Regular readers of my blog will likely have noticed the dip in post frequency as of late, and I do apologize for that ! Work has been really busy, but I am happy to say that I am finally wrapping up VFX work on my 2nd feature film production for 2026, and I’ll be able to return to a more frequent post schedule soon.

I’m also really looking forward to some much needed R&R as I head to Tokyo/Singapore in about a week’s time. As with all my previous visits to Tokyo, art exhibitions and museum visits are high priority on my itinerary, and these are some of the few I’m planning to see while I’m in the city. I’ll of course be writing more about the exhibitions I visited when I return to Vancouver. Anyway, I’m sharing them here for anyone who might also be visiting Tokyo this fall/winter-

1) Masterpieces of the Renaissance from the Musée du Louvre ( The National Art Center )

This major exhibition brings Renaissance art from the Louvre to Japan. Many of the works date from the late 15th to the latter half of the 16th century, when Renaissance style was developing in distinctive ways across different regions. My last ( and only ) visit to the Louvre was way back in 2012, so it’ll be nice to have a chance to see some masterpieces without having to travel all the way to Paris.

Official exhibition website here.

2) Mappa Expo 15th Anniversary ( Yurakucho Museum )

Since its founding in 2011, animation studio MAPPA has produced a steady stream of films and series. To mark the studio’s 15th anniversary, MAPPA EXPO brings these works together in a single exhibition. Through original drawings, large-scale sets and video, visitors can step into the worlds of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, Attack on Titan Final Season, JUJUTSU KAISEN and many more titles from across MAPPA’s fifteen years.

Official exhibition website here.

3) Beyond the Strand- Kojima Productions 10th Anniversary Exhibition ( Azabudai Hills Gallery )

To commemorate the studio’s 10th anniversary, KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS will present “10th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION BEYOND THE STRAND: The Odyssey of Creation and Endeavor”. The exhibition traces the decade-long path of creation and challenge that KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS has walked, through a wide range of content — including never-before-seen production materials, immersive installations recreating the worlds of its works, and video installations exclusive to this exhibition.

I’ve become a big fan of Kojima Productions and the concept design work of Yoji Shinkawa after playing the Death Stranding games, so I’m really looking forward to this one.

Official exhibition website here.

4) European Masterpieces from the Cincinnati Art Museum ( Ueno Royal Museum )

More than 80 highlights of the Cincinnati Art Museum’s (CAM’s) collection of 19th- and 20th-century European paintings and sculpture will be on tour across Japan, stopping first in Tokyo. Notable works on the tour include Undergrowth with Two Figures by Vincent van Gogh, Rocks at Belle-Île, Port-Domois by Claude Monet, Still Life with Glass and Lemon by Pablo Picasso, Portrait of Max Jacob by Amadeo Modigliani and more.

This exhibition might also be the first chance I’ll get to see a painting by James Tissot in person, so I’m definitely looking forward to this one.

Official exhibition website here.

5) Still Life – Hiroyuki Asada 40 Years Of Art ( Déesse Space Caiman Shibuya )

A manga art exhibition by Hiroyuki Asada celebrating 40 years of manga/illustration work since his first commission in 1986. I’ve previously reviewed one of his art books here.

Official exibition website here.

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And these are just a few of the many art exhibitions that will be taking place during my time in Tokyo; depending on my schedule, I’m hoping to visit a few more and will write more about them when I return from my trip. You might also want to check out some of the art exhibitions I visited during my Tokyo spring trip earlier this year.


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After a long wait of more than a year, AKIRA Vol 4 from the Otomo The Complete Works is finally out ! Vol 3 was released in September last year; read my review here.

The choice of the cover art for Vol 4 is extremely iconic, an aerial view of AKIRA’s devastating psychic explosion engulfing Neo-Tokyo once again in utter destruction.

I’ve already talked about how this new release of the AKIRA manga ( Young Magazine Serialized edition ) differs from the older releases in my review for Vol 1, so take a read here.

Just like Vol 1. Vol 2 and Vol 3, the print quality here is fantastic on account of the better paper stock, as compared to the older Japanese tankobon edition, where cheap pulpy paper that yellows with age was used.

Drawn around the period from 1984-1985 when Otomo was about 30-31 years old, one can see the work of the master nearing the height of his powers, with the overall quality of the art work ( level of detail, complexity and scale as well as the very confident, polished framing/composition of the panels ) exceeding the previous 3 books.

(image below) The new edition is just a tad bit smaller in print size as compared to the older tankobon edition. Photo courtesy of Jona Sanpo.

