Otaku CREATURES by Otaku Magazine

Editorial I Editorial

CREATURES ATTACK!

Red code – creatures are attacking from allover!

Codul roúu – creaturile ne atacþ din toate pþrāile!

The attack isn’t coming from the outer space. The revue Otaku Magazine provides protection and free crossing for all the creatures coming from Ro, Japan, Germany, Argentina, France, U.S.A., Australia, Spain, The Netherlands, UK etc. Regardless the continent or origin country, all creatures are permitted to cross freely. No matter if they have several eyes or only one; tentacles, legs, cilia or hairy hands with claws, we should already know them by name. They are looked for by the collectors, designers, otakus and by other groupies who lurk them in the street, in stores, on the shelves and in catalogues and magazines specialized in the reproduction, taming and raising of characters.

Atacul nu vine din spaĂiul cosmic. Revista Otaku Magazine asigurÿ protecĂie ûi trecere liberÿ tuturor creaturilor venite de peste tot din Ro, Japonia, Germania, Argentina, FranĂa, Statele Unite, Australia, Spania, Olanda, UK etc. Oricare ar ﬁ continentul sau Ăara de origine, toate creaturile au voie sa circule liber. Chiar dacÿ au mai mulĂi ochi sau unul singur; tentacule, picioare, cili sau mâini pÿroase cu gheare, ar trebui sÿ le ûtim deja pe nume. Ele sunt cÿutate de colecĂionari, designeri, otaci ûi de alĂi groupies care le pândesc pe stradÿ, în magazine, pe rafturi ûi prin cataloage ûi reviste specializate în reproducerea, îmblânzirea ûi creûterea de personaje.

Furthermore, right now we are almost the only ones to ensure within a magazine’s pages an existence unpolluted by advertising and spam, cancer-like for any kind of creature, human or not.

În plus, în momentul ÿsta suntem aproape singurii care asigurÿ între paginile unei reviste o existenĂÿ nepoluatÿ de reclame ûi spam cancerigen pentru oricare tip de creaturÿ, umanÿ sau nu. Megatron

Megatron Note: Starting with this issue, OTAKU MAGAZINE becomes a bilingual publication, in both English and Romanian, available for international orders. For further details, please visit http://otakumag.com.

Notÿ: Începând cu acest numÿr, OTAKU MAGAZINE devine publicaĂie bilingvÿ Englezÿ-Românÿ, disponibilÿ pentru comenzi internaĂionale. Pentru mai multe informaĂii, vizitaĂi http://otakumag.com.

Table of contents I Cuprins

News / Noutúāi ........................................... pag. 4 Anime, video games

Article/ Articol ........................................ pag. 58 Murakami (JP)

Exhibition / Expoziāie .............................. pag. 7 Megatron - NE PLACù CE FACI (RO)

Paper Toys / Jucúrii din hârtie ......... pag. 59 SHIN TANAKA (JP), Remember little guy (UK)

Events / Evenimente ............................. pag. 10 CS 1.0. (RO) , Focus on Japan (RO)

Article / Articol ....................................... pag. 61 Veronica Solomon - Hayo Miyazaki (RO)

Exhibition / Expoziāie ............................ pag. 14 Saddo (RO) & Other (CAN)

Illustrations / Ilustraāii ........................ pag. 67 Charuca (ESP), The Cute Institute (CAN), Boti (RO), Pikaciuka (RO), Between (RO), SupaKitch (FR), Ciubi (RO), Matei Apsotolescu (RO), Chisami Tsuchiya (JP), Detrus (USA), Skaffa (NL), Saddo (RO), Heliana (RO), Videorgy (RO), Gyorﬁ (RO), Radu Popescu (RO), Vladimir āûroi (RO), Akira (RO), Szolt (RO)

Yume ............................................................ pag. 16 Tea house & Sertei FAQ (RO) Otaku Fashion / Moda Otaku .............. pag. 20 Mocking store (RO) Cosplay ....................................................... pag. 21 Arne Hendriks – Cosplay or how a bunch of dressed up kids are changing reality (NL) Recommendations / Recomandúri .. pag. 25 manga, anime, books Toys / Jucúrii ........................................... pag. 33 Toy Giants (GER), DOMA (AR), C215 (FR), WonderWall (JP) Article / Articol ....................................... pag. 44 All other toy (article) SUCKS Proﬁle / Proﬁl .......................................... pag. 48 Jeremyville (AUS), Friends with you (USA)

Interview / Interviu ................................ pag. 78 Matei Apostolescu (RO) & Aprico (JP) Interview / Interviu ................................ pag. 86 Skaffa (NL) Manga made in RO .................................. pag. 96 Remus Brezeanu (RO) Otaku Inﬂuence ..................................... pag. 111 Veronica Solomon (RO), Xenia Stan (RO), Alexandra Ujeuca (RO), Cristi Magureanu (RO) Experimental ......................................... pag. 134 Nae (RO)

EDITOR & WEB DEVELOPER: Otaku Entertainment (www.otakuent.com) DTP: Afaceri Prospere // PROJECT MANAGER: Bogdan Gorgãneanu // EXECUTIV DIRECTOR: Ana Maria Oana // ART DIRECTOR: Veronica Solomon // RESEARCH MANAGER: ªtefan Tiron // FOREIGN RELATIONS: ÿtefana Vereý // TRANSLATION & EDITING: Ruxandra Târcû // SUB-EDITORS: Adrian Oproiu, Alina Alexa, Anna Lûzûrescu, Dan Cimpoieº // WEB SUPPORT: Costel Chirica // CONTACT: info@otakuent.com // Reproducerea materialelor prezentate în revistã este interzisã. Responsabilitatea informaþiilor publicate în revistã aparþine exclusiv autorilor. Copyrights of the individual, manga/comics works, illustrations, photos represented in this magazine are the property of their respective creators and are acknowledged on page 158.

Made in Stalin / Kronstadt / Brassó / Braºov

Anime News I Noutùăi Anime

DEVIL MAY CRY 2007 - Shin Itagaki The anime series produced after the console game with the same name, created by Capcom, has as main character Dante, a demon hunter, the protagonist of the first 3 games. The series is produced by Madhouse and benefits from the contribution of Bingo Morihashi, one of the game’s scenarists, a fact that can only please us. Back to the recent anime series, it introduces from the very first episode Morisson, Dante’s friend and manager, but also Patty, an orphan girl, sweet and temperamental, whose lines will surely bring the smile upon the audience's face. Moving on, the fans of the series will have the opportunity to meet Trish, Dante’s former partner, and Lady, another bounty hunter. Although ongoing, Devil May Cry seems to be a rather well elaborated series, with an interesting story, which is worth the public's attention.

Seria anime produsÿ dupÿ jocul de consolÿ cu acelaûi nume realizat de Capcom, îl are ca personaj principal pe Dante, protagonistul din primele 3 jocuri, un vânÿtor de demoni. Produs de Madhouse, desenul se bucurÿ de contribuĂia lui Bingo Morihashi, unul dintre scenariûtii jocului, lucru care nu poate decat sÿ ne bucure. Revenind la recenta serie anime, aceasta ne face cunostinĂÿ încÿ din primul episod cu Morisson, prietenul ûi impresarul lui Dante, dar ûi cu Patty, o fetiĂÿ orfanÿ, simpaticÿ ûi temperamentalÿ, ale cÿrei replici vor aduce cu siguranĂÿ zâmbetul pe buzele spectatorilor. Mergând mai departe, fanii seriei vor avea ocazia sÿ le reîntâlneascÿ pe Trish, fosta partenerÿ a lui Dante ûi pe Lady, o altÿ vânatoare de recompense. Deûi în desfÿûurare, Devil May Cry pare o serie destul de bine lucratÿ, cu o poveste interesantÿ, care meritÿ cu siguranĂÿ atenĂia publicului.

CLAYMORE 2007 - Hiroyuki Tanaka Based on the manga series with the same name, created by Norihiro Yagi, the anime depicts a medieval period, violent and chaotic, a world in which dozens dispersed villages are confronted with some creatures called Yoma. These monsters, capable to change their shape and to incorporate the victims’ memories, feed and live among the humans, being identical to the substituted victims. The anime presents Clare, a member of Claymore, a secret organization made exclusively of women, half human and half demon, capable to recognize and hunt these demons. Distant and cold, Clare displays her supernatural qualities from the very beginning, easily killing a Yoma. Nevertheless, the astonishing power of the Claymore members comes with a price, which is the transformation of these warriors into the creatures they are so passionately hunting, once the time passes.

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Bazatÿ pe seria manga cu acelaûi nume a lui Norihiro Yagi, animeul înfÿĂiûeazÿ o epocÿ medievalÿ, violentÿ ûi haoticÿ, o lume în care zeci de sate dispersate se confruntÿ cu problema unor creaturi numite Yoma. Aceûti monûtri, capabili sÿ îûi schimbe forma ûi sÿ preia amintirile victimelor, se hrÿnesc ûi trÿiesc printre oameni fÿrÿ sÿ poatÿ ﬁ deosebiĂi de victimele substituite. Animeul ne-o înfÿĂiûeazÿ astfel pe Clare, membrÿ Claymore, o organizaĂie secretÿ, formatÿ exclusiv din femei, jumÿtate om, jumÿtate demon, capabile sÿ recunoascÿ ûi sÿ vâneze aceûti monûtri. Distantÿ ûi rece, Clare îûi etaleazÿ calitÿĂile supranaturale încÿ de la început, omorând cu uûurinĂÿ un Yoma. Cu toate acestea, puterea extraordinarÿ a membrilor Claymore vine cu un preĂ, ûi anume transformarea acestor luptÿtoare, odatÿ cu trecerea timpului, în creaturile pe care le vâneazÿ cu atâta sete.

Video Games News I Noutùăi Jocuri Video

STARCRAFT II Blizzard This year in May, Blizzard announced the sequel of one of the most loved and famous games ever. The movies and the images that were presented clearly demonstrated the fact that the game long surpassed the stage of project. According to the designers, Starcraft II will follow the story of the 3 races: Prostoss, Terran and Zerg, continuing the adventures of Jim Raynor, Zeratul and Kerrigan. Also, we’ll have the opportunity to explore known territories, such as Char, Braxis or Bel'Shir. In the period 28-29 October, at the Blizzcon, the producers announced the presentation of a demo multiplayer version of Starcraft II. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of time until then, but I’m quite sure that we can have a surprise, the release of the long-awaited sequel possibly taking place at the end of this year, regardless the refusal of the studios to announce an average date.

Odatÿ cu luna mai a acestui an, Blizzard anunĂÿ continuarea unuia dintre cele mai iubite ûi de succes jocuri din istorie. Filmele ûi imaginile prezentate demonstrau clar cÿ jocul este undeva mult peste stadiul de proiect. Conform celor spuse de designeri, Starcraft II va urmÿri povestea celor 3 rase: Prostoss, Terran ûi Zerg, continuând aventurile lui Jim Raynor, Zeratul ûi Kerrigan. De asemenea, vom avea ocazia sÿ explorÿm în voie teritorii cunoscute precum Char, Braxis sau Bel'Shir. În perioada 28-29 octombrie, în cadrul Blizzcon, producÿtorii au anunĂat prezentarea unei versiuni demo multiplayer a Starcraft II. Pânÿ atunci însÿ, mai avem de aûteptat, dar sunt convins ca am putea avea parte de o surprizÿ ûi lansarea mult aûteptatului sequel sÿ aibÿ loc undeva la sfârûitul acestui an, în ciuda împotrivirii studiourilor de a anunĂa o datÿ apoximativÿ.

FALLOUT 3 Fall of 2008 - Bethesda Game Studios A series that brought a lot of fans in time, with a very stormy history. This is the way in which the Fallout series can be briefly described. Initially announced as „in production”, by Black Isle Studios, a company of Interplay Entertainment, the project never saw the daylight, because of the countless financial problems. More than that, the Black Isle studios were closed, and the game was sold to the company Bethesda, known to the public due to the series Elder Scrolls. More than two years since the acquiring of the license, the studios announced the starting of the working process for Fallout. The good news continued, clearing out many of the worrying reasons of the fans. Fallout 3 will follow the tradition of the first two games, will present a non-linear story and will keep the humor, the violence and the whole "dusty" atmosphere of its predecessors.

O serie care a strâns numeroûi fani de-a lungul timpului, cu o istorie extrem de zbuciumatÿ. Cam aûa poate fi caracterizatÿ în câteva cuvinte seria Fallout. IniĂial anunĂat "in production" de cÿtre Black Isle Studios, companie a Interplay Entertainment, proiectul nu a vÿzut niciodatÿ lumina zilei, datoritÿ nenumÿratelor probleme financiare. Mai mult chiar, studiourile Black Isle au fost închise, iar jocul vândut firmei Bethesda, cunoscutÿ publicului pentru seria Elder Scrolls. La mai bine de doi ani de la achiziĂionarea licenĂei, studiourile anunĂau începerea lucrului la Fallout. Mai mult chiar, veûtile bune au continuat sÿ aparÿ, eliminând multe dintre motivele de îngrijorare ale fanilor. Fallout 3 va urma tradiĂia primelor douÿ jocuri, va prezenta o poveste neliniarÿ ûi va pÿstra umorul, violenĂa ûi întreaga atmosferÿ "prÿfuitÿ" a predecesorilor.

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Exhibition I Expoziăie

Exhibition: Ne placû ce faci Country: Romania Author: Megatron Web: skateboardart.blogspot.com

Skateboarding has not been reduced to air jumps. It advanced in extreme positions and situations, transforming almost the entire urban road into an obstacle route.

Skateboarding-ul nu a rãmas doar la salturi în aer. A evoluat în poziþii ºi situaþii extreme, transformând aproape tot parcursul urban într-un traseu cu obstacole.

The ﬁrst visible signs of this culture marked both the skin and the board – scratches, notches, bruises, cracks, rapidly-healed fractures. Inspired by street art, comics, hot rods, low art, character design, posters, the skaters began to customize their board, which became a new graphic support. Skateboard became not only a stylistic vehicle, but also a central artifact in a vast sphere including all kinds of sub-elements. The same as in the case of the culture developed around the canoes in the Paciﬁc, skateboarding now has visual and music extensions, a typical language and a very precise terminology.

Primele semne vizibile ale acestei culturi au marcat ºi pielea ºi placa - zgârieturi, scrijelituri, vânãtai, crãpãturi, fracturi care s-au vindecat repede. Inspiraþi de street art, comics-uri, hot rods, low art, character design, afiºe, skaterii au început sã îºi customizeze placa, ea devenind un nou suport grafic. Skateboard-ul a devenit nu numai un vehicul stilistic, ci un artefact central într-o sferã vastã cu tot felul de sub-elemente. Asemenea culturii dezvoltate în jurul marilor canoe din Pacific, skateboarding-ul are acum extensii vizuale ºi muzicale, un limbaj tipic ºi o terminologie de mare precizie.

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Exhibition I Expoziăie

The project intends to include this area precisely. Therefore, we have reasons to believe that the ﬁnal result won’t be just another itinerant exhibition brought in package. NE PLACö CE FACI aims at cumulating the impetus created by the Skateboard Art exhibition, curated by Inoperable (Vienna), inviting young local and international artists to display they craft, decorating boards that would roll between the street and the gallery. It is, possibly, the best occasion to see how can a board be – defunctionalized, reassembled and modiﬁed. NE PLACö CE FACI represents the attitude of a culture that once reaching a certain maturity is fed up with pre-established objects, already customized and ready for serializing.

Proiectul vrea sã cuprindã exact aceastã sferã. De aceea avem motive sã credem cã rezultatul final nu va fi doar o altã expoziþie itinerantã adusã la pachet. NE PLACÃ CE FACI doreºte sã cumuleze impetusul creat de expoziþia Skateboard Art, curatoriatã de Inoperable (Viena), invitând tineri artiºti locali, dar ºi internaþionali, sã îºi arate meºteºugul, decorând plãci care sã ruleze între stradã ºi galerie. Este, poate, cea mai bunã ocazie sã vedem cum poate fi o placã - defuncþionalizatã, reasamblatã ºi modificatã. NE PLACÃ CE FACI reprezintã atitudinea unei culturi care, ajunsã la o anumitã maturitate, este sãtulã de obiecte gata fãcute, gata particularizate ºi bune de serializat. Posted by megatron at 7:37 AM 0 comments

Posted by megatron at 7:37 AM 0 comments Romanian participant artists: Alexandru Ciubotariu; Dana Bucataru; Ioana Paraschiva; Alien Ape; Yoz; Cris; Rtmoe & Trinnie; nae; Lipicipespate; Dwore; Andrei Ograda; Brighita Lungu; Oana Felipov; Vandal Squad; Sinboy; Vlad Nanca; Dr Gutman; Hudrea Mihaela; Noper; Otilia Mihalcea; Radu Manelici; Matei Apostolescu; The Guxx; Ion & Mircea (r.i.p.); Dragzor Cockplay; Reniform; Akira; Suzana Dan; Isfan Teodor; Nigelsa; Alina Soare; care?cutare; Aafon; Ionut Cioana; Lavinia Teodorescu; Trick; Omar; Slowcina; Tudor Ene; Andrei Branea; Megatron; Tehas; 3x7; Ubic; Pieton; Blis in Uandarlend; Color; Heliana; Cristina Negrau; Alexe Popescu; Sancho Tortilla; Shade; Saddo; Matei Branea; Ghica; Irlo; Radu Burduj.

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Artiºtii români participanþi: Alexandru Ciubotariu; Dana Bucataru; Ioana Paraschiva; Alien Ape; Yoz; Cris; Rtmoe & Trinnie; nae; Lipicipespate; Dwore; Andrei Ograda; Brighita Lungu; Oana Felipov; Vandal Squad; Sinboy; Vlad Nanca; Dr Gutman; Hudrea Mihaela; Noper; Otilia Mihalcea; Radu Manelici; Matei Apostolescu; The Guxx; Ion & Mircea (r.i.p.); Dragzor Cockplay; Reniform; Akira; Suzana Dan; Isfan Teodor; Nigelsa; Alina Soare; care?cutare; Aafon; Ionut Cioana; Lavinia Teodorescu; Trick; Omar; Slowcina; Tudor Ene; Andrei Branea; Megatron; Tehas; 3x7; Ubic; Pieton; Blis in Uandarlend; Color; Heliana; Cristina Negrau; Alexe Popescu; Sancho Tortilla; Shade; Saddo; Matei Branea; Ghica; Irlo; Radu Burduj.

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Event I Eveniment

Article: CREATION STATION 1.0: Unlimited Co-creation Country: Romania Author: Andra Matzal & Alexandra Silvestru Web: creationstation.ro

It is a platform, an idea, an exhibit and a live demonstration. It is many forms of art brought together and synchronized. All connected, and all happening individually as well. It is a puzzle of elements that match as they interact with each other. It is organized and freestyle all at once. The concept of a „creation station” was born from the intention to magnetize various artists onto a platform that supports the idea of a multi faceted live art jam session that is happening simultaneously. To create a sort of organic software that can be upgraded endlessly… Version 1.0, the ﬁrst of this series, was installed on the 17th of May at Test Point in Bucharest, where the artists that were activating the CREATION STATION played with: music, live interactive visuals, multimedia art, fashion design, photography, make-up, painting & drawing, dance and choreography, theatre, Reiki, Indian and Thai massage, anime magazine showcase, Japanese tea house, interior design, in an experiment produced by ARTIVITY Collective and Rebel Media. This event was a premiere for Romania: a chance to get a backstage pass to the making of a photo shoot, a contact dance jam, a Japanese tea ritual or a shadow screen painting. The music line up, introduced as an All Star Jam Session, featured names like: DJ Vasile, Blanoz, Zum, Sasha & Mandela from SENSOR and many more. Projections, experimental live multimedia visuals and installations, a fashion show by Ancient Future Designs and a special room offering Reiki, Indian and Thai massage were just a few elements of this wide spectrum that introduced new concepts and mediums less known in Romania. The idea is to open a space in which different artistic expressions can step outside their own realm and blend, in order to co-create something unique. More than a multi-media show, a concert or an underground gathering, the CREATION STATION event platform promotes Art and Creativity as a bridge between inspiration and reality.

