So, I've been very, very busy. Between everything I do here each day, I have very, very little time to do much of anything else. You walk around all day, looking at everything you can, and then when you hit the room at night, you crash.
Tonight, though, I'm staying in to show everyone back home the sights. So, I'm gonna run through the basics quick, and then get into the visuals. I'll try my best for you though.
So, on day 3, we met with Phil Craven and Kazu Kibuishi. I forgot from their pictures in Flight that they were so young, but age aside, they are both super talented, and equally as nice and funny. Having them here has been really, really great. Unfortunately, I've no pictures of either, but check their websites I linked up above for more information of both of them. You most definitely will not be sorry.
So, that afternoon, it was the Ghibli Museum. Again, no pictures allowed, but the walk to and from was really pretty:
That evening we went to one of the coolest shopping malls I've ever been in - Nakano Broadway. One feature of the Japanese culture is that they have this uncanny ability to shove shops, outlets, and restaurants into the tiniest places, and every corner of every area has something in it, and something to offer. Didn't spend much time taking pictures, but I did get some:
The next morning (4:30 a.m. to be exact), we woke up on the bright and headed down to the Japanese Fish Market. I got 2 words for that: Controlled Chaos. There was so much hustle and bustle, but like most of Tokyo, everything that was crammed in there had a purpose and a place. After we'd looked around, Samantha, Andrew, Kirsten, and I ventured up to the top of a parking garage to watch the sun come up. That was really something. A wonderful morning overall:
After the Fish Market, we went to another morning session with Phil and Kazu. Phil gave a great presentation on his process at Dreamworks, and how he goes about getting, starting, and finishing a sequence assigned to him. Kazu gave a piece on some of his methods of warming up, and his take on using perspective. Really informative stuff - I'd be understating if I said I didn't take a lot away from either one of those sessions.
Afterwards was Asakusa Shrine. I don't remember much about how or why it was built, but I do remember that most of it was breath taking and beautiful - the gates themselves was torn down and rebuilt a number of different times. It stuck me as odd as to why a culture would do that, but soon realized it was to show that each generation was respecting the last generation by continuing the tradition of creating something monumental and beautiful, and displaying to the world the power they held, forever leaving their mark on history.
Still want more? You got it.
Next day, we moved on to yet another morning session with Kazu and Phil. Everything these guys have to offer seems to help, even if you think it's mundane or stupid simple. After a great session, we packed up and headed back to Ueno Park, but this time, to go to the Museum of Natural Science and Robotics. It was freakin' nuts inside. More stuff then you could ever hope to see in the time we had alloted. It reminded me of the Museum of Science in Boston, only bigger, and way nerdier (in reference to the rows and rows of Gundam action figures they had in the beinning.) It was great walking around and looking at everything, and I took way more photos then I know what to do with (hello reference). After the museum, we went to a toy store we spotted out our first time to Ueno. Seven stories of all KINDS of toys. It took most all I had not to buy the place out. Video games. Baby toys. Kid toys. Movies. Books. Puppets. Trading Cards. Toy models. Music. Stickers. Patches. Memerobelia. Almost anything you could imagine. I grabbed a figurine of Kuro (Black) from the Japanese anime, Tekkonkinkreet. I just about peed myself when my buddy Rezan said they had one. For those that don't know, most of the world outside of the United States is far less touchy or sensitive when it comes to sexual content. So, as you're walking up and down the asiles, looking at the Dragonball Z figures, and the Naruto Trading cards, you suddenly hit a section full of post cards with naked woman on them, or figurines of half-naked woman in seductive poses. And next to these things you see men, women, and even some kids, just browsing - not embarrassed or nervous. Just looking. It struck me as interesting, as I'd never really looked at that aspect of society and seen it as so casual and liberal. Interesting to say the least.
The next day, we split up during the morning between Phil and Kazu. I was in Phil's group - he went over some of his boards from the upcoming Dreamworks film he worked on, Kung Fu Panda, which looks amazing. Later, we went to Kondansha Publishing Company. Unfortunately, no cameras allowed (and I also ended up leaving my camera in the hotel to charge). But we spent the afternoon talking with the editor of this publishing company about Japanese Manga, and its growing popularity. Interesting stuff. Afterwards, we were just allowed to hang out for a little bit, which was nice. A few of us even went out and experienced Japanese Karaoke first hand - definitely a night to remember.
The day after that, we did another splitting of groups in the morning, extended edition. This time, we were with Kazu, and he demoed how he works digitally with computer coloring. It was one of those experiences that would humble any great artist - he made everything he did look so easy and natural. Really amazing stuff. And if I've not said it before, we couldn't have asked for nicer guys to accompany us on this trip. That afternoon leaked in evening, as we had a few hours to hang out, and then we went to go see the Chinese Acrobat Team. I think one of our professors, Ray Goto, put it best: "Who wouldn't want to see small, flexible asian women jumping around on stage?"
And jump they did.
That brings us to today. With our special artists heading out in a little over 24 hours to head back to the states, we did not have a morning session with them. Instead, we headed out to the Imperial Palace to see some of Tokyo's oldest buildings. They were really something else. Just reading about a few of them made you scratch you head wondering how they'd survived this long. The was an especially beautiful garden in the back that was probably the prettiest thing I've seen in Tokyo yet (though we're planning to his some rural Japan on our free day Monday - fingers crossed.) After the Imperial Palace (which was odd - I didn't see 1 damn Palace. haha.) We decided to go check out the Final Fantasty Store, Squre Enix. Long story short, we ventured out completely on our own (as in no previous knowledge as to what part of town we were heading into, or how to get there) and to be honest, the trip was far more rewarding then the actual arrival. The store was no joke, 2 rooms wide (but packed full of all kinds of fancy stuff). But overall, between pricy clothing and toys, there wasn't a whole lot to get. I picked up a few things, and gambled on a small character box (the Japanese are in love with the idea of chance, and leaving luck to certain choices, so half the things you buy here, you don't even know what you're getting until you open it.)
Well, that's all there is to share for now. Hopefully, I'll get another evening to kinda just sit and relax for a few hours, so I can hit you guys with another update on things in the far East. Until then - Saiyanara!
oh, this is fun, something I recorded in Ueno the second day, so I'm sharing it with you guys. Heh:
