Art Of book for the 2013 CG animated film (Space Pirate) Captain Harlock. Contains concept art pieces for the characters, spaceships, background art plates, color keys and more.
– Dimensions – 14 x 10 x 0.7 inches
– Hardcover, 95 pages
– Color/B&W, in Japanese
– 3465 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
6) Yamamoto Nizo – Landscape Painting
An instructional book on the techniques behind background/landscape art painting, by veteran background artist Yamamoto Nizo, who has worked on such great films as Ghibli’s Castle In The Sky and Mamoru Hosoda’s Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Check out his collection of background art work in this other book here.
– Dimensions – 10.1 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
– Soft cover, 234 pages
– Color, in Japanese
– 3990 Yen
Amazon Japan purchase link here.
Japanese Art Books Digest 01
Japanese Art Books Digest 04
Japanese Art Books Digest 05
Japanese Art Books Digest 03
My 10 Favourite Art Books Of 2012
January 8th, 2014 at 7:18 am
Thank you for these digest posts. They’re being very helpful. I’ particularly interested in the genga albums and it’s difficult to find (at least in English sites) for which series such albums exist. I’ll definitely try and get my hands on the Redline album in the near future.
January 8th, 2014 at 11:02 pm
Glad you like these digest posts ! I’ll be doing them regularly. :]
February 7th, 2014 at 12:50 am
The art of Bravely Default is a love letter to Akihiko Yoshida and Bravely Default’s fans.
The information here says 152 pages, but as an owner of the book I can confirm that it has 255 pages.
It’s a really awesome book and I can’t recommend it enough.
February 7th, 2014 at 12:54 am
Kuso – 255 pages is correct, thanks for pointing that out ! I’ve updated the information but it might take a while before the page cache picks it up. :]
I’ve got a copy ordered myself and I look forward to reading/reviewing it.