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Conceptul CREATION STATION s-a nÿscut din intenĂia de a magnetiza creatori de toate felurile ûi de a experimenta live feelingul unei „staĂii de creaĂie”. Un „jam session” de artÿ la toate nivelele, care se deruleazÿ simultan. Toate astea în forma unui eveniment, un fel de software organic care poate fi upgradat la nesfârûit, un puzzle ale cÿrui elemente se îmbinÿ liber. Primul eveniment din aceastÿ serie, varianta 1.0, a avut loc pe 17 mai la Test Point în Bucureûti, unde foarte mulĂi artiûti au participat la un laborator de creaĂie. Live interactive visuals, muzicÿ, artÿ multimedia, casÿ de ceai japonezÿ, desen, contact dance, fotografie, make-up, teatru, fashion show, graphic design, masaj, prezentare de revistÿ manga, ecrane de umbrÿ, live painting, expoziĂii foto, picturÿ, design interior, au fost componentele acestui experiment, organizat de Artivity Collective ûi Rebel Media. Jam session-ul de la Test Point a fost o premierÿ in România: mulĂi artiûti din zone foarte diferite, fiecare dintre ei lÿsându-i pe ceilalĂi sÿ arunce o privire la „the making of” al lucrÿrilor lor, fie cÿ a fost vorba de graphic design sau dans. DJ Vasile, Blanoz, Zum, Sasha ûi Mandela de la Sensor sunt câĂiva dintre cei din playlist-ul acestei seri, prezentat sub forma unui All Star Jam Session. Pe lângÿ expoziĂia Veronicÿi Solomon, echipa Otaku a fÿcut o demonstraĂie de desen live, Inkamon ûi Between arÿtând celor din public cum se deseneazÿ personajele manga. ProiecĂii ûi experimente de live multimedia visuals, ûedinĂe de fotografie, la care putea participa oricine, un fashion show Ancient Future Designs; Demmers Teehaus au amenajat un spaĂiu în care au oferit ceai japonez, pregÿtit dupÿ toate regulile ritualului nipon; O altÿ noutate pentru acest tip de eveniment au fost salonul de masaj indian ûi Reiki ûi secĂiunea de contact dance, dat fiind cÿ ideea organizatorilor este sÿ propunÿ în cadrul acestor workshopuri ûi arte mai puĂin cunoscute în România. IntenĂia este aceea de a deschide un spaĂiu în care sÿ se îmbine diferite expresii artistice, pentru a crea ceva unic, un mediu în care artiûtii sÿ dialogheze, sÿ participe împreunÿ la workshopuri ûi, foarte important, sÿ implice ûi publicul. Mai mult decât un spectacol media, concert sau manifestare underground, evenimentul a promovat artele libere ûi constructive, punte între universul artistic ûi realitate.

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Event I Eveniment

Event: Focus on Japan Country: Romania Myspace: myspace.com/avmotional Web: avmotional.com

AVmotional is a structure destined to the presentation, exchange and promotion of the important productions from Romania and from abroad, in the field of electronic music, audiovisual performance, VJ-ing and interactive new media installations. AVmotional was initiated in 2004, representing the first reunion in Romania, dedicated to the audiovisual stage. The first AVmotional DVD includes 28 live performances from the 01 and 02 editions, with over 50 Romanian and international artists, and audio files with 15 hours of electronic music recorded during the festival. AVmotional 03 took place in November 2006, in Bucharest, and in 2007 it continues to provide a PLATFORM for the interaction between the visual artists concerned with experimental music and musicians from the electronic area, interested in the cross-media art. The AVmotional platform organized the event AVmotional Focus on Japan, on May 26, 2007, at Fratelli Studios. DJ Krush, one of the most innovative and respected DJs/producers in Japan performed for the first time in Romania. The public had the unique chance to see Mirroball | Made in Japan, a screening curated by the Edinburgh International Film Festival, with music videos and audio-visual projects created and produced by Japanese artists, which was present on the line-ups of all the important electronic music and film festivals in 2006. Romanian artists also took part in the event: Gojira, with a DJ set specially created for the event, together with Vali Chinciýan - visuals, and DJ NEMO, with a downtempo/ trip hop/ turntable-ism set. The visuals for DJ Krush’s performance were by KOTKI visuals (VJ mika & VJ dilmana). AVmotional is „powered” by: mihaela kavdanska [aka mika/ visual artist & vj] and dilmana iordanova [aka dilmana/ visual artist & vj]. Based in Romania since 1995, the Bulgarian born artists duo is also known as Kotki Visuals.

„I am very visual in my sound-making. Almost like making a soundtrack to a vision in my head” DJ KRUSH THE „GODFATHER” OF TRIP-HOP DJ Krush is the brightest star of Japanese triphop, always at the cutting edge of the genre, with a turntable style that knows no limits. As his output shows, he is able to bring together jazz, breakbeats, Asian inﬂuences and the best international underground rhyming talent. DJ Krush has been one of the most innovative and most respected DJs/producers coming out of Japan. In the past, he has done collaborations with DJ Shadow, Toshinori Kondo, The Roots, Guru, Big Shug, Anti Pop Consortium, Sly & Robbie and many more. With the release of Stepping Stones: The SelfRemixed Best in 2006 , Krush comes full circle, paying homage to years of innovation and eccentricity while offering a selection of some of his best material in a format that even longtime listeners will ﬁnd invigorating. „I am very visual in my sound-making. Almost like making a soundtrack to a vision in my head,” says Krush when asked about the relationship between his photography and his music.

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AVmotional este o structurÿ destinatÿ prezentÿrii, schimbului ûi promovÿrii producĂiilor importante din România ûi din lume, din domeniul muzicii electronice, performance-ului audiovizual, VJ-ingului ûi instalaĂiilor interactive new media. AVmotional a fost iniĂiat în 2004, reprezentând prima întâlnire din România dedicatÿ scenei audio-vizuale. Primul DVD AVmotional include 28 de performance-uri live din timpul ediĂiilor 01 ûi 02, cu peste 50 de artiûti români ûi internaĂionali, ûi ﬁûiere audio cu 15 ore de muzicÿ electronicÿ înregistratÿ în timpul festivalului. AVmotional 03 a avut loc în noiembrie 2006 la Bucureûti, iar în 2007 continuÿ sÿ ofere o PLATFORMÃ pentru interacĂiunea dintre artiûti vizuali pasionaĂi de muzicÿ experimentalÿ ûi muzicieni din zona electronicÿ, interesaĂi de arta cross-media. Platforma AVmotional a organizat evenimentul AVmotional Focus on Japan, pe 26 mai 2007, la Fratelli Studios. Pentru prima datÿ în România a performat DJ Krush, unul dintre cei mai inovatori ûi mai respectaĂi DJ/producÿtori din Japonia. Publicul a avut sansa unicÿ de a vedea Mirroball | Made in Japan, un screening curatat de Edinburgh International Film Festival, cu music videos ûi proiecte audiovizuale create ûi produse de artiûti japonezi, care a fost

prezent pe line-up-urile tuturor festivalurilor importante de muzicÿ electronicÿ ûi film din 2006. Din partea României a mai participat Gojira, cu un DJ set creat special pentru eveniment, împreunÿ cu Vali Chinciûan la visuals, ûi DJ Nemo cu un set downtempo/ trip hop/ turntable-ism. ProiecĂiile pentru performance-ul lui DJ Krush au fost semnate KOTKI visuals (VJ mika & VJ dilmana). AVmotional - „powered” by: Mihaela Kavdanska [aka mika/ visual artist & vj] ûi Dilmana Iordanova [aka dilmana / visual artist & vj]. Stabilite în România din 1995, duo-ul de artiste de origine bulgarÿ este cunoscut drept Kotki Visuals. DJ KRUSH „NAøUL” TRIP-HOP-ULUI DJ Krush este personalitatea cea mai importantÿ a trip-hop-ului japonez, întotdeauna la graniĂa genului, cu un stil de turntable-ism care nu cunoaûte limite. Dupÿ cum aratÿ ûi rezultatul, este capabil sÿ combine jazz, breakbeat-uri, influenĂe asiatice ûi cel mai desÿvârûit talent underground din lume de a crea versuri. DJ Krush este unul dintre cei mai inovatori ûi mai respectaĂi DJ / producÿtori din Japonia. În trecut, a colaborat cu DJ Shadow, Toshinori Kondo, The Roots, Guru, Big Shug, Anti Pop Consortium, Sly & Robbie ûi cu mulĂi alĂii. Odatÿ cu apariĂia Stepping Stones: The Self-Remixed Best, în 2006, Krush atinge apogeul, aducând tribut anilor de inovaĂie ûi excentricitate ûi oferind o selecĂie a celor mai bune materiale, într-un format pe care ûi cei mai versaĂi ascultÿtori îl gÿsesc tonic. „Sunt foarte vizual atunci când îmi creez sunetul. Ca ûi cum aû face o coloanÿ sonorÿ unei imagini din mintea mea” rÿspunde Krush la întrebarea despre relaĂia dintre fotografia ûi muzica lui.

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Exhibition I Expoziăie

Exhibition: Saddo and Other at Streetwise Country: Romania & Canada Artists: Saddo & Other Blog: streetwisebucharest.blogspot.com

„Other is a Canadian born nomad… he is a descendant of the street art world… his work originated 18 years ago, from the generic „hip-hop” grafﬁti scene of the 1990s, in North America…and slowly found its place in the freight train yards of north America…becoming a hybrid of „grafﬁti” and an old form of „hobo art”, which has been drawn on the sides of boxcars by transients and train workers since the mid 1850’s… While his biggest body of work travels the rails from Canada all the way down to Mexico… the artist himself wanders from country to country to leave little bits of himself scattered across the world: a trail of aerosol… acrylic paint… oil sticks... even chalk… anything that will leave a mark…"

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Other spune cÿ este „un nomad nÿscut în Canada”, care face parte din marea familie a street art-ului mondial. A început sÿ facÿ graffiti în anii ’90, în contextul miûcÿrii graffiti „hip-hop” din America de Nord. Cu timpul ûi-a definit practica, desenând pe trenuri de marfÿ forme hibride de graffiti ûi „hobo art” - desene pe care cÿlÿtorii ûi muncitorii le fÿceau pe trenuri încÿ din 1850. În timp ce lucrÿrile sale cÿlÿtoresc pe ûine din Canada pânÿ în Mexic, artistul „merge din Ăarÿ în Ăarÿ ûi lasÿ mici pÿrĂi din el în toata lumea - urme de aerosol, vopsea acrilicÿ, markere ûi chiar cretÿ… orice lasÿ urme…”

Saddo graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts from Cluj (RO), but it was only after graduation when he rediscovered the „joy of drawing exactly what I wish, as when I was a child in Sovata and I used to spend the day drawing in a notebook”. Saddo draws monsters, „ugly monsters, sometimes cute and colorful monsters, it depends”. Saddo likes drawing the most – „I wish I could only draw, without being necessary to do anything else. And I like to draw together with other people”. He already did that, on several occasions, together with The Playground crew from Cluj and lately with Other, who has been to Saddo „one of my favorite artists, even before meeting him”.

Saddo Art

Saddo a terminat graﬁca la Facultatea de Arte din Cluj (RO), însÿ numai dupÿ ce a terminat studiile a redescoperit „bucuria de a desena exact ce am eu chef, ca ûi atunci cand eram copil la Sovata ûi îmi petreceam toata ziua desenând într-un caiet”. Saddo deseneazÿ monûtri, „monûtri urâĂi, câteodatÿ monûtri drÿguĂi ûi coloraĂi, depinde”. Lui Saddo îi place mai mult decât orice sÿ deseneze – „mi-ar plÿcea cel mai mult din lume sÿ pot sÿ desenez doar, sÿ nu mai ﬁu nevoit sÿ fac alte chestii. ùi îmi place sÿ desenez împreunÿ cu alĂi oameni”. A ûi fÿcut-o cu mai multe ocazii, împreunÿ cu colectivul The Playground din Cluj ûi în ultima vreme cu Other, care pentru Saddo este „unul din artiûtii mei preferaĂi, încÿ dinainte sÿ îl cunosc”.

Other Art

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Article I Articol

YUME

Article: Yume & Seireitei FAQ Country: Romania Address: Cluj-Napoca on 30 Baba Novac Street

When

you have to write about a thing that you worked very hard to complete, the instinct is to be subjective. The short and very objective facts: Yume is a Japanese teahouse, located in Cluj-Napoca on 30 Baba Novac Street, opened on May 10th, 2007. To avoid going from these space-time coordinates to a very subjective and touchy story about turning dreams into reality through hard work and sacriﬁce, we decided to answer some FAQ.

Când

What does Yume mean? Yume means dream in Japanese and for us it also means a dream come true.

Ce înseamnþ Yume? Yume înseamnÿ vis în japonezÿ, iar pentru noi mai înseamnÿ ûi o realizare a visului de a avea un loc în Cluj în care sÿ aducem Japonia puĂin mai aproape.

How did you come up with the idea? The initial idea was to make a manga & anime club. Yume was just the leap that followed. And we have to take our shoes off?! Ano… yes! But we also provide protection slippers to put on over the street shoes. How’s the atmosphere? Cozy and addictive.

trebuie sÿ scrii despre un lucru la care ai muncit mult pentru a-l realiza, tendinĂa este sÿ fii subiectiv. Pe scurt ûi foarte obiectiv: Yume este o ceainÿrie cu specific japonez, situatÿ pe strada Baba Novac nr. 30 în Cluj-Napoca, deschisÿ pe data de 10 mai 2007. Pentru a nu trece de la aceste coordonate spaĂio-temporale la o foarte subiectivÿ epopee despre vise împlinite prin multÿ muncÿ ûi sacrificii, am decis sÿ rÿspundem la cele mai frecvente întrebÿri care ne sunt adresate.

Cum v-a venit ideea? Ideea iniĂialÿ a fost aceea de a înﬁinĂa un club de manga & anime. Yume a fost doar saltul care a urmat. øi trebuie sþ ne descþlāþm?! Ano... da! Dar totuûi punem la dispoziĂie papucei de protecĂie, care se pot lua peste încÿlĂÿminte.

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Can one hear Japanese? Hai! From a friendly konichiwa when you come in and the anime soundtracks, to our attempts to use Japanese as much as possible in any conversation.

Cum e atmosfera? Când vii în Yume, te descalĂi, stai la o mÿsuĂÿ joasÿ, ûi savurezi un ceai bun. Rÿspunsul vine de la sine (vezi traducerea în englezÿ)

What’s special about Yume? You mean except all the above? There are also anime projections, different Japanrelated cultural events, the unique way of selecting a tea (by smelling it), the cute waitresses dressed in yukata, the menu in Japanese, sake and of course a maneki neko for good luck.

Se vorbeúte japonezþ? Hai! De la un prietenos konnichiwa când intri ûi muzica din animeuri, pânÿ la încercÿrile noastre ûi ale unor clienĂi de a folosi cât mai mult aceastÿ limbÿ în conversaĂiile cotidiene.

Can we read mangas? The mangas we have are available only to the members of the club. But for the rest of our customers we made some previews and also gave them access to the complete Dragon Ball collection. And last but not least: How do we see Yume? For us Yume is a second home. We’re here with our friends, when we relax, when we work, at the club meetings, when we’re happy or when we are sad. It’s a drop of Japan in our everyday lives. We see Yume as an opportunity to promote the Japanese culture with everything it has, old and new, especially the manga&anime culture.

Ce are Yume special? În afarÿ de tot ce am zis pânÿ acum? Am mai putea aminti proiecĂiile de anime care au loc sÿptÿmânal, diferite evenimente culturale japoneze, modul unic de a alege ceaiul (mirosindu-l), chelneriĂele drÿguĂe, îmbrÿcate în yukata ûi meniul în japonezÿ, sake ûi bineînĂeles un maneki neko pentru noroc. Putem citi manga-uri? Manga-urile pe care le avem pânÿ acum sunt accesibile în original doar membrilor clubului. Pentru restul clienĂilor am fÿcut niûte preview-uri ûi am pus la dispoziĂie colecĂia completÿ Dragon Ball. øi la ﬁnal: Cum vedem noi Yume? Yume este pentru noi o a doua casÿ: suntem aici cu prietenii, când ne relaxÿm, când lucrÿm, la întâlnirile de club, când suntem fericiĂi sau supÿraĂi. Este un pic de Japonia în viaĂa de zi cu zi. Noi privim acest local ca pe o oportunitate de a promova cultura japonezÿ, cu tot ce are ea vechi ûi nou, în special cultura manga & anime.

s you may have noticed, it’s almost impossible to talk about Yume and not mention the manga & anime club. So let’s get right to it!

upÿ cum aĂi observat nu se poate vorbi de Yume fÿrÿ sÿ se vorbeascÿ despre Seireitei, aûa cÿ vom trece direct la subiect.

Why Seireitei? Because all the founding members are Bleach fans.

De ce Seireitei? Pentru cÿ toĂi membrii fondatori sunt fani Bleach.

What’s the structure / organization ? As the name suggests, the internal structure is inspired by the one in Soul Society. We’re divided into squads, each trying to cover a certain anime genre. A squad is led by a taichou and of course we have a high council (room 46) composed of the founding members.

Cum este organizat? Aûa cum lasÿ sÿ se înteleagÿ numele, organizarea este inspiratÿ de cea din Soul Society. Suntem organizaĂi în squad-uri, ﬁecare încercând sÿ acopere un gen de anime. Squad-urile sunt conduse de cÿtre un taichou ûi desigur avem ûi un consiliu suprem (camera 46) format din membrii fondatori.

When / where do you meet? At Yume of course. The meetings are on Sundays, when the place is closed for profane.

Unde / când vþ întâlniāi? În Yume desigur. Întâlnirile au loc duminica, când localul este închis pentru profani J.

How may members are there? We’re currently at 30 and the number is growing.

Câāi membrii sunt? Momentan am ajuns la 30 de membri iar cifra e în creûtere.

What do you do at club meetings? Skipping the administrative part, we talk about hat mangas we should buy, what we read or saw recently, we sing karaoke, we watch animes, we play Shogi and Stepmania. So, one might say we have all the activities of a true otaku. What are your future plans? We want to be the most famous manga & anime club in Romania. Right now, we’re working hard on the preparations for the Otaku Festival, where we’re hoping to win the cosplay competition.

Ce faceāi la întâlnirile de club? Trecând peste partea administrativÿ, vorbim despre ce manga-uri sÿ cumpÿrÿm, ce am mai vazut sau ce am mai citit, facem karaoke, ne uitÿm la anime-uri, jucÿm shogi ûi stepmania. Pe scurt, avem toate activitÿĂile pe care le are un otaku adevÿrat. Ce planuri de viitor aveāi? Sÿ ﬁm cel mai renumit club de manga & anime din România. Momentan, ne pregÿtim asiduu pentru Otaku Festival, unde sperÿm sÿ câûtigÿm concursul de cosplay.

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Otaku Fashion Otaku Fashion: Harajuku goin’ Romanian style! Country: Romania Author: Mocking Bird Web: mockingstore.com

If not so long ago fashion meant famous designers, clothes with countless zeros in their price and many, many airs, now the things have started to change. Because, once with Harajuku, a new fashion trend emerged: street fashion. Now, the clothes became an extension of everyone’s individuality, because the main idea of this trend is to express individuality. The result is simply fun. So wait no more: take all your clothes out of the wardrobe, combine them in the funniest way possible and get downtown, to transform Revoluăiei Street into an autochthonous Harajuku! If you feel overwhelmed by too much freedom in choosing what to wear, Mocking Bird will provide a few guide marks. Have fun!

Dacÿ pânÿ nu demult moda însemna designeri renumiĂi, haine cu un numÿr nelimitat de zerouri în preĂ ûi multe multe ﬁĂe, acum lucrurile au început sÿ se mai schimbe. Pentru cÿ, odatÿ cu Harajuku, a apÿrut un nou curent în modÿ: street fashion. Acum hainele au devenit o extensie a personalitÿĂii ﬁecÿruia, pentru cÿ idea principalÿ a acestui trend este exprimarea individualitÿĂii. Rezultatul este simply fun. Aûa cÿ nu mai aûteptaĂi niciun minut: luaĂi toate hainele din dulap, combinaĂi-le în cel mai haios mod posibil ûi ieûiĂi în oraû sÿ transformaĂi strada RevoluĂiei într-o Harajuku autohtonÿ! În cazul în care vÿ simĂiĂi copleûiĂi de atâta libertate în alegerea unei Ăinute, cei de la Mocking Bird s-au oferit sa vÿ dea aici câteva mici repere. DistracĂie placutÿ!

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Cosplay sau cum un grup de puþti deghizaĄi schimbü realitatea

Article: How a bunch of dressed up kids are changing reality Country: Netherlands Author: Arne Hendriks Web: mediamatic.net

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Cosplay

In the nineties, the otaku spent life in a cocoon, locked in gadget-ﬁlled bedrooms, surﬁng the web, consuming information like there was no tomorrow.

În anii 90, un otaku îúi ducea existenāa într-un cocon, încuiat în dormitoare bombardate de gadgeturi, navigând pe web, sorbind informaāia de parcþ ziua de mâine n-ar mai ﬁ existat.

They hardly left their homes. Reality only entered into the otakus life in a pre-mediated format. Not the tree, but the picture of a tree. Not the sex and violence, but pornography and mangastyle slashing and bashing. Some felt guilty for not providing these kids with the right social skills to tackle the real world. But while they worried about saving a lost generation from slipping into oblivion, the lost were brewing visions of another future. Like the sea just before a tsunami, the otaku retreated almost beyond the horizon, consciously or unconsciously building momentum for a very big wave. The unlikely avantgarde of this wave is the cosplayer.