????????????#Katsuhiro #Otomo #AKIRA #AKIRA???? #???? #?????? #???? #???? #manga #Anime #Animation pic.twitter.com/jmMZoXhSJd

— JonaSanpo? (@JonaSanpo) September 1, 2024

As AKIRA unleashes his 2nd psychic explosion on Neo-Tokyo, the scenes of the epic chaos and destruction that follows is spectacularly realized by Otomo’s insanely good art, and every page of Vol 4 is packed full of meticulous and deliciously detailed drawings. Coupled with the aforementioned improved quality of the paper stock and hence the print, this comes highly recommended. I cannot wait for Vol 5.

“AKIRA 4 ( Otomo Complete Works ) Manga 大友克洋全集 コミック” details :

Dimensions – 6.93 x 0.87 x 9.84 inches
Softcover with dust jacket, 278 pages
B&W, In Japanese language

  
Buy From Amazon.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

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The October 2026 issue of Japanese hobby magazine Model Graphix is a special feature on the ‘Miyazaki Mecha Modelers Club’, a group of skilled model kit enthusiasts with a love of all things related to Hayao Miyazaki’s anime films. The legendary director is of course himself a keen fan of model kits as covered in this excellent guide book that I reviewed previously.

Some of the more impressive models showcased include the merchant ship Barracuda and Falco spacecraft from the anime series Future Boy Conan.

(image above) The gentleman who goes by ‘Noumiso Akira’ is one of the members of the Miyazaki Modelers Club featured and interviewed in the magazine. I had the chance to meet him in person twice during my previous Tokyo trips, including the one earlier this spring.

An affordable and low cost ‘pulp’ magazine going for just 1000 yen ( about $6.5 USD ), but with some excellent content especially if you’re into model kits and Hayao Miyazaki’s films, in particular Future Boy Conan. This is a periodical and will likely not see reprints once the first pressing is sold out, so grab your copy asap if you want one.

“Model Graphix – Miyazaki Modelers Club Magazine モデルグラフィックス 宮崎メカモデルクラブ” details :

Dimensions – 11.69 x 8.27 x 0.24 inches
Softcover, 152 pages
Full color, In Japanese language

  
Buy From Amazon.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | CDJapan

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Alex Ross, the award-winning and bestselling creator of Marvels, Kingdom Come, and Fantastic Four: Full Circle, takes readers through the Marvel Universe―but all is not as it seems.

Marvel Dimensions includes a bonus 32-page comic and is legendary artist Alex Ross’ second book in the Marvel Arts series, following the national bestselling, critically acclaimed, and award-winning Fantastic Four: Full Circle.

The story opens with a sweeping tour through the classic origins of Marvel’s most iconic characters. Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine, and many others appear in dramatic, fully painted spreads that echo their earliest stories. A narrator describes each moment with confidence, guiding the reader through these touchstones of Marvel’s history.

But as the story moves forward, the tone begins to shift. The voice behind the narration is not who the readers expect and carries a motive that slowly pushes the narrative somewhere darker and far more unpredictable.

Once this change becomes clear, the book expands into something larger and more surprising. Storylines twist in on themselves, characters behave in unexpected ways, and events ripple across the Marvel Universe with growing tensions. Ross uses the structure of the book to create anticipation and pull the reader deeper into a mystery that keeps widening.

Every new sequence reveals another layer, building toward a final act that reframes everything that came before it. A bonus 32-page comic book is included that is pivotal to the storyline.

Some really splendid and richly rendered Marvel comic art by the one and only Alex Ross. I personally find the first half or so of the book more enjoyable with the 2 page spreads showcasing some of the most iconic Marvel superheroes like Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Ironman and many more, and as the story progresses paneling gets much busier and not always the easiest for the reader to follow the action. That said, the stunning art work itself still make the book worth picking up. Recommended.

“Marvel Dimensions – Alex Ross Comic Book” details :

– Dimensions – 8.85 x 0.75 x 11.3 inches
– Hardcover, 112 pages
– Full color

Buy From Amazon CA | Amazon JP | Amazon UK

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Made by Humans : Creatives In Conversation is an interview series produced by renowned stop-motion animation studio LAIKA, celebrating all the wonders of human powered filmmaking, practical effects, and craftsmanship.

Each episode pairs a key creative from Laika with an animation/filmmaking luminary as they discuss inspiration, craftsmanship and mythic wonder that bring some of cinema’s most iconic worlds to life, from Coraline and LAIKA’s upcoming film Wildwood to Jurassic Park, Project Hail Mary, your favorite TikTok videos and so many more.

Check out the series trailer below-

The latest episode ( uploaded September 26th ) features LAIKA’s Head of Model Shop Keith McQueen and legendary stop motion pioneer Phil Tippett-

At the time of writing this post, a total of 6 episodes have been released for the series. The full playlist from Laika’s youtube channel can be found here.

I’ve been a big follower of Laika’s films since Coraline and cannot wait for their latest film Wildwood, releasing on October 23rd. I’ll of course be picking up the art book for review as well, so look out for it coming soon.


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