Farewell to Weapons includes many of the hallmarks that would define Otomo’s success: intricate artwork, a post-apocalyptic setting, obsessively-detailed rubble, and man fighting against his own creation.
Author: Sean O'Mara
Creator of Zimmerit. ARTMIC OVAs, Kazuhisa Kondo, and Kow Yokoyama are his aesthetic ideals. Can occasionally be found at Otaku USA Magazine and once upon a time at Colony Drop.
The Chunky Comfort of Robot Vinyl Toys
Who needs fancy features and detailed accessories, anyways?
Masahiro Ito’s Acid Bufferzone
Fans of Silent Hill may recognize Masahiro Ito’s name, because he’s lent his considerable talents to every installment of the video game series since 1999.
Live Action Mecha of the ’80s and ’90s
In the ’80s and ’90s, it wasn’t uncommon to see Japanese promotional videos and commercials based on mecha franchises, but most were low-budget projects that often boiled down to little more than a couple of actors driving around holding airsoft guns.
Akihabara on Video, 1986 – 1998
From post-war black market, to a bustling electronics district, to whatever the hell it is now–Akihabara, like most of Tokyo, has gone through serious changes since the end of World War II. Despite the progress of modernity, looking at footage of Akihabara from 30 years ago it’s still easy to recognize major landmarks.
The Un-Gunpla: U.C. Hard Graph
First released in 2006, U.C. Hard Graph was a range of kits that focused on everything modern gunpla didn’t (and still doesn’t) bother with. In other words, just about anything that isn’t a giant robot.
Redline Creators: Takeshi Koike + Katsuhito Ishii Talk
An interview with Redline director Takeshi Koike and producer Katsuhito Ishii, as published in Plus Madhouse 5.
Japanese Modelers are Combining Fuzzy Animals and Rusty Robots
Scratchbuilt kits featuring furry Sylvanian Families toys alongside robots have recently been popping up on Twitter via Japanese modelers.
Let’s Read: Combat Comic, No. 6
Published in September, 1986, Combat Comic No. 6 provided readers with a mixture of military-themed comics, articles, and model kit features stretched across over 200 newsprint pages.
Yoshihisa Tagami and the Oddities of Anime Journalism
GREY: Best Collection included an article about artist Yoshihisa Tagami. It’s a bit odd.