A special collaboration between the Norwegian jewellery brand Tom Wood and Pokémon, launching on the 28th of September 2023
Tom Wood, a renowned jewellery brand, has collaborated with the entertainment franchise Pokémon to introduce an exquisite collection of jewellery, showcasing the iconic character Pikachu.
The special Pokémon Collection will include three Pikachu charms in different expressions – Shy, Happy, and Hello – that can be cherished by Trainers at any time and all the time.
According to Tom Wood, the Pikachu charms are a custom casted piece emphasizing the intricate details that goes into jewelry making of this scale. Made with gold plated recycled 925 sterling silver in a polished finish, plated with recycled 18K gold and handset with white zirconia stones on outer jump ring.
Charm attached to a Tom Wood Lou Bracelet Gold (Sold separately)
“The process of connecting Pokémon and Tom Wood has been both exciting and rewarding, which is exactly why I took on this project. The end result is a timeless tribute to both brands, merging playfulness with excellent craftsmanship into a miniature object. I hope the Pikachu Happy, Pikachu Hello, and Pikachu Shy will become collector’s items and bring joy and happiness to the owner,”
Mona Jensen, founder of Tom Wood
Mona Jensen, founder of Tom Wood
According to Tom Wood, the jewellery charms are designed to be worn with layering in mind, or as a singular unit, with each piece easily complementing any outfit.
Tom Wood´s focus on responsible production utilising 100 % recycled silver or gold from RJC (Responsible Jewellery Council) certified manufacturers securing high standard working conditions.
The collection consists of three charm designs, consisting in total of six different jewellery pieces.
The collection will also include exclusive packaging, made with GRS certified Social Plastic® from Plastic Bank. Plastic Bank builds ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocesses the materials for reintroduction into the global manufacturing supply chain. The complimentary gift box is FSC-certified recycled paper and cardboard.
This special and fancy Pokémon jewellery collection will be available starting tomorrow, 28th of September 2023 online at www.tomwoodproject.com, as well as selected retailers including Dover Street Market London, Storm Copenhagen and KITH.
How much will this set me back?
The full prices for each and every piece are not available until tomorrow, however we can tell you now the MSRP starts at $209 USD. …Gotta buy’em all?
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New anime series by Anime industry legends is set to premiere this October in Japan!
KamiErabi God.app is an original new anime created in collaboration with Yoko Taro, Atsushi Ohkubo, JIN, and Hiroyuki Seshita. The anime is set to premiere in Japan on October 4.
Slow Curve, an anime production company, has recently revealed the newest visual, PV, cast, and opening and ending song artists for the upcoming anime. The new visual, which showcases the character was drawn by Atsushi Ohkubo, the characters. Ohkubo will serve as the series’ character designer.
The PV offers a glimpse of the “fetish x battle royale game” concept teased earlier, along with a preview of the opening theme song. The anime will premiere on October 4 on Fuji TV’s +Ultra block, with worldwide streaming on Crunchyroll (excluding Asia).
KamiErabi GOD.app is a large-scale project with an original story by Yoko Taro, the globally-renowned director of the hit game “NieR: Automata”, scripts by JIN of “Kagerou Project”, character designs by Atsushi Ohkubo, creator of the hit manga series “Fire Force” and “Soul Eater”, and directed by Hiroyuki Seshita of “Knights of Sidonia” and “BLAME!” fame.
Anime Synopsis
A message received on a smartphone, triggers a series of events for High school students who must now fight each other in a battle royale for the chance to become a god.
Goro, a first-year high school student at a private high school in Tokyo, has no hopes, no dreams, and no ambitions. The world is indifferent to him, and he has a faint longing for Honoka, a classmate from the same school. He and his best friend Akitsu live a boring, unchanging life. One day, Goro receives a strange notification on his smartphone: “You have been chosen. Breathe into me your wish.” Thinking it malicious spam, Goro types, “I want to have sex with Honoka, the woman of my dreams.” The next day, Honoka invites him to drop his pants at an unpopular arcade… “Congratulations on your great accomplishment!” Then, a mysterious girl, Lall, suddenly appears. Confused by this series of events, Goro is told of a cruel fate.