Aproape cÿ nu ieûeau din casÿ. Realitatea intra în viaĂa unui otaku doar într-o formÿ pre-mediatÿ. Nu copacul, ci imaginea unui copac. Nu sex ûi violenĂÿ, ci pornografie ûi stilul manga slash&bash. Unii se simĂeau vinovaĂi de a nu le fi dat acestor copii coordonatele sociale corecte pentru a intra în viaĂa realÿ. Însÿ, în timp ce se preocupau de salvarea de la uitare a unei generaĂii pierdute, pierduĂii Ăeseau viziuni ale unui viitor diferit. Ca marea înainte de un tsunami, otaku se retrÿgeau dincolo de orizont, construind, mai mult sau mai puĂin conûtient, momentul marelui val. Avangardistul acestui val este cosplayerul. Într-o negare simplÿ, dar fermÿ, a contextului realitÿĂii imediate, acesta confecĂioneazÿ ûi poartÿ în public costume bazate pe personajele din manga, filme anime ûi jocuri video. Mai mult, existÿ regulile nescrise ale unui angajament care include entuziasmul extrem pentru tot ce implicÿ procesul de cosplaying ûi refuzul hotÿrât al oricÿrui element care ar putea ucide iluzia. Dacÿ nu faci parte din realitatea

In a simple but firm denial of the context of firstreality, they make and publicly wear costumes based on characters from manga-comics, anime-movies and videogames. On top of this there are unwritten rules of engagement that include extreme enthousiasm for everything involved with cosplaying and the firm denial of anything that might kill the illusion. If your not part of the alternate reality you will be ignored. This impenetrable space, a strong simplification of reality and a ritualization of language and behaviour enables the cosplayer to enter into the most hostile of environments without having to succumb to the outside pressure to ridicule the moment, as long as there is a group. Unlike the oldschool otaku who didn’t care much for meeting his peers in the flesh, cosplayers use their shared interest as a reason to get together. Conventions to this end have popped up all over the world and

alternativÿ eûti ignorat. Acest spaĂiu impenetrabil, o simplificare puternicÿ a realitÿĂii ûi o ritualizare a limbajului ûi a comportamentului permite cosplayerului sÿ intre în mediul cel mai ostil fÿrÿ a fi nevoie sÿ se supunÿ presiunii exterioare de a ridiculiza momentul, atât timp cât existÿ un grup. Spre deosebire de un otaku de modÿ veche, cÿruia nu-i pÿsa prea mult de întâlnirea în carne ûi oase cu semenii lui, cosplayerii se folosesc de acest interes împÿrtÿûit ca motiv pentru a se aduna împreunÿ. ConvenĂiile au început astfel sÿ aparÿ peste tot în lume, iar numÿrul de participanĂi activi este în continuÿ creûtere. În timpul acestor întâlniri foarte animate, cosplayerii joacÿ secvenĂe din filmele lor preferate, însceneazÿ bÿtÿlii, danseazÿ, deseneaza manga ûi schimbÿ o mulĂime de sfaturi despre croitul costumelor. O vizitÿ la o astfel de întâlnire seamÿnÿ cu intrarea într-un univers de lipici, populat de prinĂese cu urme de pojar ûi supereroi piele ûi os, care poartÿ chestii de plastic, ce fac BLEEP BLEEP. În cea mai mare parte a timpului se agitÿ, schimbând frenetic informaĂii; se entuziasmeazÿ despre cât de mult iubesc asta sau aia, despre cât de tare a fost convenĂia asta sau aia ûi despre care este cel mai cool episod anime.

Cosplay

the numbers of active participants are growing fast. During highly energetic get-togethers cosplayers act out sketches from favorite films, perform mock fights, para para dance, draw mangas and exchange lots of costume-making tips. A visit to one of them is like entering a stich-and-glue universe, populated by spotty princesses and skinny superheros, wearing plastic things that go BLEEP BLEEP. Most of the time they are jumping up and down with excitement, frantically exchanging info; do exclamations of how much they love this or that, how great it was at this or that convention and what the coolest episode of this or that anime is. Communication is reduced to a mantra of soundbytes and dresscoded gestures. It is not so much THAT the otaku loves but the compulsive way in which they do, overturning common sense and the rational order in the surrealist strategy of Mad Love. Their hyperenthousiasm and hyperconsumption is appropriating everything none-hyper. First-reality people don’t have the right tools to process and understand. It’s an intimidating first glimpse of a future yet to come and it gets more so when the cosplayers start to leave the marked territory of the convention centers and enter first-life. If during the 90’s the otaku knew how to retreat into this coded landscape, the otaku of today insists on projecting his harrypotteristic view of reality onto the world canvas. It’s a process that is effectively changing reality. Although, the costumes of cosplay may not reminisce of the revolutionary uniforms of the past, they are battle-gear nonetheless. Today in Tokyo there are streets where cosplay is so abundant that not dressing up inadvertently turns you into a bystander, out of touch and out of control. Who’s the geek now? These living sculptures created themselves. They didn’t need a Pygmalion, or God for that matter. They’ve pulled themselves from invisibility very much like Baron von Munchhausen pulled himself from the swamp by denying first-reality and creating a second-reality for himself in which he was the glorious centre. Ignore the context until it can no longer ignore you. Now it’s just a matter of continious cosplaying until critical mass is achieved. By turning the real into a myth and thus controlling it’s destiny, the ones who live there become a mythological people. If the otaku stops believing in the first world, it will disappear, along with those who live there.

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Comunicarea este redusÿ la o mantrÿ de biĂi de sunet ûi gesturi codate prin îmbrÿcÿminte. Nu e mare lucru ceea ce iubeûte un otaku, ci maniera impulsivÿ în care o face, transformând bunul simĂ ûi ordinea raĂionalÿ într-o strategie suprarealistÿ a Iubirii Nebune. Hiper-entuziasmul ûi hiper-consumul lor îûi însuûesc tot ce este non-hiper. Oamenii care aparĂin realitÿĂii imediate nu au instrumentele potrivite pentru a procesa ûi a înĂelege. Este o privire ce intimideazÿ, a unui viitor care încÿ se lasÿ aûteptat, cu atât mai mult cu cât cosplayerii încep sÿ iasÿ din teritoriul îngrÿdit al centrelor unde au loc convenĂiile ûi sÿ intre în viaĂÿ. Dacÿ în anii 90 un otaku ûtia cum sÿ se retragÿ în acest peisaj codat, otaku de astÿzi insistÿ sÿ proiecteze viziunea sa harrypotteristicÿ a realitÿĂii pe pânzele lumii. Este un proces care schimbÿ efectiv realitatea. Deûi costumele de cosplay nu sunt relicve ale uniformelor revoluĂionare ale trecutului, acestea sunt, fÿrÿ îndoialÿ, costume de bÿtÿlie. Astÿzi, în Tokyo existÿ strÿzi unde cosplayul este atât de obiûnuit, încât dacÿ nu te îmbraci adecvat te transformi într-un intrus, distant ûi fÿrÿ control. Cine e acum nÿtÿrÿul? Aceste sculpturi vii s-au autocreat. Nu au avut nevoie de un Pygmalion sau de un Dumnezeu pentru asta. Au ieûit din invizibil tot aûa cum Baronul de Munchhausen a ieûit singur din mlaûtinÿ, negând realitatea imediatÿ ûi creând o realitate secundarÿ pentru el însuûi, în care era centrul glorios. IgnoraĂi acest context pânÿ când acesta nu va mai putea sÿ vÿ ignore pe voi. Este doar o chestiune de cosplaying permanent pânÿ când se va atinge masa criticÿ. Transformând realul în mit ûi controlând astfel destinul sÿu, cei care trÿiesc în el devin personaje mitologice. Dacÿ otaku va înceta sÿ creadÿ în lumea imediatÿ, aceasta va dispÿrea, împreunÿ cu cei care trÿiesc în ea.

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anime manga books

Anime

SPIRITED AWAY 2001 - Hayao Miyazaki Winner of the Oscar award, this animation probably represents the most famous and appreciated work of Hayao Miyazaki, manager and founder of the Ghibli Studios. The attention for the sharpest details, together with the exceptional story and soundtrack, create a fantastic world, which you can hardly leave after the 2 hours of watching. The animation presents little Chihiro traveling along with her parents, on the backseat, displeased with their decision to move. Nevertheless, everything changes the moment in which the little girl’s father lost the way to their new home. When in front of a tunnel impossible to pass by car, the family gets through the dark corridor, entering a magic world, populated by fantastic creatures. There, the parents, seduced by the beauty of the landscape, will fall pray to a spell, and Chihiro is completely alone in a unknown world. Laureatÿ a premiului Oscar, aceastÿ animaĂie reprezintÿ probabil cea mai cunoscutÿ ûi apreciatÿ lucrare a lui Hayao Miyazaki, director ûi fondator al studiourilor Ghibli. AtenĂia pentru cele mai mici detalii, alÿturi de povestea ûi muzica de excepĂie, creeazÿ o lume fantasticÿ, de care te desparĂi cu greu dupÿ cele aproximativ 2 ore de vizionare. AnimaĂia ne-o prezintÿ pe micuĂa Chihiro cÿlÿtorind cu pÿrinĂii ei, pe bancheta din spate, nemulĂumitÿ de hotÿrârea acestora de a se muta. Totul se schimbÿ însÿ în momentul în care tatÿl fetiĂei reuûeûte performanĂa de a se rÿtÿci în drumul spre noua lor locuinĂÿ. Ajunûi în faĂa unui tunel imposibil de urmat cu maûina, familia strÿbate culoarul întunecos, pÿtrunzând într-o lume magicÿ, populatÿ de creaturi fantastice. Aici, pÿrinĂii, seduûi de frumuseĂea zonei, vor cÿdea pradÿ unei vrÿji, iar Chihiro se trezeûte singurÿ într-o lume necunoscutÿ.

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TALES FROM EARTHSEA 2006 - Goro Miyazaki Inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s novels, dealing mainly with the events of the third book, "The Farthest Shore", "Tales from Earthsea" represents the ﬁrst directing attempt of Goro Miyazaki, the son of the famous Hayao. A kind of hybrid between Le Guin’s works, the story is not as valuable as the novels used as inspiration source, as it attempted to encompass too many elements into a 2 hours anime movie. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable animation, as usual for the Ghibli crew, and there are countless moments when the public gets fascinated in front of the breathtaking landscapes. We’ll meet dragons, wizards, a fantastic land covered in waters and, of course, the usual love story between the two kids who are main characters. All I can say is: just watch it, and if you like it, read the books of the Earthsea series, in order to understand many things left unexplained in this new Ghibli production.

Inspiratÿ de romanele Ursulei K. Le Guin, urmÿrind în special evenimentele din a treia carte, „The Farthest Shore", „Tales from Earthsea" reprezintÿ prima încercare regizoralÿ a lui Goro Miyazaki, ﬁul celebrului Hayao. Cumva un fel de hibrid între scrierile lui Le Guin, povestea nu se ridicÿ la valoarea romanelor pe care le-a folosit ca sursÿ de inspiraĂie, încercând sÿ cuprindÿ prea multe elemente într-un desen animat de aproximativ 2 ore. Cu toate acestea, e o animaĂie placutÿ, aûa cum ne-au obiûnuit cei de la Ghibli, ûi existÿ nenumÿrate momente în care publicul rÿmâne fascinat în faĂa peisajelor extraordinare. Vom întâlni dragoni, vrÿjitori, un Ăinut fantastic acoperit de ape ûi, evident, nelipsita poveste de dragoste dintre cei doi copii în jurul cÿrora se învârte acĂiunea. Tot ce pot sÿ vÿ spun este sÿ îl vedeĂi, iar dacÿ v-a plÿcut, sÿ încercaĂi ûi cÿrĂile care formeazÿ seria Earthsea, pentru a înĂelege multe lucruri rÿmase neexplicate în aceastÿ nouÿ producĂie Ghibli.

LEGEND OF CRYSTANIA 1995 - Ryutaro Nakamura The fantastic world of Ryo Mizuno also represents the starting point for this animation of the wellknown Nakamura (Serial Experiments Lain, GitS, Sakura Wars). Nevertheless, this time we’ll get to know Ashram, the king of Marmo, the cursed island, one of the negative characters from the ﬁrst part of the story, now under the spell of Barbas, a powerful god. Still, the story is focused mainly on her lover, the dark elf Pirotess’ attempts to free him from the curse. Her road will intersect with that of Prince Redon and of his friends, obliged to confront countless strange creatures, which begin to populate the world of Crystania.

Fantastica lume a lui Ryo Mizuno reprezintÿ punctul de plecare ûi pentru aceastÿ animaĂie a cunoscutului Nakamura (Serial Experiments Lain, GitS, Sakura Wars). De data aceasta, însÿ, vom avea ocazia sÿ îl cunoaûtem pe Ashram, regele din Marmo, insula blestematÿ, unul din personajele negative din prima parte a povestirii, aﬂat acum sub vraja unui zeu puternic, numit Barbas. Cu toate acestea, povestea se concentreaza mai mult pe încercÿrile iubitei sale, dark elfa Pirotess, de a-l elibera de sub blestem. Drumul acesteia se va intersecta însÿ cu cel al prinĂului Redon ûi al prietenilor sÿi, nevoiĂi sÿ se confrunte de data aceasta cu nenumÿrate creaturi ciudate, care încep sÿ populeze lumea din Crystania.

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Manga

BERSERK Kentaro Miura '90-ongoing Probably one of the most famous and appreciated dark fantasy mangas produced on the Japanese market in the last decades, Berserk presents a dark and violent medieval Europe, tormented by wars. The story is focused on the life of young Guts, since his childhood. Adopted by Gambino, the leader of a mercenary gang, he will learn the fighting skill since a very young age. Nevertheless, there is no trace of normality; from now on, the child is sold, abused, and finally forced to kill, in order to regain his freedom. Freed from slavery, Guts meets the ambitious Griffith and his gang of mercenaries, together with whom he would wander the world. Maybe not suitable for the weak, this manga must not absent from the collection of this genre’s fans, the over 30 million sold copies being a testimony of its success.

Probabil una dintre cele mai cunoscute ûi apreciate manga dark fantasy produse de piaĂa japonezÿ în ultimele decenii, Berserk ne deschide în faĂa ochilor o Europÿ medievalÿ întunecatÿ ûi violentÿ, frÿmântatÿ de rÿzboaie. Povestea urmÿreûte viaĂa tânÿrului Guts încÿ din copilÿrie. Adoptat de conducÿtorul unei tabere de mercenari pe nume Gambino, el va deprinde meûteûugul armelor de la o vârstÿ foarte fragedÿ. Cu toate acestea, lucrurile nu vor intra pe un fÿgaû normal, de aici înainte copilul fiind vândut, abuzat, iar, în cele din urmÿ, nevoit sÿ ucidÿ pentru a-ûi câûtiga libertatea. Scÿpat din sclavie, Guts îl va întâlni într-un final pe ambiĂiosul Griffith ûi banda sa de mercenari, alÿturi de care va colinda lumea. Poate nerecomandat celor mai slabi de inimÿ, acest manga nu ar trebui sÿ lipseascÿ din colecĂia niciunui fan al genului, cele peste 30 de milioane de copii vândute, vorbind de la sine despre succesul sÿu.

RECORD OF LODOSS WAR Ryo Mizuno It’s hard to talk about Lodoss without mentioning Ryo Mizuno, Dungeons and Dragons or the animations and games that followed. Everything started from a replay to Dungeons and Dragons printed in '86, in which Mizuno was DM (dungeon master). There followed many more, which ﬁnally were gathered and published as short stories. The plot begins with the story of Parn, a young man who leaves on the traces of his father, a dishonored knight. Together with his good friends, Etoh, Slayn, Leylia, the dwarf Ghim and the beautiful elf Deedlit, he will take a road full of dangers and mystery. "Chronicles of the Heroic Knight" continues the adventures of Parn, but it focuses on Spark, a new character, closely followed by his group of friends, Leaf, Garrack, Greevus, Aldo and Ryna. These will receive the mission to protect Neese, Slayn and Leylia’s daughter, the characters whom we met in the ﬁrst part.

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Este greu sÿ vorbeûti despre Lodoss fÿrÿ sÿ aduci vorba de Ryo Mizuno, Dungeons and Dragons sau de animaĂiile ûi jocurile care au urmat. Totul a început de la un replay de Dungeons and Dragons tipÿrit în anii '86, în care Mizuno era DM (dungeon master). Au urmat multe altele, care în cele din urmÿ au sfârûit adunate ûi publicate sub forma unor nuvele. Povestea începe cu epopea lui Parn, un tânÿr care pleacÿ pe urmele tatÿlui sÿu, un cavaler dezonorat. Alÿturi de bunii sÿi prieteni, Etoh, Slayn, Leylia, dwarf-ul Ghim ûi frumoasa elﬁĂÿ Deedlit, el va parcurge un drum plin de pericole ûi mister. „Chronicles of the Heroic Knight" continuÿ aventurile lui Parn, însÿ se vor concentra pe un nou personaj, Spark, urmat îndeaprope de grupul sÿu de prieteni, Leaf, Garrack, Greevus, Aldo ûi Ryna. Aceûtia vor primi misiunea de a o proteja pe Neese, ﬁica lui Slayn ûi Leylia, personaje cu care am fÿcut cunoûtinĂÿ în prima parte.

NAUSICAA OF THE VALEY OF THE WIND Hayao Miyazaki 1982-1994 Begun 2 years before its adaptation for theatre, this manga continues and completes the story of the animation bearing the same name, produced by the Ghibli studios in '84. 1000 years after the cataclysm that affected Earth, the seas are still poisoned and the planet polluted. The world is now covered by a toxic forest, made of mushrooms and protected by countless insects, such as the fantastic Ohmu, huge crustaceans provided with a multitude of eyes and with great healing powers. Nausicaa, the princess of the "Valley of the Wind ", a state from the outskirts of the former Eftal Kingdom, is caught in the conﬂict between Dorok and the emperor Torumekian. An unexpected turn takes place when the spores created by Dorok and used in battle attract the insects in the neighborhood. Everything turns into a sea of blood, both armies are attacked, and the toxic forest starts to extend.

Începutÿ cu 2 ani înainte de transpunerea sa pe marele ecran, aceastÿ manga continuÿ ûi completeazÿ povestea animaĂiei cu acelaûi nume, produsÿ de studiourile Ghibli în '84. La 1000 de ani dupÿ cataclismul care a afectat pÿmântul, mÿrile sunt încÿ otrÿvite, iar planeta poluatÿ. Lumea este acum acoperitÿ de o padure toxicÿ, formatÿ din ciuperci ûi apÿratÿ de nenumÿrate insecte, printre care ûi fantasticele Ohmu, crustacee imense, dotate cu o multitudine de ochi ûi cu capacitÿĂi fantastice de vindecare. Nausicaa, prinĂesa "Vÿii Vântului", un stat de la periferia fostului regat Eftal, este prinsÿ în conﬂictul dintre Dorok ûi împÿratul Torumekian. Lucrurile încep sÿ ia o întorsÿturÿ neaûteptatÿ atunci când sporii creaĂi de Dorok ûi folosiĂi în luptÿ atrag insectele din împrejurimi. Totul se transformÿ într-o baie de sânge, în urma cÿreia ambele trupe sunt atacate, iar pÿdurea toxicÿ începe sÿ se extindÿ.

ANGEL SANCTUARY Kaori Yuki 1995-2001 Angel Sanctuary is among the mangas that gathered a lot of enthusiasts, even among the Romanians. Towards the end of the series, Bandai Studios appointed Kiyoko Sayama to adapt the manga into an anime. Unfortunately, the anime is made of only 3 episodes and depicts only a small part of the world of Angel Sanctuary, constituting rather an introduction in Kaori Yuki’s work. Setsuna Mudo, our hero, a young delinquent, student at a high school in Japan, is in love with Sara Mudo, his younger sister. The things are even more difﬁcult, for Setsuna is the reincarnation of Alexiel, an angel punished for the disgust displayed against the intrigues in Heaven. Thus, our young hero is caught in the war between Hell and Heaven, in a world in which we meet both demons and angels, a world consumed by conﬂict.

