By Travis Johnson
A special exhibition that traces the architectural world-building process of Japan’s most influential animated science fiction films is hitting the Japan Foundation Gallery in Chippendale on June 1. Curated by Stefan Riekeles for Les Jardins des Pilotes, Anime Architecture focuses on the meticulous hand-drawn backdrops that bring to life the fictitious urban environments of iconic cyberpunk anime, including Patlabor: the Movie, Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, and Ghost in the Shell, with works by Japanese animators Hiromasa Ogura, Takashi Watabe, Haruhiko Higami, Mamoru Oshii and Atsushi Takeuchi.
Anime Architecture will delve into the painstaking Japanese animation process, beginning with location scouting and reference photos and concept sketches, through to the final creation of full colour anime cels. These in-progress materials are rarely shown outside of the studio, so this is a rare opportunity for fans and scholars alike to see what goes into making a polished, pristine anime film.
The exhibition runs until August 11. For more info, hit up the official site.