Goro has been chosen by the “Great Will” to become a god to make his wish come true. With other potential gods, they are to kill one another until there is only one left. The ability given is the “Scripture of Fools”. At the cost of the “Misfortune” that befalls you, the power to twist the cause and effect of the world and manipulate the reason of this world at will. The first god candidate who appeared to kill Goro was, of course, Honoka, whom he had longed for. What choice will Goro make against Honoka, who attacks him mercilessly? Thus, the fetish battle royal by the god candidates, each with their own secrets, begins!
Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Armsheld its world premiere at this year’s Anime Expo. Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms is a new science-fiction action-adventure anime and manga that explores the world of sentient mechanical beings called Mecha-Ude and the people who wield them! Originally created by independent animator & director Okamoto and produced by Fukuoka-based TriF Studio in 2016.
Animator and director, Okamoto created the series in 2016 with a Kickstarter, which raised over $67,000, more than twice its $25,000 goal. A pilot episode, produced by TriF Studio through the Kickstarter, became an instant hit and in 2018, got an English dub.
In 2022 the series was picked up for a full anime adaptation, produced by TriF Studio and Pony Canyon. At this year’s Anime Expo, episode 1 premiered with new exclusive footage, not previously seen in the pilot. The Mecha-Ude anime series is slated for 2024, exact release date is currently TBA. To learn more on the series and its Japanese cast and crew visit the official Mecha Ude website.
Anime Synopsis
One day, Amatsuga Hikaru, a junior high school student living in Kitakagami City, meets the mysterious “Ude”-shaped mechanical life form Alma. Alma attempts to bind to Hikaru’s body in order to obtain energy from him, but fails. To his surprise, it binds to the hoodie that Hikaru was wearing. Meanwhile, the “Kagami Group,” a large corporation that plans to enslave the Mecha-Udes and turn them into weapons, is in pursuit of Alma. ARMS, an organization working to save and free the Mecha-Udes, also searches for Alma. Hikaru, unable to abandon the weakened Alma, puts on the hoodie that Alma has bonded with and gets caught up in the great events unfolding among the Mecha-Ude users…
INTERVIEW WITH OKAMOTO
At Anime Expo I had the opportunity to interview Mecha-Ude animator and director, Okamoto about her journey and experience creating the world of Mecha-Ude,
Animator and Director, Okamoto
Krystal: Can speak about the origins of MECHA-UDE? Okamoto: I’m a huge fan of Shounen manga and one day I just decided I wanted to draw a robot, but drawing a full-size body robot was too hard. So I decided I would try just to draw an arm. K: Enhance the subtitle “Mecha arms“ O: Correct. Yes. K: So you’re not only the creator of the stories, but also the director for the Anime series, are some elements within the anime, that you emphasizes for the audience members? O: The story is very much about the characters. I hope that people will see, like, pay attention to how they develop and how they move. K:It has been roughly serve years, between the kickstarter in 2016 and now, what are some things that changed in the series? O: When the pilot episode was made, a fuller story was already created, like a bigger story that we were hoping to work on later. So basically not much has changed. I’m brushing up on stuff in the past few years, but that’s about it.
K: How would you describe the anime series to encourage people to read the Manga, or watch the anime series? O: All of the mecha-udes are also their own characters, and they’re very unique, so they’re very appealing as well. They’re part of the series and just as important as the human characters, that’s one of the selling points. K: What can you tell me about the main character? O: Hikaru was a pretty dull, mundane character with nothing special going on until he meets “Alma”, the Mecha Ude, he meets, and then they’ll have adventures and he’ll also be able to grow as a character. The story’s going to be about their partnership and how they grow together as characters in the series.
THE MANGA
Additionally, eManga publishing company Azuki, celebrated the launch of the latest exclusive manga series, Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms by Yoshino Koyoka and TriF based on Okamoto’s creation. The manga adaptation is now available only on Azuki with new chapters every Wednesday!