Angel Sanctuary este printre benzile desenate care au adunat mulĂi entuziaûti, chiar ûi printre români. Spre sfârûitul seriei, studiourile Bandai l-au însÿrcinat pe Kiyoko Sayama cu transpunerea acestei benzi desenate într-un anime. Din pÿcate, animaĂia a fost alcatuitÿ doar din 3 episoade ûi nu a redat decât o micÿ parte a lumii Angel Sanctuary, constituind mai degrabÿ o introducere pentru opera lui Kaori Yuki. Eroul nostru, Setsuna Mudo, un tânar delincvent, elev la un oarecare liceu din Japonia, e îndrÿgostit de sora sa mai micÿ, Sara Mudo. Pentru ca lucrurile sÿ fie ûi mai dificile, Setsuna reprezintÿ reîncarnarea lui Alexiel, un înger pedepsit pentru dezgustul afiûat în faĂa uneltirilor din Rai. Astfel, tânÿrul nostru erou sfârûeûte prins în rÿzboiul dintre Iad ûi Rai, într-o lume în care vom întâlni atât demoni, cât ûi îngeri, o lume consumatÿ de conflict.

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Books I Cùrăi

FRIENDS WITH YOU HAVE POWERS! Author: Sam Borkson, Arturo Sandoval More details: friendswithyou.com Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval may be based in Miami, but the strange worlds they create are way out there in another dimension. Fusing art, design, illustration and toy making, FriendsWithYou is a leading example of a multi-disciplinary studio combining classical disciplines with sensational success. This book presents the full scope of their projects and a wide range of scribbles, designs, artworks, characters and kids’ toys that have been created for their ﬁrst museum exhibition at the MOCA Miami during Art Basel Miami Beach.

Sam Borkson ûi Arturo Sandoval sunt stabiliĂi la Miami, dar lumile stranii pe care le creeazÿ se aﬂÿ într-o cu totul altÿ dimensiune. Îmbinând arta, designul, ilustraĂia ûi proiectarea de jucÿrii, FriendsWithYou este un exemplu concludent de studio multidisciplinar care combinÿ domeniile clasice cu un succes senzaĂional. Aceastÿ carte prezintÿ tot domeniul proiectelor lor ûi o gamÿ variatÿ de schiĂe, artwork-uri, personaje ûi jucÿrii pentru copii, create pentru prima lor exopziĂie de muzeu la MOCA Miami, în timpul Art Basel Miami Beach.

VINYL WILL KILL: AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE DESIGNER TOY PHENOMENON Author: Jeremyville More details: jeremyville.com VINYL WILL KILL! is a fascinating insider's look at the process behind 3D vinyl figure production. VINYL WILL KILL! traces the development from initial concept to the insane world of high-end collector's stores and finally to collectors around the world; showcasing new yet-tobe- released vinyl figures direct from the artists along the way. The new genre of 3d collectibles is further explored through a series of one on one interviews with some of the best and hottest vinyl designers and producers on the planet including Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Scary Girl, Enid by Dan Clowes, Dorbel by Jim Woodring, Mars 1 by Recon and Strangeco to name a few. VINYL WILL KILL! is the ultimate backstage pass for collectors, product designers, or anyone interested in the how a great idea makes its way to finished product. INCLUDES A PAPERBACK BOOK, POSTER AND TRADING CARDS ALL IN A BOX.

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VINYL WILL KILL! reprezintÿ o privire fascinantÿ, de detaliu, asupra procesului din spatele producĂiei de figurine 3D din vinil. VINYL WILL KILL! urmÿreûte drumul de la conceptul iniĂial pânÿ la lumea nebunÿ a magazinelor pentru colecĂionari ûi, în sfârûit, la colecĂionarii din întreaga lume. Noul tip de obiecte 3D pentru colecĂionat este explorat în continuare printr-o serie de interviuri individuale cu unii dintre cei mai buni ûi mai la modÿ dintre designerii de jucÿrii din vinil de pe planetÿ, cum ar fi Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Scary Girl, Enid by Dan Clowes, Dorbel by Jim Woodring, Mars 1 by Recon ûi Strangeco, pentru a da doar câteva nume. VINYL WILL KILL! prezintÿ culisele pentru colecĂionari, designeri de produse sau pentru oricine este interesat de modul în care o idee excelentÿ parcurge drumul cÿtre produs finit. INCLUDE O CARTE, UN POSTER ùI CýRāI PENTRU SCHIMB, TOATE ÎNTR-UN SINGUR PACHET.

JEREMYVILLE SESSIONS Author: Jeremyville More details: jeremyville.com Following the success of the hit publication Vinyl Will Kill!, the ﬁrst book in the world on the designer toys phenomenon, and being nominated in Wallpaper as the book of the month; the metamorphosis is Jeremyville Sessions. Jeremyville Sessions provides an insiders' look into special Jeremyville collaborative projects and its processes involved with over 300 international artists and companies. Interactive DVD includes animations, music videos, interviews, screensavers, wallpapers and many other goodies!

Urmare a succesului pe care l-a avut publicaĂia Vinyl Will Kill!, prima carte din lume dedicatÿ fenomenului producĂiei jucÿriilor din vinil, nominalizatÿ în Wallpaper drept cartea lunii; metamorfoza este Jeremyville Sessions. Jeremyville Sessions furnizeazÿ informaĂii detaliate despre proiectele speciale de colaborare Jeremyville ûi despre acĂiunile sale care au implicat peste 300 de artiûti ûi companii internaĂionale. DVD-ul interactiv conĂine animaĂii, videoclipuri, interviuri, screensaver-e, wallpaper-e ûi multe alte surprize!

Other important titles / Alte titluri importante: * Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys Conquered the World, by Woodrow Phoenix * I Am Plastic: The Designer Toy Explosion, by Paul Budnitz * Pictoplasma: Characters in Motion, by Lars Denicke, Peter Thaler, Saiman Chow, Aaron Stewart * Pictoplasma 2: Contemporary Character Design, by Peter Thaler * Pictoplasma: The Character Encyclopaedia, by Lars Denicke, Peter Thaler * Toys: MTV Overground #3, by Jim Crawford, Gregory Blum * Full Vinyl: The Subversive Art of Designer Toys, by Ivan Vartanian * Obey: Supply & Demand: The Art of Shepard Fairey, by Shepard Fairey * Summon Monsters? Open The Door? Heal? Or Die?, by Takashi Murakami * KEBA KEBA, by Takashi Murakami and Yuji Kitagawa * Search this title on www.amazon.com for order and more details. * CÿutaĂi titlul pe www.amazon.com pentru comenzi ûi detalii suplimentare.

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Books I Cùrăi

TOYGIANTS BOOK Author: Daniel and Geo Fuchs More details: toygiants.com Meeting the collector Selim Varol and seeing his more than 10,000 toy ﬁgures inspired artist duo Daniel (born 1966) and Geo Fuchs (born 1969) to create their latest photo series: „Toygiants”. Following the successful exhibition in the Museum Villa Stuck in Munich in 2006, which predominantly showed political characters, this lavishly designed picture series offers a unique insight into the wide range of extraordinary plastic „heroes” and fantasy ﬁgures. „Toys” like Batman and Bruce Willis, Japanese Manga superstars and designer vinyls, but also Osama Bin Laden and Hitler are primarily manufactured in Asia and sold and traded internationally as collector’s items. For more than 3 years the two artists shot the „Toys” as portraits or in groups. Together with the collector they began to play with their subjects and generated partly grotesque, partly explosive references until nearly 1000 of the „Toys” developed a life of their own, an unnerving second life, now revealed in „TOYGIANTS”.

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Întâlnirea cu colecĂionarul Selim Varol ûi cu cele peste 10.000 de jucÿrii ale acestuia a inspirat duo-ul de artiûti Daniel (nÿscut în 1966) ûi Geo Fuchs (nÿscut în 1969) sÿ creeze cea mai recentÿ serie de fotografii: Toygiants. Urmând expoziĂia de succes din Muzeul Villa Stuck din Munchen, în 2006, care a prezentat mai ales figuri politice, aceastÿ serie de imagini oferÿ o perspectivÿ unicÿ asupra unei panoplii vaste de eroi de plastic ûi figurine fantasy. Jucÿrii ca Batman ûi Bruce Willis, superstaruri manga japoneze, jucÿrii din vinil, dar ûi Osama Bin Laden ûi Hitler, sunt fabricate în Asia ûi vândute ûi colecĂionate la nivel internaĂional. Pentru mai bine de 3 ani, cei doi artiûti au realizat jucÿriile ca portrete sau în grupuri. Împreunÿ cu colecĂionarul, au început sÿ se joace cu subiectele lor ûi au generat referinĂe parĂial groteûti, parĂial explozive, pânÿ când aproape 1000 dintre jucÿrii au dezvoltat o viaĂÿ proprie, o a doua viaĂÿ care este înfÿĂiûatÿ acum în TOYGIANTS.

Toys I Jucùrii

From left to right: Daniel & Geo Fuchs, Selim Varol

Toys: Toysgiants Country: Germany Artists: Daniel and Geo Fuchs Web: toygiants.com

As the point of departure for their photo series TOYS, artists Daniel and Geo Fuchs from Frankfurt and Berlin use the, to a certain extent, highly political world of toy figures, which are sold and traded internationally. The artists created portraits of toys in large-sized prints: American comic heroes of the 1960s; muscle-bound fantasy figures; Japanese Manga superstars; actors and directors such as Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Quentin Tarantino; even world-leaders such as George W. Bush and his opponent Saddam Hussein; or artists such as Andy Warhol who are presented as „toys". A total of 16 works are shown for the first time in the historic bedrooms of Franz von Stuck.

Ca punct de plecare pentru seria foto TOYS , artiûtii Daniel ûi Geo Fuchs din Frankfurt ûi Berlin utilizeazÿ, pânÿ la un anumit punct, lumea jucÿriilor, care sunt vândute ûi schimbate la nivel internaĂional. Artiûtii au creat portrete de jucÿrii în printuri de dimensiuni mari: eroi de benzi desenate americane din anii '60; ﬁgurine fantastice pline de muûchi; superstaruri manga japoneze; actori ûi regizori, ca Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone ûi Quentin Tarantino; chiar ûi ûeﬁ de stat ca George W. Bush ûi oponentul acestuia, Saddam Hussein; sau artiûti ca Andy Warhol, prezentaĂi ca „jucÿrii". Un total de 16 lucrÿri sunt expuse pentru prima datÿ în dormitoarele istorice ale lui Franz von Stuck.

The artists Daniel and Geo Fuchs began their work on TOYS with Batman , Superman and Hulk . The belief in progress is written on the faces of these ﬁgures, as is the idealism with which comic heroes are charged. How different the worn-out and spent

Artiûtii Daniel ûi Geo Fuchs au început sÿ lucreze la TOYS cu Batman, Superman ûi Hulk. Încrederea în progres se citeûte pe feĂele acestor ﬁgurine, la fel ca ûi idealismul care-i caracterizeazÿ pe eroii benzilor desenate. Cât de diferite sunt feĂele obosite ale lui

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Jucÿriile fotografiate de Daniel ûi Geo Fuchs provin din ColecĂia Varol, care include peste 10 000 de obiecte. În camerele artistului/prinĂului Franz von Stuck din Munchen, care, ca niciun alt artist din vremea sa a înĂeles conceptul de auto-promovare, lucrÿrile din TOYS îûi desfÿûoarÿ efectul terifiant, iconic. În jurul expoziĂiei se ridicÿ întrebÿri legate de puterea auto-promovÿrii prin media, prin personaje politice sau actori, în reĂeaua mondialÿ de entertainment ûi „jocuri de rÿzboi „. Strategiile iconografice cu un preûedinte care coboarÿ dintr-un avion de rÿzboi echipat cu un întreg angrenaj de luptÿ sunt exploatate de Daniel ûi Geo Fuchs în fotografia cu un George W. Bush împachetat original. Lasÿ pentru vizitator interpretarea feĂelor pale: ce este real ûi ce este regizat? TOYS ne pune la încercare capacitatea de vizualizare. Un proiect al Muzeului Villa Stuck, München Curatori: Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker ûi Michael Buhrs

The toy ﬁgures photographed by Daniel and Geo Fuchs all come from the Varol Collection, which in the meantime includes over 10,000 objects. In the rooms of Munich's artist/prince Franz von Stuck, who like no other artist of his day understood the concept of self-promotion, the works in TOYS unfold their, to a certain extent, terrifying, iconic effect.

At the centre of the exhibition are questions regarding the power of self-promotion through the media by political ﬁgures or actors in a networked world of entertainment and „war games". The iconographic strategies of a president climbing out of a ﬁghter plane equipped with military gear are scrutinised by Daniel and Geo Fuchs in their photograph of an originally packaged George W. Bush. They leave the interpretation of the empty, pale-white faces to the visitor: what is real and what is staged? TOYS puts us and our viewing habits to the test.

A project of Villa Stuck Museum, Munich Curators: Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker and Michael Buhrs

Daft Punk

Willis sau Stallone, un soldat din epoca Rÿzboiului Rece, pentru care se pare cÿ nu a mai rÿmas nimic de fÿcut. Iar graniĂele dintre realitate ûi ﬁcĂiune dispar complet atunci când sunt prezentate portretele lui Saddam Hussein sau Osama bin Laden.

faces of Willis or Stallone, a soldier of the Cold War era for whom it seems no task remains. And the borders between reality and ﬁction disappear completely when the portraits of ﬁgures of Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden are shown.

Toys I Jucùrii

From left to right: Andy Warhol, Sylvester Stallone

Japan Family

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Toys I Jucùrii

Toys: Doma??? Country: Argentina Artists: DOMA Collective Web: doma.tv

„Understanding the world as a big lab helps one to detect the reaction to each action. We are living a special moment in history and this scenario calls for action. DOMA tries to interfere in ALL the information channels available. Working with the same elements as them with a bit of irony... thus sparking change in people's perception; offering another point of view. The process: Cross ideas; Action-Reaction.” DOMA is a group of argentines that started in the Buenos Aires Street-Art scene in 1998 doing urban installations, stencils, street-projections and absurd campaigns. They studied Illustration, Film and Graphic Design. Today they divide their time between original art projects working with different media and formats. Since the beginning in the Street-Art ﬁeld, they started creating conceptual universes, different worlds and characters that have been evolving to come alive later with the group's specialization in Animation, Motion Graphics, Filming, VJeing and ToyDesign. In the last years, DOMA has done important art installations and shows, animation shorts, books, toys, and has been invited to contribute at important international projects. Since august 2006, DOMA as a collective or company, work only for commercial projects with an original DOMA concept. DOMA are Mariano Barbieri / Julian Pablo Manzelli / Matias Vigliano / Orilo Blandini. They are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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„Perceperea lumii ca un laborator imens te ajutÿ sÿ detectezi reacĂia pentru fiecare acĂiune. Trÿim un moment special al istoriei – Acest scenariu cere acĂiune. DOMA încearcÿ sÿ intervinÿ în TOATE canalele informaĂionale disponibile. Lucrÿm cu aceleaûi elemente, cu un pic de ironie... aprindem scânteia schimbÿrii în percepĂia oamenilor; oferim un alt punct de vedere. Procesul: încruciûÿm idei. AcĂiune-ReacĂiune.” DOMA înseamnÿ un grup de argentinieni care a apÿrut pe scena street-art din Buenos Aires în 1998, care creeazÿ instalaĂii urbane, stencil-uri, proiecĂii în stradÿ ûi campanii centrate pe absurd. Au studiat ilustraĂie, film ûi design grafic. Acum îûi împart timpul între proiecte artistice originale, lucrând cu media ûi formate diferite. De la apariĂia pe scena street-art, au creat universuri conceptuale, lumi ûi personaje diferite, care mai târziu s-au pus în miûcare odatÿ cu specializarea grupului în animaĂie, graficÿ, film, VJ-ing ûi design de jucÿrii. În ultimii ani, DOMA au creat instalaĂii ûi spectacole importante, scurt-metraje de animaĂie, cÿrĂi, jucÿrii, ûi au fost invitaĂi sÿ colaboreze în proiecte internaĂionale importante. Din august 2006, DOMA, ca grup sau companie, lucreazÿ doar pentru proiecte comerciale, cu un concept DOMA original. DOMA înseamnÿ Mariano Barbieri / Julian Pablo Manzelli / Matias Vigliano / Orilo Blandini. Se aflÿ în Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Toys I Jucùrii

Toys: C215 Country: France Artists: C215 Web: c215.com

C215 is a poetical and participative project led by a French association, which publishes illustrated, poetry books and organizes collective street art exhibitions... If you are interested in participating or if you want to contact us for an event, please write us a mail... For any further information, do not hesitate to contact us directly: c215@c215.com C215 este un proiect poetic ûi participativ coordonat de o asociaĂie francezÿ care publicÿ volume de poezii ilustrate ûi organizeazÿ expoziĂii colective de street art... Dacÿ eûti interesat sÿ participi sau dacÿ contactezi pentru un eveniment, scrievrei sÿ ne contac ne... Pentru inform informaĂii detaliate, contacteazÿ-ne la: c215@c215.com

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Toys I Jucùrii

Wonderwall,Inc. Wonderwall is a toy maker from Japan. Wonderwall releases many designer toys with several artists: Touma, Devilrobots, Kaijin, MAD BARBARIANS, Yukinori Dehara, Tycoon Graphics, NEKONOKO, Ippei Gyobu, Kozik, David Horvath, Joe Ledbetter, Tim Biskup, Tokidoki and so on.

Wonderwall este un producÿtor de jucÿrii din Japonia. Wonderwall colaboreazÿ cu o serie întreagÿ de artiûti: Touma, Devilrobots, Kaijin, MAD BARBARIANS, Yukinori Dehara, Tycoon Graphics, NEKONOKO, Ippei Gyobu, Kozik, David Horvath, Joe Ledbetter, Tim Biskup, Tokidoki ûi alĂii.

FEWMANY is a designer toy shop & mini gallery. Various artists open exhibitions here every week. FEWMANY este un magazin de jucÿrii ûi o mini galerie. Diverûi artiûti au expoziĂii aici în ﬁecare sÿptÿmânÿ.

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Toys I Jucùrii

Toys: Biography Country: USA Artists: David Horvath Web: davidhorvath.com

DAVID HORVATH David Horvath was born in Summit New Jersey in 1971, and grew up in New York and Los Angeles. He attended the Art Center College of Design in California and graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York, with his wife and co-creator, Sun-Min Kim. Most of David's professors were very concerned for him. David knew that he wanted to create toys for the entire world to enjoy, but he also knew that he did not want to work for a toy company. Sun-Min and David went into the business of turning their own characters into toys in 2001, and since then have become some of the world’s most successful independent toy creators, winning awards reserved for the larger, mainstream toy companies. Their toys and animations have reached out to millions of children and adults alike, from all around the world, while attracting clients such as Sony Creative, Sony Music, Coca Cola, NHK, and countless others. Sun-Min + David's work can be found everywhere from the MOMA and Whitney museums in New York to Collette and the Louvre in Paris. When taking a very close look at David's busy artwork, you may ﬁnd MOTHMAN hidden here and there. Mothman, a very real being found in nature represents the mystery of life and David's belief that the answers are out there for us to ﬁnd.

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David Horvath s-a nÿscut în Summit, New Jersey, în 1971, ûi a crescut între New York City ûi Los Angeles. A urmat Art Center College of Design din California ûi a absolvit Parsons School of Design din New York, împreunÿ cu soĂia ûi colaboratoarea lui, Sun-Min Kim. David a atras atenĂia celor mai mulĂi dintre profesorii sÿi. David dorea sÿ creeze jucÿrii de care sÿ se bucure toatÿ lumea, dar, în acelaûi timp, ûtia cÿ nu vrea sÿ lucreze într-o companie de jucÿrii. Sun-Min ûi David au intrat în afaceri transformând propriile lor personaje în jucÿrii, în 2001. De atunci au devenit printre cei mai de succes creatori de jucÿrii independenĂi din lume, câûtigând premii rezervate de obicei pentru companiile de jucÿrii mainstream. Jucÿriile ûi animaĂiile lor au atins un public de peste douÿ milioane de copii ûi adulĂi, din toatÿ lumea, atrÿgând clienĂi cum ar ﬁ Sony Creative, Sony Music, Coca Cola, NHK ûi mulĂi alĂii. Lucrÿrile lui Sun-Min ûi ale lui David se gÿsesc peste tot, de la muzeele MOMA ûi Whitney din New York, pânÿ la Collette ûi Luvru în Paris. Privind atent lucrÿrile încÿrcate ale lui David, se poate sÿ îl gÿseûti pe MOTHMAN ascuns ici ûi colo. Mothman, o ﬁinĂÿ realÿ din naturÿ, reprezintÿ misterul vieĂii ûi credinĂa lui David cÿ rÿspunsurile ne aûteaptÿ acolo.