Manga Synopsis
A brand-new manga series based on the anime by Okamoto and TriF! Kita-Kagami City is a pretty normal town… except that some people have gotten their hands on Mecha-Ude: powerful, sentient mechanical beings attached to the limbs of their hosts. When middle school kid Hikaru accidentally activates Alma, a mysterious Mecha-Ude with no memory of his past, he forms an unlikely connection with the talking arm. But where did Alma come from? And why are shadowy secret organizations and corporate assassins with deadly Mecha-Ude of their own suddenly chasing Hikaru down, hell-bent on stealing Alma? Hikaru and Alma must learn to work together to uncover the truth behind Alma’s identity and prevent him from ending up in the wrong hands (or on the wrong arm)!
Start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full catalog for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available. Most titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at twitter.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.
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In what has been officially labeled as the “most powerful spy collaboration decision“, Toho Animation collaborated with Paramount Studios to create a special promotional video for the upcoming installment of Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part One, and Spy X Family CODE: White, the first motion picture film from the hit anime series of the same name.
Theatrical version SPY x FAMILY CODE: White” super teaser visual
Spy X Family CODE: White is set to release in theaters on December 22nd of this year in Japan. While Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part One its premiere in the U.S. on July 12th, In Japan, the film is set to release on July 21st. A special promotional collaboration between both IPs was released on July 10th, which consists of a collaboration video and visual art.
The collaboration video begins with the Forger family watching Mission Impossible on TV. Anya states she’s has never watched the film series before, and Loid then carefully explains who ‘Ethan Hunt’ is while watching the action scenes played by Tom Cruise. The video features highlights from the film alongside brand-new voice acting from Takuya Eguchi (Lloyd), Atsumi Tanezaki (Anya), and Saori Hayami (Yor). The video segment is followed by the teaser trailer of CODE: White.
You watch the full video here; the video contains no English subtitles
A collaborative visual art piece by illustrator Kana Ishida was also released via the Spy X Family official website.
Original picture/Finishing/Special Effects by Kana Ishida
The image depicts the Forger family illustrated in the same poses as the Mission Impossible poster, with the Forger family, lined up precisely as Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt), Hayley Atwell (Grace), Rebecca Ferguson (Ilsa Faust) & Esai Morales (Gabriel). Take a look at the comparison below,
Image Highlights: Look at Anya and Bond on the upper Right | Ethan running on the train is replaced by Anya
Spy X Family author Tatsuya Endo recently joined the fun by sharing an original illustration of Anya performing Enthan Hunt’s iconic rope drop from the famous vault scene in Mission: Impossible (1996).
Initially announced on Pokemon Day, POKÉMON CONCIERGE is the first ever stop-motion animated Pokemon series, which diverts from its 2-D animated counterpart. This series marks the first collaborative production between Netflix and The Pokémon Company. Pokemon Concierge is produced by critically acclaimed dwarf studios known for Mr. Osomatsu (TV Series) and Rilakkuma and Kaoru (stop-motion ONA).
The series expands on the Pokémon world and follows Haru, a concierge at the ‘Pokémon Resort,’ and her interactions with Pokémon and their owners who visit as guests. Currently, there is not much information that has been released on the series itself.
During Netflix’s From Japan to the World panel at Anime Expo 2023, it was revealed that NONwill be voicing Haru. NON is a voice actress and musician from Japan. She is known for portraying Suzu in the 2016 critically acclaimed animated film “In This Corner of the World,.” In 2017, she founded her music label, “KAIWA (RE)CORD.” and released her debut single, “Ohirome Pack,” along with her debut album “Superhero’s” in 2018.
NON INTERVIEW – Experience Voicing HARU
During Anime Expo this year, I had an opportunity to ask NON about her experience voicing HARU,
NON and Psyduck during Anime Expo 2023 Roundtable Press Junket
Krystal: Can you speak on your experience voicing HARU for this unique Pokemon series?
NON:When I was working on Haru, I was told there would be many scenes where Haru is kind of struggling, trying to figure out what she should do. They asked me to ‘DO THAT’ in a gesture by using my body language, so I was dropping my head, doing those various movements to try to express how she was having a hard time. I was also told that they would film my movements and they would utilize that in the stop-motion animation, and that was a very fun thing to be a part of! Once I saw the final, complete, finished scenes, they were really different from what you usually see in 2D/3D CGI animation.
NON , Psyduck and Interpreters during Anime Expo 2023 Roundtable Press Junket
The footage that I saw was stop motion animation, and the movements are totally different from 2D/3D animation. I thought, ‘Oh, this is how you can also enjoy Pokemon in this format, this art form”. I found Haru’s movements very interesting, and it’s done perfectly, and it’s shot frame by frame; when you see that in action, I thought that it was totally believable and it was convincing.
The Production Team
The series is directed by Iku Ogawa (Rilakkuma and Kaoru) and written by Harumi Doki (Cyborg 009 Call of Justice, Ultraman, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045) with character design by Tadahiro Uesugi (Coraline, Big Hero 6, Luca). The series is set to be released this December, with no exact date currently unavailable.
Take a look behind the scenes with NON, as she explores the POKÉMON CONCIERGE set at dwarf studios,
Will this series resonate with Pokemon fans? Perhaps. As NON stated, this is a different way to enjoy Pokemon. Although not all Pokemon fans will be onboard, we do not think the series will underperform, especially with the incredible talent behind its production and the magic of stop-motion animation. Watch the official teaser below,
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The biggest Anime event returns to Los Angeles, Anime Expo 2023.
Fans and industry members from around the world come together to participate in this four-day celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture, jam-packed with announcements, special guests, exclusive premieres, interactive events, and more. With 300,000+ sq. ft of Exhibit Hall and 1000+ hours of programming, Anime Expo has become a must-see destination for any avid anime fan.
We got early access to the convention center as AX staff members, exhibitors, and industry staff continued building booths and sets.
Although the convention center halls were empty, hard-working SPJA staff prepared the center for its anticipated 350,000+ attendees.
In the Exhibit Hall, industry members set up their booths and get their activities ready for tomorrow, Day 0.
Our final stop was the iconic, South Lobby, where promotional booths and events are being set up.
View our FULL Behind the Scenes of Anime Expo Day -1
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At the beginning of June, fan oragnzied Sonic the Hedgehog convention, Sonic Revoltuion was held at the Carson Civic Center. The con was filled with various activities from Cosplay contest to industry panels featuring Sonic voice actors Ryan Drummond (Sonic’s former voice actor) and Pete Capella (Sliver The Hedeghog former voice actor). Amoung them was, Jason Griffith best known for voicing Sonic in the 2004 anime, Sonic X.
According to Jason, Sonic Revoltuion 2023, was his first convention in 13 years! I had the wonderful opperunity to interview jason wich you can watch below,
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Pixiv, the famous Japanese online community for artists, will host two panels at this year’s Anime Expo, covering the rising of new upcoming illustrators and how to support them, among other various topics. The panel schedule is as follows,
“Rising Stars: Up-and-coming Creators in Asia”
Sunday, July 2nd: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: 408 AB
The panel will feature the special guest Modare and focus on the activities of up-and-coming creators from Asia, including Taiwan and South Korea, who are expanding their global presence. In addition, the panel will discuss the growing interest in Japanese anime art in Asia and its increasing popularity in English-speaking countries, as well as introduce the Kickstarter collaboration between pixiv Inc. and the American publishing company Clover Press.
Modare is an Anime Art Artist from Korea, who enjoys creating artwork that radiates a cute and endearing charm. He is a leading figure in the 100 Day Challenge trend on Twitter and an avid illustrator of various popular games such as “Genshin Impact,” “Azure Lane,” and “Girl’s Frontline.” Modare is widely recognized for his distinctive drawing technique that yields exceptional illustrations. In addition to his artistic endeavors, he is also actively involved in teaching art.