Bossybear

Choco

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Toys I Jucùrii

Toys: Biography Country: USA Artists: Touma Web: fewmany.com

TOUMA Born in Kyushu, Japan, in 1971, the artist loved the "Blue Hedgehog" by a certain videogame maker and entered the game. He learned design from the designer of that certain hedgehog and in 2002 he retired from the company and started to work on his own. He worked with WonderWall and TOY2R; he presently participates in many art events and he released his most important work "KNUCKLE BEAR(R)" in 2003. At this point he also starts working with overseas makers. His work was selected for an exhibition held by NY society of illustrators which he also became a member of. Touma released mainly animal characters, such as KNUCKLE BEAR(R), HELLHOUNDS, GooN, Boo, BaBoo, Boobie, SKUTLE, FHANTOM, SNOUT, TALONS), etc...There are over 100 characters. The "KNUCKLE BEAR(R)" character was chosen to feature in a big event called "Fashion Week" in Germany in early 2005. The poster designed by TOUMA popped up all over Berlin. In late 2005, he had his ﬁrst one-man show in Pasadena, U.S.

Magu Man

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S-a nÿscut în Kyushu, Japonia, în 1971. Este pasionat de "Blue Hedgehog" (Ariciul albastru), realizat de un anume producÿtor de jocuri video. A învÿĂat design de la creatorul ariciului respectiv. În 2002 s-a retras din companie ûi a început sÿ lucreze pe cont propriu. A participat activ la multe evenimente artistice ûi a lucrat cu WonderWall ûi TOY2R. Anul urmÿtor a lansat cea mai importantÿ lucrare a sa, "KNUCKLE BEAR(R)". Tot în 2003 a început sÿ lucreze cu artiûti din strÿinÿtate ûi a avut evenimente în HongKong, Taiwan, S.U.A etc. Lucrÿrile lui au fost selectate pentru o expoziĂie a societÿĂii ilustratorilor din NY. ùi a devenit membru al societÿĂii de ilustratori din NY. A lansat în special personaje animÿluĂe, ca KNUCKLE BEAR(R), HELLHOUNDS, GooN, Boo, BaBoo, Boobie, SKUTLE, FHANTOM, SNOUT, TALONS etc...Sunt peste 100 de personaje. "KNUCKLE BEAR(R)" a fost selectat pentru un eveniment important denumit "Fashion Week" în Germania, la începutul lui 2005. Aﬁûul a fost realizat de TOUMA ûi a fost expus peste tot în Berlin. La sfârûitul lui 2005, a avut un mare succes cu prima expoziĂie personalÿ în Pasadina, S.U.A. Urmÿtoarele expoziĂii vor avea loc în Berlin ûi S.U.A în acest an.

Toys: Biography Country: USA Artists: Joe Ledbetter Web: fewmany.com

JOE LEDBETTER Born and raised in Los Angeles since 1977, Joe was bored in school, doodling on desks in the back of class. He later went on to study Sociology at Humboldt State University in Northern California. Moving back down to LA in 2001, he worked for 3 years as a graphic artist in the apparel industry, designing very popular shirts for all the major American department stores. Soon enough he began to use his rejected design ideas for personal paintings and started to show his work in underground art galleries. Eventually he was able to quit his day job and work full-time as an artist. Joe quickly became known for his signature style, character design and his fun paintings of cute cartoon ruckus. He also created a feeding frenzy phenomenon in the designer toy world with the release of his Mr. Bunny and Fire-Cat ﬁgures in 2005. Joe consistently throws curveballs in his work, surprising us with fun new perspectives and an ever-growing army of ridiculous characters.

S-a nÿscut ûi a crescut în Los Angeles. Joe se plictisea frecvent la ûcoalÿ, desenând pe bÿnci în spatele clasei. Mai târziu, a început sÿ studieze sociologie la Humboldt State University în California de Nord. Dupÿ ce s-a mutat din nou în LA în 2001, a lucrat pentru 3 ani ca artist graﬁc în industria de îmbrÿcÿminte, proiectând tricouri foarte populare în majoritatea magazinelor americane. Curând a început sÿ utilizeze ideile de design respinse, pentru desene personale, ûi a început sÿ-ûi expunÿ lucrÿrile în galerii de artÿ underground. A renunĂat la slujbÿ ûi a început sÿ lucreze exclusiv ca artist. Joe a devenit cunoscut foarte rapid pentru design-ul sÿu de personaje ûi pentru desenele comice de personaje de animaĂie agitate. De asemenea, a creat un nou fenomen în lumea design-ului de jucÿrii, odatÿ cu lansarea ﬁgurinelor sale Mr. Bunny ûi Fire-Cat, în 2005. Joe menĂine nota de originalitate în lucrÿrile sale, surprinzând prin perspective noi, amuzante, ûi printr-o armatÿ de personaje ridicole.

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Article I Articol

Article: ALL OTHER TOY (ARTICLES) SUCK Country: UK Author: RTHQ.com August 2005, updated for Otaku Magazine 2007 Web: rthq.com

50% toy, 50% punk. All other toys suck Bounty Hunter (aka BxH) (bounty-hunter.com) is probably the most important company to have shaped the designer vinyl toy boom that started in the late nineties. Yet those new to the scene or even those who have collected for a year or so could be forgiven for knowing little of them, or not even having heard of them. It is a situation that has perplexed me and as a keen collector of their work, infuriated me. It is time to put things right. The designer toy scene has gone through a noticeable change over the last year or so. Many style magazines and similar have had articles on the newly emerging phenomenon, of varying quality. Many, if not all, rightly note Michael Lau’s pivotal role in generating a world-wide fan base of collectors and pushing what people’s ideas of collectable toys are. The more detailed articles might touch on other HK designers/artists, namely Eric So or perhaps even Jason Sui. Yet the info runs dry about there; fair enough, that is probably more than enough for the casual reader. This of course is not the philosophy I hold for my site (www.rthq.com) ; I celebrate minutiae (one thinks of the deliciously quotable Homer Simpon’s quip „and the information superhighway showed the average person what some nerd thinks about Star Trek”). So we press on... A series of events including SARS, proliﬁc bootlegging and a downturn in the HK economy has seen a shift in the vinyl toy scene. Whilst Michael Lau remains at the fore, Eric So’s toy output, whilst still brilliant, has lessened and some of the shining stars of the early years have faded off the radar. That is not to say the HK scene is dead, with interesting pieces continuing to be released from the likes of Tim Tsui. Other early entrants from elsewhere have continued to go from strength to strength, notably Pete Fowler, Kaws and James Jarvis.

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BxH Kid Hunter

As the momentum from HK started to wane things started to pick up a rapid pace in the US. A combination of a strong online presence and the Juxtapoz/ low brow hipsters embracing these proﬁtable 3D realisations of their work has rapidly fuelled the scene there. Companies like Mezco certainly started things off in the US with their Hoodz range and their

later Run DMC figures, but it would seem that various platform figures (essentially one figure used as a canvas for various artists) have generated the most interest for the US market viz. Kid Robot’s Dunnys (kidrobot.com) etc. The story so far tells of a progression from Hong Kong to the States. Even checking various Internet sites, forums and magazine articles this progression from HK to America is largely presented as the time line of designer vinyl toys. So where does BxH fit in? And just who the hell are they (some might ask)? Founded in 1995 in Tokyo by Hikaru Iwanaga and Taka, the Bounty Hunter shop is a celebration of punk and toys. Stock began with toys sourced in the States on frequent trips by Hikaru. Stars Wars stuff, Spawn and vintage cereal character figures were characteristic of their wares. The shop’s name pays homage to Boba Fett, and at the same time Hikaru has been quoted as saying it also refers to the act of hunting out bounty - in his case, toys. Hikaru is a man who has lived his passion. Both a keen toy collector and devotee of punk music and

fashion, he has carved out a niche in the fickle world of Japanese street fashion. The first Bounty Hunter shop lies in the Harajuku district of Tokyo. Like many cities the area attracted those seeking affordable premises and with the rise in popularity of the shops the area has become a centre of activity for the youth fashion market. The shop’s range expanded as they sought to make their own T shirts as well as stocking toys. They called upon various friends to aid them and it was one of these T shirts that would go on to launch the designer vinyl scene. The design of a sinister child dressed in the attire of a sailor - like Chucky crossed with a breakfast cereal character, entitled Kid Hunter by the now legendary A Bathing Ape designer Skatething, was to be the inspiration for BxH to make its own toy. In Garden Magazine (issue 2) Hikaru noted how he wanted to make a toy that was rounded like Snoopy characters rather than the harsh types of figures represented by McFarlane’s Spawn line. Skatething’s Kid Hunter would be the perfect character to make a toy of. One only has to see how the character is

DATA FILE Head honchos: Hikaru Iwanaga and Taka Started: Tokyo, 1995 Shops: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka; Japan. First toy: Kid Hunter, 1997. Mottos: 50% toy, 50% punk. All other toys suck. Logo by: Seven Stars

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Article I Articol

the embodiment of the Bounty Hunter aesthetic; a combination of a nod to the vinyl ﬁgures of American cereal characters and the kitschiness that represents, with the unsettling evil imagery and air of dissent that the punk cultivates. When Kid Hunter was released in 1997 the designer vinyl scene had begun.

Bounty Hunter continued to develop their line of toys. Their „look” is instantly recognisable, even when the characters aren’t theirs. The vinyl figures are often monotone, and of menacing characters rendered playful by the sculpt and soft quality of vinyl. This can be seen with the three (so far) official Disney figures of Mickey, Pete and Julius (pictured below). Not all of their range has been vinyl figures, with their Warriors inspired Furies figures, several plushes and

BxH Martin

some 12” figures (SAS, Neighbourhood SAS and with Medicom a Sid Vicious). Plus their 10th anniversary Boba Fett 400% Kubrick is a masterpiece. So where does this fit in with what was going on elsewhere shortly after Kid Hunter had dropped followed by Skull Kun (Kun is Japanese for Mister)? I would contend that three of the figures Bounty Hunter helped with have been pivotal in where we are with the designer toy scene today. The figures are James Jarvis’s „Martin”, Kaws’s „Companion” and Frank Kozik’s „smoking Bunny”. Bounty Hunter was instrumental in realising James Jarvis’s (amostoys.com) first figure for Silas (silasandmaria.com), Martin. Silas’s Japanese representative suggested that Silas should do a toy. The rep was a friend of of the BxH crew and was subsequently able to make the necessary links for Silas to make their toy. Jarvis’s potato head characters suit BxH Boba Fett

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the rounded form that vinyl offers perfectly. That was 1998. Come 2005 James Jarvis has created a cast of vinyl and Kubrick characters from the Silas and World of Pain range and branched off to form the Amos toy company. In doing so, he has developed a huge following of collectors, generated a great deal of press attention to vinyl toys and drained the bank accounts of enthusiasts globally. Kaws (kawsone.com) has been a favourite of many of Tokyo’s Harajuku district fashion labels for some time. The label Hectic was one of the ﬁrst to put his art on Ts, and it was in collaboration with them and Bounty Hunter that his ﬁrst toy was made in 2000, The Companion. A reworking of Mickey Mouse in Kaw’s now ubiquitous skull and cross bones became hotly recognised as a piece of art by an up and coming artist. Five years later the Companion has been reworked with Medicom and sells out as quickly as it can be put on the shelves. Other toys also followed including several Kubricks, his Chum, Blitz, and Accomplice characters. Like James Jarvis, Kaws has been propelled into the limelight as one of the top vinyl toy designers, attracting a huge following of collectors. Again, Bxh was at the beginning of it all. Kaws has since teamed up with Medicom to form the Original Fakes store and product line. Thirdly, Frank Kozik (frankkozik.net), legendary as an underground music poster artist and now known

BxH Kun: Sliru kun, Moguru Kun

to many as a toy designer, started his toy career off with BxH too. His 2002 Smokin’ Bunny character (based on his cat Walter) was to be the ﬁrst of many toys for Kozik. It has been interesting to see the different paths that both Kozik and Kaws have followed with their toys (and designs). They have touched on similar imagery that they have reworked in their own styles (eg Chip and Dale reappropriated). Kaws has maintained a strong link with Medicom and the Japanese market. Kozik has also maintained strong links with Medicom but has also embraced the American toy market, as seen with the previously mentioned Dunnys. These three artists have been amongst the most important in spreading the vinyl toy phenomenon. They draw in those who are drawn to their work from the worlds of fashion and design, underground music and grafﬁti. In discovering these toys and other like them people have been subsequently exposed to other subcultures they might not have come across. Whether it is doing their own thing, or when they team up with a guest artist, Bounty Hunter know a thing or two about making toys. Their role in starting the designer vinyl toy phenomenon is pivotal and must not be overlooked. So next time you read that article on designer toys you can throw it down in disgust as you realise they haven’t even mentioned the one that started it all; Bounty Hunter.

Bounty Hunter – bounty-hunter.com Kid Robot’s Dunnys – kidrobot.com James Jarvis’s – amostoys.com Silas – silasandmaria.com Kaws – kawsone.com Frank Kozik – frankkozik.net

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Proﬁle I Proﬁl

Proﬁle: Jeremyville Country: Australia Web: jeremyville.com Myspace: myspace.com/jeremyville

Jeremyville is an artist, product designer, animator and human. He wrote and produced the first book in the world on designer toys called Vinyl Will Kill, published by IdN, interviewing people like Fafi, Sarah from Colette, Baseman, Biskup, Pete Fowler, Jason Siu, Kinsey and Kozik. He has been in a group show at Colette in 2007 alongside KAWS, Fafi, Futura, Mike Mills and Takashi Murakami. He has initiated the 'sketchel' custom art satchel project with artists like Beck, Genevieve Gauckler, Gary Baseman, and around 500 other artists. He has a new book out called 'Jeremyville Sessions', with collaborations with Geoff McFetridge, Miss Van, Devilrobots, STRANGEco, Lego, Converse, MTV and Adidas. His art has been published in design books by IdN, Die Gestalten Verlag, All Rights Reserved, Victionary, MTV, Magma Books, Kidrobot, Faesthetic,

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Laurence King, Taschen and Pictoplasma. Jeremyville has worked with clients such as Converse, Rossignol, Colette, Coca Cola, MTV, Kidrobot, Reﬁll, Graniph in Japan, Adio Shoes, STRANGEco, Wooster Collective, Super Rad Toys, Play Imaginative, sketchel, Adidas, Tiger Beer and Tiger Translate, Artoyz in Paris, Domestic Vinyl in Paris, Corbis, Thunderdog, Red Bull, Pop Cling, 55 DSL and Beck. He has appeared in magazines such as Swindle, Vapors, xlr8r, Wallpaper, Dazed and Confused, Nylon, Monster Children, Oyster, Computer Arts UK, Fused UK, Yen, IdN, Territory, Juxtapoz, The Drama, Beautiful Decay, 119, Xfuns, T World Journal, and Faesthetic. Jeremyville splits his time between studios in Sydney Australia and New York City. He collects rare t-shirts, sneakers, toys and denim.

Jeremyville e artist, designer, animator ûi fiinĂÿ umanÿ. A scris ûi a produs prima carte din lume despre jucÿrii customizate, denumitÿ Vinyl Will Kill, publicatÿ de IdN, care conĂine interviuri cu Fafi, Sarah de la Colette, Baseman, Biskup, Pete Fowler, Jason Siu, Kinsey ûi Kozik. A participat într-un spectacol de grup la Colette în 2007, împreunÿ cu KAWS, Fafi, Futura, Mike Mills ûi Takashi Murakami. A iniĂiat proiectul de artÿ particularizatÿ pe genĂi, „sketchel”, împreunÿ cu Beck, Genevieve Gauckler, Gary Baseman ûi alĂi 500 de artiûti. Are o carte nouÿ intitulatÿ „Jeremyville Sessions”, dedicatÿ colaborÿrilor cu Geoff McFetridge, Miss Van, Devilrobots, STRANGEco, Lego, Converse, MTV ûi Adidas. Arta lui a fost publicatÿ în cÿrĂi de design de cÿtre IdN, Die Gestalten Verlag, All Rights Reserved, Victionary, MTV, Magma Books, Kidrobot, Faesthetic, Laurence King, Taschen ûi Pictoplasma. Jeremyville i-a avut drept clienĂi pe Converse, Rossignol, Colette, Coca Cola, MTV, Kidrobot, Refill, Graniph în Japonia, Adio Shoes, STRANGEco, Wooster Collective, Super Rad Toys, Play Imaginative, sketchel, Adidas, Tiger Beer ûi Tiger Translate, Artoyz în Paris, Domestic Vinyl în Paris, Corbis, Thunderdog, Red Bull, Pop Cling, 55 DSL ûi Beck. A apÿrut în reviste ca Swindle, Vapors, xlr8r, Wallpaper, Dazed and Confused, Nylon, Monster Children, Oyster, Computer Arts UK, Fused UK, Yen, IdN, Territory, Juxtapoz, The Drama, Beautiful Decay, 119, Xfuns, T World Journal, ûi Faesthetic. Jeremyville îûi împarte timpul între studiourile din Sydney, Australia, ûi New York City. Colecteazÿ tricouri rare, adidaûi, jucÿrii ûi denim.

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Proﬁle I Proﬁl

JEREMYVILLE PETTING ZOO Jeremyville was invited by Toy 2R in Hong Kong to customize their new shape, a Bunny Qee. This ﬁgure is called „Jeremyville Petting Zoo”, and the bunny is a mascot for the tired and overworked critters who populate the Jeremyville Petting Zoo that stays open 24 hours, 365 days a year; the hardest working animals in Jeremyville. Cuteness Guaranteed, furriness assured.

Jeremyville a fost inivtat de Toy 2R din Hong Kong pentru a customiza noua lor colecĂie de ﬁgurine. Aceastÿ ﬁgurinÿ se numeûte "Jeremyville Petting Zoo", iar iepuraûul este o mascotÿ pentru critterii obosiĂi ûi suprasolicitaĂi care populeazÿ Jeremyville Petting Zoo, care stÿ deschisÿ 24 de ore din 24, 365 de zile pe an. Animalele cele mai muncitoare din Jeremyville. Drÿgÿlÿûenie garantatÿ, multÿ blanÿ asiguratÿ.

MINI CIRCUS PUNK Jeremyville was commissioned to create a Mini Circus Punk, along with Reuben Rude, Jermaine Rogers, Joe Ledbetter, and Toki Doki. Produced by STRANGEco from San Francisco, these classic side show fairground ﬁgures have been re-invented for the burgeoning plush toy fan-base. This mini punk is a 'Jeremyville self portrait', and was launched at the New York Toy Fair in 2006.

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Jeremyville a fost desemnat sÿ creeze un Mini Circus Punk, împreunÿ cu Reuben Rude, Jermaine Rogers, Joe Ledbetter ûi Toki Doki. Produse de STRANGEco din San Francisco, aceste ﬁgurine au fost reinventate pentru fan-base-ul de jucÿrii de pluû burgheze. Acest mini punk este un 'autoportret Jeremyville' ûi a fost lansat la Târgul de Jucÿrii din New York în 2006.

Proﬁle I Proﬁl

Proﬁle: Friends with you (FWY) Country: USA Artists: Samuel Albert Borkson, Arturo Sandoval III Web: friendswithyou.com

Samuel Albert Borkson 1979, Plantation, FL Arturo Sandoval III 1976, Havana, Cuba

FriendsWithYou (FWY) is an artist collaborative team founded by the two Miami-based artists, Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. Since its conception in 2002, FWY has continued to promote the two artists' common message of magic, luck, and friendship, through its popular designer toy line, public art installations, new-form playgrounds, published works, live performances, and various animation, motion picture, and multimedia projects.

FriendsWithYou (FWY) este o asociaĂie înﬁinĂatÿ de doi artiûti stabiliĂi la Miami, Sam Borkson ûi Arturo Sandoval III. De la data apariĂiei, în 2002, FWY a continuat sÿ promoveze mesajul comun al celor doi artiûti despre magie, noroc ûi prietenie, prin linia de jucÿrii, instalaĂii, lucrÿri publicate, performance-uri live ûi diverse proiecte de animaĂie, ﬁlm ûi multimedia.

From Art Basel in Miami to Pictoplasma in Berlin, FWY has been invited to participate in some of the most respected artistic happenings worldwide. Due to its unique style, creative and technical abilities, FWY has also been commissioned to help develop the image and identity of some of the world’s most prominent brands, including, among others, Nike, MTV, Red Bull, Volkswagen, and Coca-Cola. FWY works towards sharing its message of magic, luck, and friendship, to a wider global community by collaborating with other creative forces, and by producing innovative works that will continue to redeﬁne its audience. FWY was created with one basic concept in mind; to become Friends With You!

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De la Art Basel în Miami la Pictoplasma în Berlin, FWY au fost invitaĂi sÿ participe la cele mai respectate happening-uri artistice din toatÿ lumea. Datoritÿ stilului lor unic ûi abilitÿĂilor creative ûi tehnice, FWY au fost desemnaĂi sÿ contribuie la dezvoltarea imaginii ûi identitÿĂii unora dintre cele mai importante brand-uri din lume, cum ar ﬁ Nike, MTV, Red Bull, Volkswagen ûi Coca-Cola. FWY are ca scop transmiterea mesajului de magie, noroc ûi prietenie, cÿtre o comunitate cât mai vastÿ de pe glob, colaborând cu alte organizaĂii creative ûi producând lucrÿri inovatoare, care continuÿ sÿ redeﬁneascÿ publicul. FWY s-a creat pornind de la un concept de bazÿ; sÿ devinÿ prieteni cu voi!