“pixiv’s Initiatives: Supporting Creators”
Monday, July 3rd: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: 408 AB
The panel will feature the special guest Oshioshio and will focus on the latest trends in Japanese anime art and its growing popularity in English-speaking countries, as well as introduce the art book “Artists in the Americas”, a collaboration between pixiv Inc. and the publishing company PIE International. In response to the increasing number of freelance illustrators, the panel will discuss issues like how to find work and how to appeal to the Asian market.
Oshioshio is a talented illustrator and manga artist based in Kanagawa, Japan. He primarily focuses on creating artworks that depict characters rich with emotions. A lover of cats, dogs, and animals in general, his passions clearly influence his creations. Some of his notable works include the character design of Amane Kanata from Hololive and Sorahoshi Kirame from Nijisanji. He also created the series, “My Deer Friend Nokotan,” which is serialized in Kodansha’s Shonen Magazine Edge, among other works.
ARTIST ALLEY BOOTH #AA01
Additionally, Pixiv will have an interactive booth, located in the Anime Expo Artist Alley at #AA01. Their booth will feature an Omikuji (Japanese fortune-telling paper slips) activation with Artist Alley creators, featuring five different prizes, as well as an iFace Deco-case workshop. At the workshop, each participant will receive two stickers of their choice featuring artworks from “Artists in the Americas” that can be customized with the iFace Reflection transparent glass smartphone case. Amy Wang, Pixiv’s Manager, International marketing and Brand Team, stated the following,
pixiv will host an Omikuji project across all participating booths at the Artist Alley. Attendees who make purchases at any booth within the Artists Alley stand a chance to obtain a limited edition ticket , which can be redeemed for prizes at the Pixiv booth, while supplies last” Wang continues “The intention behind this project is to encourage attendees to visit numerous booths, discover new creators, and immerse themselves in the wealth of creativity on display.
Amy Wang, Pixiv’s Manager, International marketing and Brand Team
EXHIBIT BOOTH – Exhibition Hall, No. 4506
Pixiv will also be present in exhibit hall and will be located at Exhibition Hall, No. 4506. This exhibit booth will showcase Genshin Impact key visual and in-game scenery, In addition to, showcasing approximately 80 illustrations, carefully hand-picked from about 250,000 Genshin Impact artworks posted on pixiv. The exhibit booth is also set to host live drawing sessions of Genshin Impact fan art by popular illustrators, as well as autograph signing sessions for each artist.
The live drawing sessions will take place over four days, with Modare participating on July 1st (Sat) and July 2nd (Sun), and Oshioshio taking part on July 3rd (Mon) and July 4th (Tue). Pixiv will also host two additional signings at the autograph area at Kentia Hall. Fans who attend the autograph session will receive a poster. Schedule is as follows,
Modare, an illustrator from South Korea, will sign Sunday, July 2nd, 2023 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Oshioshio, an illustrator and manga artist from Kanagawa, Japan, will sign Monday, July 3rd, 2023 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
INTERVIEWS WITH MODARE & OSHIOSHIO
I had the wonderful opportunity to interview featured artists, Modare and Oshioshio for their upcoming appearance at Anime Expo 2023!
MODARE INTERVIEW
Krystal: You’re known for your distinctive and unique work, expressive and emotional. Can you discuss the creative process for creating your work?
Modare: I think that being creative is, after all, making a new thing by combining things that I know well. Most of the things I know, other people know, so the most important thing is to combine them well. And, no matter how hard you try to put things together, it’s still hard to create something completely new. Because there are already so many creative works in the world. Even when we don’t want to be duplicated, it can be duplicated. It’s important to focus on expressing what I want to convey, without being conscious of other people’s work, and making choices based on personal judgment. If I can depict that combination through my unique expression, I believe it becomes a creative work.
K: Having participated in the 100th-day challenge on Twitter, what was hard about participating in that challenge?