Original Malﬁ Mini Malﬁ

Poppings & Mini Poppings

Red Flyer & Mini Red Flyer

Mr. TTT

Bunch

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Rainbow Valley

Skywalkers

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Article I Articol

Article: Takashi Murakami... a poku leader Country: Romania Author: 01 Web: kaikaikiki.co.jp

Born on February 1, 1962 in Tokyo, Murakami came to be one of the must powerful devices that produce high-level images in the mechanism of the art scene under the Japanese ﬂag...

Nÿscut pe 1 februarie ‘62 în Tokyo, Murakami ajunge una dintre cele mai puternice maûinÿrii de produs imagini high-level din mecanismul scenei de artÿ sub steagul Japoniei...

After a youth caught in the claws of traditionalism, and after articulating his joints as a PhD in Nihonga, he turns his sight to the otaku culture... With the roots in the American Pop-Art, he feeds from the mass media and pop culture topics, producing an iconic art, which breaks the border between high culture and mass culture...

Dupÿ o adolescenĂÿ prinsÿ în ghearele tradiĂionalismului ûi articularea încheieturilor ca doctorand în Nihonga, îûi întoarce capul spre cultura otaku... Cu rÿdÿcinile lansate în Pop-Artul american, se hrÿneûte din tematicile mass-mediei ûi ale culturii-pop, producând o artÿ iconicÿ, ce sparge graniĂa între cultura înaltÿ ûi cea de jos...

Maybe the most important self-imposed quest was, and still is, to regenerate the production of Japanese art, being perfectly aware of the market laws, after reading Bill Gates’ "Speed of Thought" and applying the successful strategy... From that point of view, the otaku spirit represents the key for the high-level reanimation... thus is born Superfalt, the surname of his painting, which is an extended form of POKU (pop + otaku) and which absorbs the dynamics and character of the anime series and the manga attitude...

Poate cel mai important quest autoimpus a fost ûi este sÿ regenereze producĂia de artÿ japonezÿ, înĂelegând perfect legile pieĂei dupÿ ce a citit „Speed of Thought” a lui Bill Gates ûi aplicând strategia de succes... În aceastÿ perspectivÿ, spiritul otaku este cheia reanimÿrii la nivel înalt... de aici se naûte Superfalt, supranumele picturii sale, care este o formÿ prelungitÿ din POKU (pop + otaku) ûi care absoarbe dinamica ûi caracterul serialelor anime ûi atitudinea manga...

In '96 he founded the Hiropon factory, initially only a group of assistants who were helping him with the modeling of the paintings and sculptures, an Asian alternative for Warhol’s factory; its name changed in 2001 into KaiKai KiKi CO LTD, reaching the level of a corporation with the headquarters in both the USA, and Japan, and having more than 100... .unlike Andy Warhol, whose art was extracted from the mass culture and was brought to a high level culture... Murakami, after raising the statute of the image to elite, he reintroduced it on the market as a commercial good, as droppers, T-shirts, mousepads, plushies, cell phone cases, an example being the limited edition of Louis Vuitton purses... Among the most famous of Murakami’s creations there are two sculptures painted of glass ﬁbers, „Hiropon" and „My Lonesome Cowboy", the ﬁrst one representing a little girl with gigantic breasts from which milk is bursting as a jumping chord, and the other one representing a blond manga-boy who ejaculates his sperm in a lasso shape... both are a criticism against the hentai overdose and against westernalization...

În '96 fondeazÿ fabrica Hiropon, iniĂial doar o grupare de asistenĂi care-l ajutau la construcĂia picturilor ûi sculpturilor, o variantÿ asiaticÿ a fabricii lui Warhol, care îûi schimbÿ numele în 2001 în KaiKai KiKi CO LTD, ajungând la forma unei corporaĂii cu bazele atât în SUA, cât ûi în Japonia ûi având peste 100 de angajaĂi... spre deosebire de Andy Warhol, a cÿrui artÿ îûi extrÿgea seva din cultura de jos ûi era dusÿ la nivel înalt... Murakami, dupÿ ce ridicÿ statutul imaginii la elitÿ, o reintroduce pe piaĂÿ ca bun comercial sub formÿ de brelocuri, tricouri, mouse-paduri, jucÿrii de pluû, huse de celular, în sensul ÿsta un exemplu important fiind crearea ediĂiei limitate de poûete Louis Vuitton... Printre cele mai cunoscute lucrÿri murakamiene sunt douÿ sculpturi pictate din fibrÿ de sticlÿ „Hiropon" ûi „My Lonesome Cowboy", prima o fetiĂÿ cu sâni gigantici, din care Ăâûneûte laptele sub forma unei corzi de sÿrit, iar cealaltÿ un manga-boy blond, cu penisul ejaculând sperma care ia forma unui lasou... ambele fiind o criticÿ a supradozei de hentai ûi a westernalizÿrii...

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Paper Toys I Jucùrii de hârtie

Paper Toys: Paper toys are superior to vinyl toys Country: Japan Author: Shin Tanaka Web: http://shin.co.nr

SHIN TANAKA was just a graffiti artist. When he got into HIP-HOP culture (especially Graffiti art), he had been looking for an interesting canvas instead of a street-wall. One day, he came up with the idea to draw graffiti on a toy. But he didn't have a good toy for it, so he made a toy from a paper as his new canvas.

SHIN TANAKA era doar un artist graffiti. Dupÿ ce a cunoscut cultura HIP-HOP (în special arta Graffiti), a cÿutat o suprafaĂÿ mai interesantÿ decât un perete. Într-o zi, i-a venit ideea sÿ facÿ graffiti pe o jucÿrie. Însÿ nu avea o jucÿrie suficient de bunÿ, aûa cÿ a creat el una din hârtie, ca suprafaĂÿ pentru grafitti.

His ORIGAMI experience helped it. His paper toys are based on street culture; therefore, many artists and brands are interested in them.

ExperienĂa lui în ORIGAMI l-a ajutat. Jucÿriile din hârtie ale artistului sunt bazate pe street culture; astfel cÿ mulĂi artiûti ûi companii sunt interesate de acestea.

Up to now, over 200 artists and brands joined his paper toy project. His paper toys have been growing and they involved pop art, grafﬁti art, street fashion and more.

Pânÿ acum, peste 200 de artiûti ûi ﬁrme au participat la proiectului lui de jucÿrii din hârtie. Jucÿriile din hârtie implicÿ pop art, grafﬁti art, street fashion ûi multe altele.

„Paper toys are superior to vinyl toys. Whenever and wherever, everyone enjoys downloading and building them up by themselves. I can send the template via e-mail (vinyl needs shipping box). I have an important policy; paper toys can be multiplied, but I make only 1 per design, because I doubt the large-scale production-and consumption. However, I just want many people to enjoy paper toys.”

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Paper Toy I Jucùrii de hârtie Jucÿriile din hârtie sunt superioare celor din vinil. Oriunde ûi oricând, tuturor le place sÿ le downloadeze ûi sÿ le construiascÿ singuri. ùablonul poate ﬁ trimis prin e-mail (pentru vinil este nevoie de cutie). Am o politicÿ importantÿ; jucÿriile din hârtie se pot multiplica, însÿ fac doar un exemplar pentru ﬁecare model, deoarece nu cred în producĂia ûi consumul în serie. Vreau doar ca oamenii sÿ se bucure de jucÿriile din hârtie.

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Hayao Miyazaki

Article: Hayao Miyazaki – On the Path of the Spirits, with Cat Autobus Country: Romania Author: Veronica Solomon Web: otaku.ro

”

I think that the Japanese did kill shishigami [Deer God] around the time of the Muromachi era. And then we stopped being in awe of forests … From ancient times up to a certain time in the medieval period, there was a boundary beyond which humans should not enter. Within this boundary was our territory, so we ruled it as the human’s world with our rules, but beyond this road, we couldn’t do anything even if a crime had been committed since it was no longer the human’s world … After shishigami’s head was returned, nature regenerated. But it has become a tame, non-frightening forest of the kind we are accustomed to seeing. The Japanese have been remaking the Japanese landscape in this way.

”

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Hayao Miyazaki

Along with the Oscar won by the movie „Spirited Away”, the international criticism’s interest in the one acknowledged as the greatest creator of all times in the ﬁeld of animation grown as well. Everyone searched for an answer to the question: „How can this magician be so Japanese but, at the same time, to make himself understood and loved by a whole world?” If some consider that geniality and success can be attained by selling your soul to the devil, Miyazaki proves that being friends with the spirits in the neighborhood is enough.

Odatÿ cu Oscarul câûtigat de filmul „Spirited Away”, a crescut ûi interesul criticii internaĂionale pentru cel care e recunoscut acum ca fiind cel mai mare creator din domeniul animaĂiei din toate timpurile. ToĂi au cÿutat raspunsul la intrebarea: „Cum face acest magician sÿ fie în acelaûi timp atât de japonez ûi sÿ se facÿ înĂeles ûi iubit de o lume întreagÿ?” Dacÿ unii se gândesc cÿ genialitatea ûi succesul se obĂin vânzându-Ăi sufletul diavolului, Miyazaki ne dovedeûte cÿ e de ajuns sÿ te ai bine cu prietenoasele spirite din vecini.

No matter which of his movies is taken into account, at some point a mysterious and very lively force is coming out beyond the screen. His worlds, rich in detail, are breathing the mystic air of the archaic beliefs. He transforms and reinvigorates the Shinto principles, overlapping them upon elements taken from the global culture, inspired from the Greek mythology, American science ﬁction, British children’s literature etc, creating a hybrid modern myth, accessible for the whole audience of the post-industrial world.

Oricare dintre ﬁlmele sale l-am lua, la un moment dat transpare de dincolo de ecran o forĂÿ misterioasÿ ûi foarte vie. Lumile lui bogat detaliate respirÿ aerul mistic al credinĂelor arhaice. El transformÿ ûi revigoreazÿ principiile shintoiste, suprapunându-le unor elemente ale culturii globale, inspirate din mitologia greacÿ, science ﬁction american, literaturÿ britanicÿ pentru copii etc, creând un mit modern hibrid, accesibil audienĂei din întreaga lume post-industrialÿ.

Shinto, the main spiritual system of Japan, is less a religion than a lifestyle. It hasn’t a dogma and is based on the belief that everything is animated by a

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Shinto, sistemul spiritual de bazÿ al Japoniei, e mai puĂin o religie, cât un stil de viaĂÿ. Nu are o dogmÿ ûi se bazeazÿ pe credinĂa cÿ orice lucru este animat de un spirit, ﬁe ca e vorba de oameni, animale, fenomene naturale, plante sau obiecte. Aceastÿ doctrinÿ constÿ

spirit, no matter if it’s about people, animals, natural phenomena, plants or objects. This doctrine consists of the love for nature, the respect for the spirits (kami) and ancestors, tradition and family and the purification rituals. There is no clergy or institution to regulate Shintoism, although the altars and temples are served and tended by officials or monks. Still, a shadow lies upon this religion: in the beginning of the last century, the imperial court tried to use the Shinto belief, which establishes a paternal connection between the Japanese people and the divinity, in order to justify their acts of aggression towards the neighborhood peoples. Therefore, Miyazaki retracts the official form, declaring his affinity with the popular Shintoist practices that still continue in the villages of nowadays Japan. The solstice ritual – when the villagers invite the local kami to bathe in their bathrooms – was the inspiration source for the bathing house in which the plot of „Spirited Away” takes place. The need for these periodical purification rituals comes from the belief that, the same way that the nature can be polluted, the human spirit can be shaded, thus becoming impure, and the people aren’t capable to communicate with the elements and to connect themselves to the vital seam anymore. The condition for someone to be fully harmonious with the creator spirits is to be honest in his heart (magokoro). This is also the central topic of Chihiro’s story. It is about an initiatory path, which would transform a 10 years old girl out of an ignorant and stubborn child into a self-conscious person, capable to communicate sincerely. The didactical approach admitted by the director is targeted to the youngest generations of Japan, but not only, who are raised completely ignoring the traditions and spirituality. He stated that he would like the public to regain, in the theatres, the humble feeling towards nature and the polyvalence

în dragostea pentru naturÿ, respectul pentru duhuri (kami) ûi strÿmoûi, tradiĂie ûi familie ûi ritualurile de purificare. Nu existÿ un cler sau o instituĂie care sÿ reglementeze shintoismul, deûi altarele ûi templele sunt servite ûi îngrijite de oficianĂi sau cÿlugÿri. O umbrÿ planeazÿ asupra acestei religii: la începutul secolului trecut, curtea imperialÿ a încercat sÿ se foloseascÿ de tradiĂia Shinto, care stabileûte o legÿturÿ filialÿ între poporul japonez ûi divinitatea creatoare, pentru a justifica actele de agresiune asupra popoarelor vecine. De aceea Miyazaki se dezice de forma oficialÿ, declarându-ûi afinitatea pentru practicile populare shintoiste, care continuÿ în mediul rural din Japonia de azi. Ritualul solstiĂiului – când sÿtenii invitÿ kami locali sÿ se îmbÿieze în bÿile lor, a fost sursa de inspiraĂie pentru casa de baie în care se desfÿûoarÿ acĂiunea din „Spirited Away”. Nevoia acestor ritualuri periodice de purificare vine din credinĂa cÿ, aûa cum natura poate fi poluatÿ, ûi spiritul uman poate fi umbrit, devine impur ûi oamenii nu mai sunt capabili sÿ comunice cu elementele ûi sÿ se conecteze la filonul vital. CondiĂia ca cineva sa fie în deplinÿ armonie cu spiritele creatoare este sÿ aibÿ inima sincerÿ (magokoro). Aceasta este ûi tema centralÿ a poveûtii lui Chihiro. Este vorba de un drum iniĂiatic, în care o fetiĂÿ de 10 ani se transformÿ, dintr-un copil ignorant ûi îndÿrÿtnic, într-o persoanÿ conûtientÿ de sine ûi capabilÿ sÿ comunice sincer. Demersul didactic declarat de regizor e direcĂionat cÿtre tinerele generaĂii ale Japoniei ûi nu numai, care cresc în completa ignorare a tradiĂiilor ûi spiritualitÿĂii. El spune cÿ ûi-ar dori ca publicul sÿ regÿseascÿ în cinematografe sentimentul umil în fata frumuseĂii si polivalenĂei lumii în care trÿim. De asemenea, se poziĂioneazÿ împotriva practicilor disneyene de a simplifica ûi epura tot ceea ce prezintÿ copiilor; „…sÿ faci un adevÿrat film pentru copii este o provocare înspÿimântÿtoare, ûi asta pentru cÿ trebuie sÿ înfÿĂiûÿm clar esenĂa unei lumi extrem de complexe”.

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Hayao Miyazaki

of the world we are living in. At the same time, he pleads against Disney’s practice to simplify and empty all that it is presented to the kids; „…to make a real children’s movie is a frightening challenge, and this because we must clearly depict the essence of a very complex world”. In „Spirited Away”, Miyazaki transposes both his characters and audience into a fantastic space, breathing its own life, which exists somewhere, in a substratum of the real world. The Japanese title of the movie: „Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi” is quite explicit: kami-kakushi literally means „something hidden by the spirits”. In the Japanese folklore, when someone is missing for a long time and he cannot remember anything, it is said that he was „hidden by kami”. Clues that the road on which they go leads to a fantastic world exist from the very beginning: the torii gate, supported by the camphor tree, or the statue of a Douso-jin (protector spirit of the travelers) surrounded by small stone houses. But they are ignored and the two adults, once arrived at the magic land, take it for an abandoned Luna Park. In the evening, Chihiro finds herself alone, prisoner in an enchanted land that is awaking, after her parents had fallen victims to a greediness curse. In the fairy-like atmosphere, but still frightening for the child who has just seen her mom and dad turned into pigs, a huge boat pours out its content to the bathing house. Hundreds of zoumen (paper masks) appear, and behind them the whole Shinto pantheon is materializing - yaoyorozu no kami, going toward the shore in a carnival procession. They have shapes one weirder than another, masterly imagined by Miyazaki, illustrating the kingdom that they belong to: toads, huge chickens, a sumo-fighter radish, three jumping heads, snails, jelly fish and many other masked creatures … faithful to the belief that everything that exists has a spirit (kami).

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În „Spirited Away”, Miyazaki îûi transpune personajele ûi audienĂa într-un spaĂiu fantastic, cu o viaĂÿ proprie, care existÿ undeva într-un substrat al lumii reale. Titlul japonez al filmului, Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, e destul de explicit: kami-kakushi înseamnÿ literal „ceva ascuns de spirite”. În popor, se spunea despre cineva care a lipsit o perioadÿ ûi nu îûi mai aminteûte nimic, cÿ a fost „ascuns de kami”. Indicii cÿ drumul pe care merg duce spre un tÿrâm extraordinar existÿ de la început: poarta torii, sprijinitÿ de arborele de camfor sau statuia unui Douso-jin (spirit protector al cÿlÿtorilor) înconjuratÿ de mici cÿsuĂe de piatrÿ. Dar ele nu sunt luate în seamÿ ûi chiar cei doi adulĂi, odatÿ ajunûi în locul magic, îl confundÿ cu un parc de distracĂie abandonat. Odatÿ cu lÿsarea serii, Chihiro se trezeûte singurÿ, prizonierÿ pe un tÿrâm fermecat, care se trezeûte la viaĂÿ, dupÿ ce pÿrinĂii ei au cÿzut victime unui blestem de lÿcomie. În atmosfera feericÿ, dar paralizant înfricoûÿtoare pentru copilul care tocmai ûi-a vÿzut mama ûi tatÿl transformaĂi în porci, o barcÿ imensÿ îûi revarsÿ conĂinutul spre casa de baie. Sute de zoumen (mÿûti de hârtie) apar, iar în spatele lor se materializeazÿ parcÿ întreg panteonul shinto, yaoyorozu no kami, înaintând spre Ăÿrm, într-o procesiune carnavalescÿ. Aceûtia au forme care, de care mai ciudate, magistral imaginate de Miyazaki, ilustrând regnul caruia îi aparĂin: broaûte, uriaûi pui de gÿinÿ, o ridiche-luptÿtor sumo, trei capete sÿltÿreĂe, melci, meduze ûi multe alte creaturi mascate… fidel principiului cÿ tot ce existÿ, posedÿ un spirit (kami). Spre deosebire de filmele anterioare („PrinĂesa Mononoke”, „Nausicaa din Valea Vântului”), unde lumea spiritelor ûi lumea oamenilor erau în conflict, aici ideea pare a fi cÿ cele douÿ s-au separat complet. Kami continuÿ sÿ existe ûi sÿ îûi ducÿ viaĂa pe un alt tÿrâm, într-o dimensiune paralelÿ, cÿtre care oamenii au uitat drumul ûi în care au devenit chiar nedoriĂi, ceea ce nu înseamnÿ cÿ cele douÿ lumi nu se mai

Unlike the previous movies, (“Princess Mononoke”, „Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind”) where the world of the spirits and that of the humans were in conflict, here the idea seems to be that the two of them are completely separated. Kami continue to be present and to live on another land, in a parallel dimension, which people have forgotten the way to, becoming unwanted; nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that the two worlds influence each other no more. The episode featuring the „Stink Spirit” (who proves to be the spirit of a very polluted river and who, after taking the bath, leaves behind a huge pile of modern life dirt: a bicycle, microwaves, a fridge etc) is inspired from a real fact: Miyazaki tells how he witnessed the cleaning of a river, being impressed by the quantity of extracted garbage, especially by the smell. The same way, the character Haku, another kami of a river, is a prisoner of the spirits’ land, because he has forgotten his name (thus losing his identity) after the humans had filled the river for constructions – a frequent practice in Japan. Thus, the director criticizes his contemporaries, who don’t care about the effect of their actions upon nature and spirits. Nevertheless, someone with a curious nature and a pure soul can understand this world and communicate with the spirits. The name of the main character, Chihiro, means „to be curious about many things” (chi = 1000, hiro = to search, to look for), and the trials she’s passing through lead her to the regain of self-trust and to the reaching of the magokoro state, in which someone is capable to interact with the kami. It must be mentioned that she couldn’t have succeed without Haku’s help, who declares himself ”a friend” from the very beginning, as he knew her since she was a little child; this fact proves to be reciprocally advantageous for the denouement of the plot. He acts as her guide and protector in this world, unfriendly for the humans.