M: At first, I started drawing with the aim of drawing steadily, without thinking about continuing for a long time. I didn’t even have a goal of 100 days. But as I progressed every day, I felt that it was meaningless if I didn’t do it properly so my goal became for me to draw as many things as I could. This made my 100-day challenge more fulfilling, but it also meant I had very little time for my daily routine. I would stay up all night drawing if I had plans during the day, and this was the most challenging aspect for me. The most difficult part about drawing is probablyto keep drawing new things. I think it took me hours to come up with something new because I’m always trying to draw without recycling what I’ve already drawn.
K: You’ve created many wonderful art pieces and released various art books. Have you ever considered releasing a manga?
M: Being a manga artist is a very interesting job, but I think what I’ve been going through is quite far from being a manga artist. I rarely read manga in the first place. However, I think I will try it when I successfully finish the current tasks and when I can afford to challenge something new.
K: As an art instructor, what advice would you give to upcoming artists?
M: I haven’t been alive very long, but I at least know the rest of my life is long. Some eager artists forget this out of desperation. I stake my life and death on today’s drawing, and I feel extremely depressed if the drawing doesn’t come out well. This might help improve the drawing for that moment, but in the long run, it might make the painting less pleasant and eventually could make you quit. Take a long look and relax. If you learn one thing at a time and study one thing at a time, I think you will achieve a lot.
K: You’re traveling to the U.S. for the annual Anime Expo; what are you most excited to see here in Los Angeles?
M: It’s the first time in my life that I’ll be traveling so far. It’s almost on the other side of the world. I expect that everything will be different. Landscape, culture, language, people, everything is expected. The whole trip is exciting because everything I’ve experienced here will be a good nourishment for me. But if I have to pick one, I’m looking forward to In-n-Out Burger.
OSHIOSHIO INTERVIEW
Krystal: Can you discuss your creative process and the influences you use for creating your artwork?
Oshioshio: I am influenced by everything I have experienced. The manga I read as a child, the anime I have watched, video games I have played, and the scenery I have traveled to, are all sources of my creativity. I will be drawing fan art of “Genshin Impact” at AX, and I have been very influenced by “Genshin Impact” recently. The beautiful landscapes and unique characters of Hara-Kami always make me think “I want to draw! I am always inspired by the beautiful landscapes and unique characters of “Genshin Impact”.
K: For fans, who might be reading this interview, what advice would you give them to become better artists?
O: Don’t hesitate to put in the effort. Keep drawing and keep trying. I believe that all the great artists I know are those who continue to practice these things. It takes courage to try anything, but people grow through repetition of trial and error. The results come when you keep trying, so let’s do our best together!
K: Your manga “My Deer Friend Nokatan” is currently being published in English; What inspired you to write the story, and why did you make Nokotan a Deer?
O: One day, by chance, I came up with the idea of a girl character whose antlers were stuck on a door. I thought this could be interesting, so I thought of a story and other characters, and the work “My Deer Friend Nokotan” was born. Nokotan was not just any creature with horns, but I wanted it to be familiar and new, so I decided on a deer. In Japan, there are tourist attractions where deer are famous, which everyone knows, so I thought it would be familiar.
K: You’re traveling to the U.S. for the annual Anime Expo; what are you most excited to see here in Los Angeles?
O: This is my first time in the U.S., so I am looking forward to everything I see! I want to enjoy feeling the American air, food, people, and everything. I also love the Japanese Comic Market so much that I attend almost every year, and I am really looking forward to seeing Artist Alley, which has a similar atmosphere to Comiket. I am very interested to see how overseas otaku do their doujin activities.
Thank you for reading our excellent interview with Modare and Oshioshio! Going to AX? Stop by Pixiv’s booths and check their panels on Sunday and Monday! Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the autograph sessions, see you there!
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Keisuke Uyama’s Bestselling Novel Love Like the Falling Petals finally comes to America with its very first English translation. The novel, initially published by Shueisha in 2017, captivated a nation with its exploration of the beauty and pain of young love, as two souls are brought together by fate, only to be torn apart by circumstance.
English Cover by Heikala
The novel became a bestseller in Japan and went on to receive a popular Netflix, live-action movie adaptation of the same name, in 2022. The film was directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa, written by Tomoko Yoshida, and starring Kento Nakajima and Honoka Matsumoto.
The novel’s English translation is provided by Terry Gallagher, cover by artist Heikala, and variant covers by LAL!ROLE and Cheseely. Its beautiful cover art is the prefect combination to this beautifully written and emotionally charged novel, which is primed to connect with a new international audience.
Interview With Heikala – Love Like The Falling Petals Cover Artist
The novel itself is known for its vibrant colors and its iconic Japanese cherry blossoms. To better explain the artistic process behind the English cover design, we got the opportunity to speak with Tokyo based artist Heikala. Originally from Finland, Heikala works from Tokyo, Japan and this is what they had to say about working on the cover of Keisuke Uyama’s very popular novel,
Krystal: After watching the Netflix series, did that influence the character design on the cover?
Heikala: I think the Netflix film had some effect on the character designs, but while I was reading the book, I also made notes of Misaki’s and Haruto’s characteristics and sketched the characters primarily according to what was written in the story of the two.
K:What was challenging about making the cover for this novel to best convey the story to anyone picking the novel for the first time?
H: I love creating artworks that have an underlying story behind them, so the challenge was to make a piece that somehow conveys the full arc of the story in the book without giving too much away.
K: I noticed that the characters on the cover are not facing the reader; why is that? Is there a special meaning to that?
H: Even when the artwork is super colorful and vibrant, conveying the feeling of budding love, the fact that the characters are facing away gives the artwork a wistful feel to it, a beautiful sadness to the moment.
To learn more about Heikala’s art process, check out their video on coloring the cover,
Process of painting the cover artwork for Keisuke Uyama’s ’Love Like the Falling Petals’ 🌸✍️ pic.twitter.com/j3z9jgcbmr
To bring this new English translation of the novel, Media Do International and Clover Press are partnering together with publisher Shueisha for a Kickstarter campaign for the first-ever English publication of the book. The Kickstarter went live earlier this week, and in less than 24 hours, it reached its goal of $2,500. Kickstarter rewards for this project are still available and you can support the novel by pledging here.
Rewards range from the novel with a dust jacket of Heikala cover art to Tote Bags, Plastic Folders, Tenugui Towel & Calendar Prints in addition to variant covers by Cheseely & LAL!ROLE. Additional add-ons are also available!
These are just some of the available rewards.
“At Clover Press, we’re all about trying new genres, formats, and ways to get great books that we love into people’s hands,” said Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz. “Love Like the Falling Petals”is no exception and is a great example of Clover Press’s plans to expand into bringing quality international material to North America.”
Make to sure check out Love Like the Falling Petals on Netflix or the novel, by making a pledge on Kickstarter.
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Not many anime songs get featured anywhere other than their intended IP; however, in a rare move, Marvel included the song ‘Koinu no Carnival – From “Minute Waltz’ in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. The song was originally used in the TV anime “Classicaloid.”
Musician EHAMIC
The song was produced by vocalic producer EHAMIC for BN Pictures’ Classicaloidis, an anime series that aired on NHK E-television between 2016 and 2017. It is a comedy in which classical composers such as Beethoven and Mozart appear as “Classicaloids” in the modern age. The songs of the classical composers in the series are called “musik” in the show, and the show has gained popularity because of the collaborations by famous musicians, such as Tomoyasu Hotei for Beethoven, TSUNKU♂ for Bach, and Daisuke Asakura for Liszt.
Koinu no Carnival is the only Japanese song selected to be included in the latest Marvel movie “Guardians of the Galaxy: VOLUME 3”. The song received a great response after the film’s release and ranked No. 1 on the Spotify Viral Top 50 Global & USA Chart (as of May 12), and it also reached the Viral Top 50 in countries and regions worldwide.
The bright and light Waltz No. 6 “Minute Waltz,” originally a solo piano piece, has been arranged by EHAMIC with a samba arrangement and lots of dog barks, together with about 50 Vocaloid voices (mainly of the VOCALOID Galaco) overlapping to create a festive and fun piece.