influenĂeazÿ reciproc. Episodul cu „zeul puturos”, care se dovedeûte a fi spiritul unui râu foarte poluat ûi care dupÿ „baie” lasÿ în urma sa un morman de mizerii ale vieĂii moderne - o bicicletÿ, cuptoare cu microunde, un frigider etc - este inspiratÿ dintr-un caz real: Miyazaki povesteûte cum a asistat la curÿĂirea unui râu ûi a rÿmas impresionat de cantitatea de gunoaie extrase, dar mai ales de mirosul emanat de acestea. La fel, personajul Haku, ûi el kami al unui râu, este prizonier al tÿrâmului spiritelor, deoarece ûi-a uitat numele (pierzându-ûi identitatea), dupÿ ce oamenii au umplut albia acelui râu pentru construcĂii - o practicÿ frecventÿ în Japonia. Regizorul îûi criticÿ astfel semenii, care nu Ăin deloc seama de efectul acĂiunilor lor asupra naturii ûi spiritelor. Totuûi, cineva cu o fire curioasÿ ûi un suflet curat poate ajunge sÿ cunoascÿ aceastÿ lume ûi sÿ comunice cu spiritele. Numele personajului principal, Chihiro, înseamnÿ „a fi curios de multe lucruri” (chi = 1000, hiro = a cerceta, a cÿuta) ûi încercÿrile prin care trece, o duc cÿtre câûtigarea încrederii în sine ûi atingerea acelei stÿri binecuvântate, magokoro, în care cineva e capabil sÿ interacĂioneze cu kami. Nu e de neglijat faptul cÿ nu ar fi putut reuûi fÿrÿ ajutorul lui Haku, care se declarÿ „un prieten” de la început ûi îi zice cÿ o cunoaûte de când era foarte micÿ, element care se dovedeûte reciproc avantajos spre deznodÿmântul poveûtii. El îi serveûte de ghid ûi de protector în aceastÿ lume neprietenoasÿ pentru oameni. AdversitÿĂile cÿrora Chihiro trebuie sÿ le facÿ faĂÿ sunt întruchipate ûi generate de Yubaba - vrÿjitoarea patroanÿ a casei de baie (Yu = apÿ fierbinte, baba = babÿ). Dar personajul nu e nici pe departe absolut malefic, propriile sale reguli dau ûanse de câûtig cuiva cu reale calitÿĂi ûi un spirit sincer. De asemenea, faptul cÿ „vrÿjitoarea cea bunÿ” este sora ei geamÿnÿ ilustreazÿ ambivalenĂa acestui personaj. De altfel, în Shinto nu existÿ ideea de bine ûi rÿu absolut, ci mai mult de forĂe de bun augur sau de rÿu augur, acestea

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Hayao Miyazaki

The trials that Chihiro must face are incarnated and generated by Yubaba-the witch who owns the bathing house (Yu = hot water, baba = old hag). Nevertheless, the character isn’t entirely malefic; her own rules give winning chances for someone who possesses real qualities and a sincere soul. Furthermore, the fact that the „good witch” is her twin sister illustrates the ambivalence of this character. As a matter of fact, in Shinto there isn’t the idea of absolute good and evil, but rather of several forces of bad or evil omen, these coexisting in any context, each with its role in the events. Another interesting and frightening occurrence is the character „No-face” (kao-nashi). He represents a closed spirit, the spirit of a purposeless person, lonely, focused on morbid introspections and characterized by a voracious egocentrism. The same way, the witch’s baby is frightening in his dimensions and spoiled character, but also vulnerable in his lack of knowledge. All these characters and meetings influence Chihiro’s evolution, but she also plays an important role in their development. Shinto deities aren’t perceived as passive, superior entities or as supreme judges, as in the case of Christian or Muslim religions. They have activities similar to those of humans, are led by desires and frustrations, they drink, quarrel, play tricks and you can negotiate with them … They are similar rather to the Greek gods, even more picturesque than these ones. If „Spirited Away” leaves the public with a pleasant, fairy-like feeling, being compared to „Alice in Wonderland” or „The Wizard of Oz”, that’s not the case of „Nausicaa” or „Princess Mononoke”. Here, the issue regarding the relationship between the humans and the nature with its inhabitant spirits takes a more dramatic shape. In the latter movie, there is depicted an open conflict between the spirits of the forest and the people of the industrial era. The period chosen by Miyazaki as temporal frame for the plot is the beginning of this era in Japan - Muromachi Era (1932-1573), when there was set the basis for the production of fire guns, after the imports from Portugal.

coexistând în orice context ûi fiecare având rolul sÿu în cursul evenimentelor. O altÿ apariĂie interesantÿ ûi înfricoûÿtoare este personajul „Fÿrÿ faĂÿ” (kao-nashi). El reprezintÿ un spirit închis, spiritul unei persoane fÿrÿ scop, singuratic, predispus la introspecĂii morbide ûi cu un egocentrism vorace. La fel , bebeluûul vrÿjitoarei este pe cât de înspÿimântÿtor în dimensiuni ûi caracterul sÿu rÿsfÿĂat, pe atât de vulnerabil în lipsa lui de cunoaûtere. Toate aceste personaje ûi întâlniri influenĂeazÿ devenirea lui Chihiro, dar ûi ea, la rândul ei, are un rol în dezvoltarea lor. ZeitÿĂile Shinto nu sunt vÿzute ca entitÿĂi pasive, superioare sau ca judecÿtori supremi, ca în religiile creûtine sau musulmane. Ele au activitÿĂi similare cu cele ale oamenilor, sunt mânate de dorinĂe ûi frustrÿri, beau, se ceartÿ, Ăes intrigi, joacÿ feste ûi se poate negocia cu ele… Sunt mai degrabÿ asemÿnÿtoare zeitÿĂilor greceûti, chiar mai pitoreûti decât acestea. Dacÿ „Spirited Away” lasÿ publicului un sentiment plÿcut, de feerie, fiind asemÿnat cu „Alice în āara Minunilor” sau cu ”Vrÿjitorul din Oz”, nu la fel se întamplÿ cu „Nausicaa” sau „Princess Mononoke”. Aici, problematizarea relaĂiei dintre om ûi natura cu spiritele ei locuitoare ia o turnurÿ mult mai dramaticÿ. În cel de-al doilea film este înfÿĂiûat un conflict deschis între spiritele pÿdurii ûi oamenii erei industriale. Perioada aleasÿ de Miyazaki drept cadru temporal al acĂiunii este chiar începutul acestei ere în Japonia - Era Muromachi (1932-1573), când s-au pus bazele producĂiei de arme de foc dupÿ importurile din Portugalia. Va urma...

To be continued... Cred cþ japonezii chiar l-au omorât pe Shishigami (Zeul Cerb) cam prin Era Muromachi. øi atunci am încetat sþ mai ﬁm subjugaāi de pþdure… Din timpuri strþvechi […] a existat un hotar dincolo de care oamenii nu puteau trece. În interiorul acestui hotar era teritoriul nostru úi îl guvernam cu legile noastre, dar dincolo de el nu puteam face nimic, chiar dacþ s-a comis o crimþ, de vreme ce nu mai era lumea oamenilor… Dupþ ce capul Zeului Cerb a fost restituit, natura s-a regenerat. Dar pþdurea a devenit supusþ, inofensivþ…

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”

illustrations ilustraþii

Charuca (ESP), The Cute Institute (CAN), Boti (RO), Pikaciuka (RO), Between (RO), SupaKitch (FR), Ciubi (RO), Matei Apostolescu (RO), Chisami Tsuchiya (JP), Detrus (USA), Skaffa (NL), Saddo (RO), Heliana (RO), Videorgy (RO), Sidekicks (RO), Gyorfi Zoran (RO), Radu Popescu (RO), Vladimir Þãroi (RO), Akira (RO), Szolt (RO)

Illustrations I IlustraĂžii

Artist: Charuka Country: Spain Web: www.charuca.net Info: I'm a character creator specialized in cute style.

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Illustrations I IlustraĂžii

Artist: Cute Institute Country: Canada Web: thecuteinstitute.com Deviantart: ladysnowbloodz.deviantart.com

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Artist: Boti Country: Romania Blog: boti-boti.blogspot.com

Artist: Dan Alexandra (aka Pikaciuka) Country: Romania Blog: pikaciuka.blogspot.com

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Illustrations I IlustraĂžii

Artist: Remus Brezeanu (aka Between) Country: Romania Deviantart: betwinned.deviantart.com

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Artist: SupaKitch Country: France Web: supakitch.com Myspace: myspace.com/supakitch

A mixture of techniques but also of influences: pop art, architecture, music, and manga’s...SupaKitch often says his style approaches these Japanese cartoons, coming from a generation raised on manga. Yet, despite his different influences, he remains very French, thanks to his fine touch and elegant work. His instantly recognizable style is defined by his very personal stroke and lively and sugared color palette, which renders his art incredibly crunchy.

Un amestec de tehnici ûi de influenĂe: pop art, arhitecturÿ, muzicÿ ûi manga...SupaKitch spune de obicei cÿ stilul sÿu se apropie de animeurile japoneze, deoarece provine dintr-o generaĂie care a crescut cu manga. Totuûi, în ciuda influenĂelor diferite, rÿmâne cât se poate de francez, datoritÿ stilului sÿu rafinat ûi lucrÿrilor elegante. Stilul sÿu, recognoscibil de la prima privire, se defineûte prin latura foarte personalÿ ûi printr-o paletÿ de culori vie, care fac ca arta lui sÿ fie incredibil de apetisantÿ.

Billet

Broken Toy

Supa faces

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SupaKitch - Supanimal

SupaKitch - Supa Capone

SupaKitch -Gachette

Illustrations I IlustraĂžii

Artist: Alexandru Ciubotariu (aka ciubi) Country: Romania Blog: undergroundbd.blogspot.com

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(source: 115 digital art gallery catalog)

Today, the remix has been extended to other areas of culture, including the visual arts. The remix in digital art allows an all new type of artistic collaboration .

The remix can be deﬁned as the activity of taking samples from pre-existing materials to combine them into new forms according to personal taste. The concept of remix derives from the model of music remixes that were produced around the late 1960s and early 1970's in New York City, an activity with roots in Jamaica's music.

Remix - Reconstruct. Reformulate. Remake. Reproduce. Reshufﬂe. Transform. Recreate. Modify. Reassemble.

Remix

He’s a member of two of the most famous art groups, DepthCore and The KDU. In 2006, he worked for the international campaign Coca-Cola «The Coke Side Of Life», Andy Smith (Portishead) in Romania, ÿuie Paparude branding, The Royal Magazine; he presently collaborates with Hugo Boss, Computer Arts, People Like Us Collective – limited series of t-shirts and a limited series of Ipod skins, 115 Digital Art Gallery as a founding member and the creator of the 115 branding.

Independent illustrator from Bucharest, Romania. Born in 1983, he studied music, and, starting with 2004, he began experimenting with computerized graphics. In 2005, he won several contests and he began working as an independent illustrator, after previously collaborating in web projects and movies.

Artist: Matei Apostolescu Country: Romania Web: 013a.com

hks 50 k sun

hks 3 k sun

Matei Apostolescu & Silvana Bratu - Everything Trippy

Chisami Tsuchiya - A Little Mermaid (Remix Matei Apostolescu)

Illustrations I Ilustraﾄナi

Artist: Chisami Tsuchiya (aka apricot 8585) Country: Japan Deviantart: apricot8585.deviantart.com

Chisami Tsuchiya (Japan) is a digital artist from Tokyo. She constantly seeks to perfect her style, inspiring from the traditional art. She reinterprets the myths of the Japanese culture, through a new, dynamic approach.

Electric-Oiran

A Little Mermaid

Arrest

Welcome

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Chisami Tsuchiya - Mermaids

Interview I Interviu

Matei Apostolescu vs. Chisami Tsuchiya Why did you decide to become an illustrator? Matei Apostolescu: About 4 years ago, I saw the Semi-Permanent book and I’ve fallen in love with digital art. I was into web-design at that time and I’ve quickly migrated to illustration. Chisami Tsuchiya: When I was a kid, I liked creating "my worlds" and drawing was one of the ways. I still like it, and keep drawing.

M.A.: On the very popular art community DeviatArt. com, I was watching apricot’s works for some time. C.T.: Beaucoupzero (aka Matei Apostolescu) sent me a note on deviant Art, and gave me a suggestion about the remix. It was very an honor to take it. Because his art is amazing. Of course, I had known his work because of the great poster of 115 Digital Art gallery.

Do you have any speciﬁc goals as an illustrator? M.A.: To boldly go where no one has gone before, seriously. C.T.: I would like to make picture books one day.

How do you work together? What's the process? M.A.: It was a really nice experience for me, because I had to morph two distinctive styles; the process is quite simple: apricot sent me the psd file of her beautiful "little mermaid", I’ve extracted the illustration and combined it with my drawings. C.T.: I send him a psd. file of my work first, and then he remixes it with his work.

Who or what inspires you? M.A.: A great inspiration to me were the works of H.R Giger and Hyeronimus Bosch C.T.: I’m inspired by the old Japanese woodblock print called “Ukiyo-e.” What software and devices do you use for your illustrations? M.A.: I use Illustrator CS3, Photoshop, a scanner and sometimes a small wacom tablet. C.T.: I use Photoshop CS2. How did you start making remixes? How did you two meet?

OTAKU TEST: What comics / mangas did you read as a kid? M.A.: Not much manga, it wasn’t available in Romania, but I had a couple of Pifs. C.T.: Ranma 1/2 What was the last anime you saw? M.A.: Memories C.T.: The Little Girl Who Conquered Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo.) What video game did you play the most? M.A.: The Quake series; lately I’ve been playing a lot of Quake 1 and Battleﬁeld 2142. C.T.: I don’t play video-games. What was the last Asian movie you saw? M.A.: Oldboy, directed by Park Chan Wook. C.T.: Sakuran What do you collect (toys/ﬁgures, movies, anime, magazine, stamps...)? M.A.: I used to collect AA batteries and pencils in high school, but now I don’t have time for this. C.T.: Dolls.

Which other illustrators do you rate and respect? M.A.: Right now, Vania Zouravliov and Aya Kato are my favorites. C.T.: Old Japanese artists, Hokusai Katsushika, Hiroshige Utagawa. What is the hardest thing about being an illustrator? M.A.: It s not that hard, I’ve started from scratch; if you do it with joy and you trust what u do, spectacular things will occur for sure. C.T.: I would like my pictures to look like “Ukiyo-e,” so I’ve been trying to find ways to do it. And it’s hard. Tell me about your next projects... M.A.: I’m relaunching my portfolio in August, some exhibitions in London, Paris and Berlin; asfor illustrations, I plan to draw a huge space craft with all the details and explain each system in a detailed flight manual, and yeah finish City 13.01, a new version of City 13 with much more detail and depth. C.T.: I’m going to draw mini-comics on my deviantart. How do you see your artwork progressing? M.A.: I really don t know... anything could happen, really. C.T.: I used to use colors only a little on my pictures. When I met the Ukiyo-e, I was surprised that the works were all colorful. I decided to use many colors and it makes me feel happy during drawing. I think feeling happy is the most important on drawing. At least, my artwork has developed on this point

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Illustrations I IlustraĂžii

Artist: Detrus Country: USA Web: detrus.nivr.net Deviantart: detrus.deviantart.com

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New World Order

Intreview I Interviu

Artist: Skaffa Country: Netherlands Deviantart: skaffa.deviantart.com Myspace: myspace.com/skaffa

I'm Skaffa, I draw a lot. Nowadays I’m able to pay the rent from my drawings and other art stuff, which makes me a happy Skaffa. I love to draw on cardboard, got some?

Sunt Skaffa üi desenez foarte mult. Acum pot sa-mi plútesc chiria din desene üi din alte chestii artistice, ceea ce face din mine un Skaffa fericit. Îmi place la nebunie sú desenez pe carton; ai?

How did you start working on illustrations? I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. When I was about 16, other stuff became more important, such as playing in bands. After a while, I started drawing again, and manga was all I wanted to draw. At that time I did not have internet access and I rarely used it. Once I got internet, I found out that the whole world was drawing manga, I found kids half my age being thrice as good as me at it. So I ﬁgured that drawing manga wasn’t my thing! hahaha. From then on, I just drew whatever I felt like, and there you have it.

Cum ai început sþ faci ilustraāii? Desenez de când mÿ ûtiu. Când aveam 16 ani, alte lucruri au devenit mai importante, cum ar ﬁ sÿ cânt în trupe. Dupÿ un timp, am început din nou sÿ desenez, iar manga era tot ceea ce vroiam sa fac. Pe vremea aceea nu aveam acces la internet ûi îl foloseam rar. Dupÿ ce am avut internet, am aﬂat cÿ toatÿ lumea desena manga, am vÿzut copii care aveau jumÿtate din vârsta mea, dar erau de trei ori mai buni decât mine. Aûa cÿ mi-am dat seama cÿ manga nu era chiar ce vroiam! Hahaha! De atunci am desenat doar ce-am avut chef ûi cam asta e.

I saw you are involved also in the grafﬁti scene; did you begin from there? To be honest, I wasn’t really involved in the scene at all, I knew some people who did it and I tried it a couple of times. It hasn’t been until a few months that I ﬁgured out how to decently work with cans, and I’m still learning!

Am observat cþ eúti implicat úi pe scena grafﬁti; de acolo ai început? Sÿ ﬁu sincer, nu eram deloc implicat în asta, ûtiam câĂiva oameni care fÿceau asta ûi am încercat de vreo câteva ori. Doar cu câteva luni în urmÿ mi-am dat seama cum sÿ lucrez cu vopseaua ûi încÿ învÿĂ!

I'm Skaffa, I draw a lot. What can you tell us about the art scene from your country, directing to the zone you are from? As far as I know, there isn’t a really big art scene over here, not the art I do anyway. I rarely get asked by galleries over here to show my work, because there simply aren’t any! Hahaha. The Netherlands is a small country, there are a lot of good people here that do crazy illustrations and design stuff, but that's mainly commission work, I haven’t found any contemporary galleries or anything over here. Might be a good idea to start it up myself! HA! I live in a small town close to all the big cities, and over here there is absolutely no scene at all. There are some people tagging in the streets, but that's pretty much it. And, like I said, I’m not really into the whole Dutch grafﬁti scene, so I do not really know what's going on. Stickers are popping up everywhere, but that's because street art is a big hype now, and

Ce ne poāi spune despre scena artisticþ din āara ta, úi mai ales despre zona din care eúti? Din câte ûtiu, nu e cine ûtie ce scenÿ artisticÿ aici, sau cel puĂin nu pentru ceea ce fac eu. Rar se întâmplÿ ca galeriile de aici sÿ-mi cearÿ sÿ-mi expun lucrÿrile, pentru simplul motiv cÿ nu existÿ! hahaha! Olanda este o Ăarÿ micÿ, sunt aici mulĂi oameni buni care fac ilustraĂii ûi chestii de design, dar e vorba mai ales de lucru la comandÿ, nu am gÿsit aici galerii de artÿ contemporanÿ sau ceva de genul. Ar ﬁ o idee sÿ încep chiar eu! HA! Locuiesc într-un oraû mic, aproape de toate oraûele mari, iar aici nu existÿ deloc o scenÿ. Existÿ câĂiva oameni care fac tag-uri pe stradÿ, dar cam asta este tot. ùi, dupÿ cum am spus, nu cunosc chiar toatÿ scena olandezÿ de grafﬁti, aûa cÿ nu prea ûtiu ce se întâmplÿ. Stickere apar peste tot, dar asta pentru cÿ street art-ul este la mare modÿ ûi toatÿ lumea vrea sÿ-ûi expunÿ chestiile pentru cele „15 minute de faimÿ”. Ce tehnici foloseúti pentru lucrþri (digitale úi/sau tradiāionale)? Totul începe pe hârtie, cu creioane obiûnuite ûi markere. De obicei le scanez în Photoshop ûi le colorez aici. Deûi trebuie sÿ spun cÿ prefer chestiile tradiĂionale.

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Interview I Interviu

everybody wants to put in their piece for the ”15 minutes of fame” What techniques do you use for your works (digital and/or traditional)? Everything starts out on paper, just regular pencils and markers. Usually I scan them into Photoshop and color them there. Though I must say I'm more into traditional stuff. I can’t work on a picture on the computer for that long; it starts to bore me after an hour or so. For canvas and painting outside, I usually use Posca paint markers and sometimes cans. Posca is one of the greatest tools I’ve yet discovered! What can you tell us about the characters/creatures you’ve made? I try to give all my characters their own personality, that's why I rarely draw the same character twice. Usually I just start drawing and see where it goes; while I’m drawing, all sorts of scenarios pop up in my head, where they live, what they're doing, what’s their favorite food etc. Sometimes the story doesn’t go any further than just a few lines, but some other times there might be a quite extensive backstory to a character. It all depends on how much I’ve been smoking. Hahahaha Besides illustrations, I saw you make kami-toys (paper toys) and vinyl toys. What can you tell us about them and which do you like most, the paper ones or the vinyl ones? The paper toys by far! Making them is a lot of fun, it's like solving a puzzle. Seeing how you can get a shape just right without too many folds and just experimenting with different sizes. What I like most about them is that people from all over the world can print and fold them for free! Getting pictures from all over the globe, from people posing with their new paper friend is awesome! I'd love to design some vinyl toys though. But thusfar I haven’t had a hookup in that scene yet. I saw in your portfolio from deviantart.com a photo from a ”paint party”; what can you say about these events (where are most of the events held, who participates and what is going on)? Lately, ”live painting” is becoming more popular over here. Usually, when somebody is organizing

Nu pot lucra prea mult la o imagine pe computer, încep sÿ mÿ plicistesc dupÿ o orÿ. Pentru pânze sau pentru ce pictez în exterior, folosesc de obicei markere de vopsea Posca ûi uneori sprayuri. Posca este unul dintre cele mai bune instrumente pe care le-am descoperit! Ce ne poāi spune despre personajele / creaturile pe care le-ai realizat? Încerc sÿ dau personalitate tuturor personajelor mele, de aceea rar desenez acelaûi personaj de douÿ ori. De obicei încep sÿ desenez ûi vÿd unde ajung; în timp ce desenez, îmi vin în minte tot felul de scenarii, unde trÿiesc personajele, ce fac, care este mâncarea lor preferatÿ etc. Uneori povestea nu avanseazÿ mai mult de câteva rânduri, dar alteori poate apÿrea o poveste foarte bine dezvoltatÿ în spatele unui personaj. Depinde de cât de mult am fumat hahahaha! În afarþ de ilustraāii, am vþzut cþ faci kami-toys (jucþrii din hârtie) úi jucþrii din vinil. Ce ne spui despre ele úi care-āi plac mai mult, cele din hârtie sau cele din vinil? De departe cele din hârtie! Este foarte distractiv sÿ le creez, este ca ûi cum ai face un puzzle. Sÿ vezi cum poĂi ajunge la o formÿ fÿrÿ prea multe plieri ûi sÿ încerci diferite mÿrimi. Ce-mi place cel mai mult la ele este faptul cÿ oamenii din toatÿ lumea le pot imprima ûi împacheta gratis! Este minunat sÿ primeûti poze de pe tot globul, cu oameni lângÿ noii lor prieteni de hârtie! Mi-ar plÿcea totuûi sÿ proiectez jucÿrii din vinil, dar pânÿ acum nu prea m-a prins scena. Āi-am vþzut în portofoliul de pe deviantart.com o fotograﬁe de la un „paint party”; ce ne poāi spune despre aceste evenimente (unde au loc în general, cine participþ úi ce se întâmplþ)? În ultimul timp, „live painting” devine din ce în ce mai popular aici. De obicei, atunci când cineva organizeazÿ o petrecere sau un eveniment, mÿ duc ûi le spun „hei, vrei sÿ vin sÿ pictez la party? ùi gata! hahaha! AlĂi oameni mÿ vÿd pictând la vreun party sau festival ûi-mi spun sÿ vin sÿ pictez ûi la petrecerea lor. Cam aûa se întâmplÿ de obicei. Foarte mulĂi oameni din toatÿ lumea îmi spun chestii de genul: „Aû vrea sÿ organizeze cineva aûa ceva ûi în oraûul meu „ûi aici e schema. Dacÿ nu organizeazÿ nimeni pentru tine, organizeazÿ tu! Sau doar întreabÿ! Cei mai mulĂi nu s-au gândit la asta, dar dacÿ îi întrebi, or sÿ ﬁe mai mult decât fericiĂi sÿ-Ăi dea ceva bani de vopsea sÿ vii sÿ pictezi la party. Nu ies prea mulĂi bani din asta, dar, este foarte distractiv. ùi bÿuturÿ gratis ûi un festival gratis! Unde îāi place cel mai mult sþ expui, în galerii sau în spaāii publice (pe stradþ)? De ce?

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a party or an event, I just go to them and say, hey want me to paint at your party? And then it's on! Hahaha. Other people will see me painting at that party or festival and ask me to come paint at their party too. That’s usually how it goes. A lot of people from all over the world say to me stuff like: ”I wish somebody would organize that in my town” and there's the twist. If nobody organizes it for you, organize it yourself! Or just ask! Most of the people wouldn’t have thought about it, but when you ask them they'd be more than happy to give you a couple of bucks to buy paint and come to the party to draw. It doesn’t make a lot of money but it's a lot of fun. Plus free drinks and a free festival! It doesn’t get better!

Galerie. Street art-ul e prea la modÿ. ToĂi copiii au stickere ûi le lipesc. Nu mÿ înĂelege greûit! Iubesc sÿ vÿd artÿ pe stradÿ, însÿ îmi plac lucrurile gândite. Calitate, nu cantitate. N-am mai ieûit de ceva timp sÿ fac chestii pe stradÿ, dar mÿ gândesc încÿ! ùtiu cÿ ar ﬁ fost mai cool sÿ spun spaĂii publice, dar nu e visul oricÿrui artist sÿ-ûi expunÿ lucrÿrile în galerii din toatÿ lumea? La fel cum un muzician vrea sÿ facÿ un turneu cu trupa?

Where would you like to expose your works most, in galleries or in public areas (in the street)? Why? Gallery. The street art hype is big now. Every kid has a couple of stickers and is putting them up. Don’t get me wrong! I love seeing art on the streets, but I really like big well thought out things. Quality over quantity. I haven’t gone out in a while to do stuff in the streets, but I’m still planning though! I know it would have sounded much cooler if I said public spaces, but isn’t it any artist’s dream to exhibit his work in galleries all over the world? The same as a musician who wants to tour with his band?

Ai lucrat cu alāi artiúti pentru lucrþri colective? Da! Îmi place sÿ lucrez cu alĂi oameni! Mai ales dacÿ fac ceva diferit de ce fac eu sau dacÿ sunt buni în zone în care eu nu sunt. ùi-mi mai place sÿ lucrez cu muzicieni, sÿ combin muzica ûi arta. Sÿ pictez live pentru un DJ sau sÿ fac animaĂii live pe scenÿ. Nu demult, am cunoscut un artist, Black December; am devenit prieteni ûi am început sÿ lucrÿm împreunÿ la proiecte. Asta a evoluat pânÿ la un studio, numit Dekaff Avenue (www.dekaffavenue.com); amândoi am renunĂat la slujbele de la un mare studio media din Amsterdam, pentru a porni propriul nostru studio în Utrecht. De atunci, putem trÿi din artÿ ûi a fost cea mai bunÿ alegere pe care am fÿcut-o.

Who are your favorite artists at this moment? Man, what a question... I don’t really have favorites, although there are some people who, I think, do not get the credit they deserve. One of my top favorites must be Docvek from the UK. Next to being an awesome guy, his whole style is incredible, it's nothing like I’ve ever seen before. Have you cooperated with other artists for realization of collective works? Yeah! I love working with other people! Especially if their work is different from what I do, or if they're good in areas where I’m not. I also love to work with musicians, combine music with art. Live painting when a DJ is playing, or doing live animations on stage. Not too long ago, I met an artist called Black December, we became friends and started working on art projects together. This has evolved to a full blown art studio called Dekaff Avenue (www.dekaffavenue.com). We both quit our jobs at a high proﬁle media studio in Amsterdam, to start up our own studio in Utrecht. Since then, we've been able to live of the art we're making and it was the best choice I’ve ever made. Hokusai Shore Holland

Care sunt artiútii tþi preferaāi acum? Ce întrebare... Nu prea am preferaĂi, deûi cred cÿ sunt câĂiva oameni care nu sunt apreciaĂi aûa cum ar trebui. Unul dintre preferaĂii mei este Docvek din UK. Nu doar cÿ e un tip extraordinar, dar ûi stilul lui e incredibil, nu seamÿnÿ cu nimic din ce-am vÿzut.

Illustrations I IlustraĂžii

Artist: Saddo Country: Romania Web: the-playground.ro Deviantart: saddo-jdero.deviantart.com

Artist: Heliana (aka christodelosrabitos) Country: Romania Deviantart: christodelosrabitos.deviantart.com

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Artist: GyorďŹ Zoran Country: Romania Web: kaoskrew.as.ro Myspace: myspace.com/Jaankie

Artist: Radu Popescu (aka posse) Country: Romania Web: visualart.ro

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Artist: Vladimir Taroi Country: Romania Blog: toonyourself.blogspot.com

Artist: Akira Country: Romania Blog: dinauntru.blogspot.com

Artist: Szolt Country: Romania

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manga made in ro

H.h.a.s. Author: Remus Brezeanu (aka Between) The post-apocalyptic frame of H.h.a.s. depicts a world in which fantasy became normality, in which past has lost its importance and the uncertain future is built up on carpe diem. A world in which love, as its insidious engine, lets itself discovered, generating life and death with the same easiness.

Cadrul post-apocaliptic din H.h.a.s. prezintã o lume în care fantasticul a devenit normalitate, în care trecutul ºi-a pierdut importanþa, iar viitorul incert este clãdit din clipe trãite intens. O lume în care dragostea, ca motor insidios al acesteia, se lasã descoperitã cu uºurinþã, generând viaþã ºi moarte cu aceeaºi dezinvolturã.

otaku influence influenþe otaku SERIAL EXPERIMENTS HAMSTER Author: Veronica Solomon (aka Inkamon)

4EVER HOLIDAY Author: Xenia Stan (aka Xiu) Well, let me tell you what's all about. The search started when I found this pirate hat in the woods. How do I know it's a pirate hat?! Well, from the skull design… But the problem is that I really have no clue where it came from. As I know, nobody lives on this island except for me and my cat. So, I decided to start my investigation on the mysterious pirate.

Pãi, sã vã povestesc despre ce e vorba. Cãutarea a început atunci cand am gãsit în pãdure o pãlãrie de pirat! Cum ºtiu cã e de pirat?! Pãi...are un craniu inscripþionat pe ea... Problema e cã nu ºtiu de unde a apãrut, pentru cã pe aceastã insulã nu mai existã nimeni în afarã de mine ºi pisica mea. Aºa cã m-am hotãrât sã încep investigaþiile în cazul piratului misterios.

STEVE Author: Cristi Mãgureanu Steve is a sinister boy who drinks Coca Cola and enjoys himself. He burps awfully, feels the vibe and dances. Steve is cool and funny, Steve is me and Steve is you…He is anyone of us, feels the taste and feels the sound. Steve was the prototype of a common, friendly guy, who knows how to enjoy himself; he has “refined” tastes and it’s a pleasure chatting with him. He gives you a Cola and charms you! Steve is simple and friendly; Steve doesn’t burp, but feels good! Do you like Steve?

Steve este un bãiat sinistru care bea Cola ºi se distreazã. Are un râgâit... dezastru. Simte ideea ºi danseazã. Steve e cool ºi se distreazã. Steve sunt eu ºi tu... E oricare dintre noi, simte gustul, sunetul cum vibreazã. Steve s-a nãscut din ideea unui tip obiºnuit, de gaºcã, care ºtie sã se distreze, are gusturi "selecte" ºi este o plãcere sã stai alãturi de el. Îþi face cinste cu o Cola ºi te încântã! Steve e simplu ºi de treabã, Steve nu râgâie, ci se simte bine! Îþi place Steve?

AMANITA Author: Alexandra Ujeuca (aka Uje) This is Amanita. She is a mushroom. Great success! This is also my first attempt to make a comic. I wanted something similar to “The Family Zoo”, but less disturbing. Hope you like it! :3

Ea e Amanita. E o ciupercã. Mare succes! Ea reprezintã ºi prima mea încercare de a face o bandã desenatã. S-a dorit ceva în genul „The Family Zoo”, dar mai puþin tulburãtor. Sper sa vã placã! :3

experimental

CHEESECAKE Author: Timotei Nicolae Drob (aka Nae) From the literary point of view, the introduction considers, if I may say so, the ruins of the former Megalopolameusiususus (great technocratic rural agglomeration of the post-nucleowarish era) "Ular", influenced to the point of overflowing mannerism and paroxysm by the current of late cyberpunkism: tubes and cables, symbols - isn't it - of deserted faith in the failed and flat power of feeding, through these umbilical chords of synthetic fluids the virtual life of artificial mechanisms and of Rio bottles, resuscitated in the form of stupendous tropical birds; the intrigue subjects the android with 47 % fungus tissue and his airscrew thing to the imperative will of a wandering piece of information through the surfaced sensorial infrasphere to find the legendary anaanarchist theoretician, Magnum, exiled from wherever by the WWW (world wide war organization and associates); the course of action places the android in an absurd race so that in the formidable culmination to confront a false rebel (the rider of the creature cheese with cake and unintegrated implants), the incarnation of a how many times renewed fugitive scholastics, formulated in coffee breaks or soda breaks or by workers as exiled; the conclusion is brought by the absent main character, all this time being behind the scenes as the flawless and no-talent handler of a kili-gun, legendary for being a worthy hole producer, producing so fantasies of possession in some minds and also in some procs or in both. by Iordan Hagi Iordan, domestic medication prescriptioner

Literar vorbind, expoziþiunea ne înfãþiºeazã, ca sa zic aºa, ruinele fostului Megalopolameusiususus (mare aglomerare ruralã tehnocratã post-nuclearomahicã) "Ular", influenþat pânã la manierism debordant ºi paroxistic de curentul cyberpunkismului târziu al tuburilor ºi cablurilor, simboluri - nu-i aºa - ale credinþei deºarte în puterea eºuatã ºi de mult rãsuflatã de a hrãni, prin aceste cordoane ombilicale ale fluidelor sintetice, viaþa virtualã a mecanismelor artificiale ºi a sticlelor de Rio resuscitate în frumoase pãsãri tropicale. Intriga îi supune pe androidul cu 47 % þesut fungiform ºi pe chestia lui cu elice voinþei imperioase a unei bucãþi de informaþie rãtãcitoare prin infrasfera senzorialã de suprafaþã de a gãsi legendarul teoretician anaanarhist Magnum, exilat de oriºiunde de catre WWW (world wide war organization and associates), iar desfãºurarea acþiunii îl pune pe android într-o cursã absurdã, pentru ca în punctul culminant sã întâlneascã un fals rebel (calãritorul creaturii brânzã cu prãjiturã ºi implanturi neintegrate), întruchipare unei a câta oarã reînnoite scolastici fugitive formulate în pauze de cafea sau de suc sau de muncitori la fel de exilaþi; deznodãmântul e adus tocmai de absentul personaj principal, de fapt în tot acest rãstimp mânuitorul fãrã cusur ºi fãrã talent al unei arme kili-ene, legendarã pentru cã produce gãuri ºi naºte astfel fantezii ale posesiei în unele minþi ºi în unele procesoare sau ºi în unele ºi în altele.

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Artist: Timotei Nicolae Drob (aka Nae) Country: Romania OTAKUMAG.COM Deviantart: timocles.deviantart.com

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Artist: Timotei Nicolae Drob (aka Nae) Country: Romania Deviantart: timocles.deviantart.com

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Artist: Linda Barkasz Country: Romania Blog: blogululinda.blogspot.com

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Artist: Szolt Country: Romania

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Acknowledgements

COVER Illustration (Otaku Creature) © Matei Apostolescu / 013a.com (RO) EDITORIAL Pg. 1 (illustration - monstrulet) © Cristian Dirstar aka Akira (RO) TABLE OF CONTENTS Pg. 2&3 (background illustration) © Mihai Marcu aka Mistik (RO) EXHIBITION Pg. 7 to 9 (photos) © Mihai Neom / skateboardart.blogspot.com (RO) EVENT Pg. 10&11 (photos) © Creation Station / creationstation.ro (RO) Pg. 12&13 (photos) © AVmotional / avmotional.com (RO) EXHIBITION Pg. 14&15 (photos) © Saddo & Other / streetwisebucharest.blogspot.com (RO/CAN) ARTICLE Pg. 17&18 (photos) © Yume Teahouse (RO) OTAKU FASHION Pg. 20 (photos) © Mocking Bird / mokingstore.com (RO) COSPLAY Pg. 21 to 24 (photos from Comiket 72 - summer 2007) © William Cooney / klokband.com (JP) BOOKS Pg. 30 (photos / Friends with You Have Powers!) © FWY / friendswithyou.com (USA) Pg. 30&31 (photos / Vinyl Will Kill: An Inside Look At The Designer Toy Phenomenon / Jeremyville Sessions) © jeremyville.com (AUS) Pg. 32 (photos / Toygiants Book) © Daniel & Geo Fuchs / Toygiants Book / toygiants.com (GER) TOYS Pg. 33 to 35 (photos / Toysgiants) © Daniel & Geo Fuchs / Toygiants Book / toygiants.com (GER) Pg. 36&37 (photos / toys) © Doma / www.doma.tv (AR) Pg. 38 (photos / C215 toys) © C215 / c215.com (FR) Pg. 40&41 (toys / photos) © David Horvath / davidhorvath.com / fewmany.com / wonderwall.co.jp (JP) Pg. 42 (toys / photo) © Touma / fewmany.com / wonderwall.co.jp (JP) Pg. 43 (toys / photos ) © Joe Ledbetter / fewmany.com / wonderwall.co.jp (JP) Pg. 44 to 47 (toys / photos ) © Bounty Hunter / rthq.com (JP/UK) Pg. 48 to 51 (toys & photos) © jeremyville.com (AUS) Pg. 52 to 55 (toys / illustrations / photos) © friendswithyou.com (USA) KAMI TOYS Pg. 59&60 © Shin Tanaka (JP) ARTICLE Pg. 61 to 66 © Studio Ghibli (JP) / Independenta Film (RO)

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ILLUSTRATIONS Pg. 68&69 © Charuca (ESP) Pg. 70 © The Cute Institute (CAN) Pg. 71 © Boti (RO); © Pikaciuka (RO Pg. 72 © Between (RO ) Pg. 73 to 76 © SupaKitch (FR) Pg. 77 © Ciubi (RO) Pg. 78 to 80 © Matei Apostolescu (RO) Pg. 81&82 © Chisami Tsuchiya (JP) Pg. 84&85 © Detrus (USA) Pg. 86&88&89 © Skaffa (NL) Pg. 90 © Saddo (RO) Pg. 91 © Heliana (RO) Pg. 92 © videorgy.tv (RO) Pg. 93 © Sidekicks (RO) Pg. 94 © Gyorﬁ Zoran (RO); © Radu Popescu (RO); © Vladimir Taroi (RO) Pg. 95 © Akira (RO); © Szolt (RO) MANGA IN RO Pg. 96 to 110 © Remus Brezeanu aka Between (RO) OTAKU INFLUENCE Pg. 112 (SERIAL EXPERIMENTS HAMSTER) © Veronica Solomon aka Inkamon (RO) Pg. 113 to 123 (4EVER HOLIDAY) © Xenia Stan aka Xiu (RO) Pg. 125 to 128 (STEVE) © Cristi Magureanu (RO) Pg. 129 to 136 (AMANIT) © Alexandra Ujecua aka Uje (RO) EXPERIMENTAL Pg. 139 to 152 (CHEESECAKE) © Nicolae Timotei Drob aka Nae (RO) ILLUSTRATIONS Pg. 153 to 155 © Nicolae Timotei Drob aka Nae (RO) Pg. 156 © Linda Barkasz (RO) Pg. 157 © Szolt (RO)

Note: Any errors or omissions are inadvertent. Please contact us at info@otakumag.com so that we can make corrections in subsequent printings.

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Thanks for love and support, Otakus worldwide. ROMANIAN ARTISTS Veronica SOLOMON (Inkamon), Matei APOSTOLESCU (beaucupezero), Remus BREZEANU (Between), Timotei Nicolae DROB (Nae), Mihai MARCU (Mistik), Alexandra Stefania GABOR (Asra), Xenia STAN (Xiusha), Alexandra Gabriela UJEUCA (Uje), Martha-Sarah CAITAR (Elle), Saddo, Heliana, Boti, Pikaciuka, videorgy.tv, Sidekicks, Gyorﬁ ZORAN, Radu POPESCU, Vladimir TAROI, Szolt, Cristi MAGUREANU, Loreta ISAC (povesti-de-adormit-copii), Mihai SALAJAN (Mimi), Razvan NITU (Rock Art), Anda DINESCU (Pich), Tudor STAMATE (Hisshi), Mihai NEOM, Bogdan BUTURUGA, Stefan BUTURUGA (But), Irina ANGHEL (Anir), Ilie FLORIAN (Otto), Emanuel CAPSUNA (Chester), Ovidiu HRIN, Cristian Dirstar (Akira), Ioana F., Alien Ape Star, Anca BENERA, Bogdan MARCU, Reniform, Tehas, Ovidiu FENES, Ciubi, Linda BARKASZ, Picuri de ploai, Mono. INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS Samuel Albert Borkson, Arturo Sandoval III (USA), Ryosuke Tei (JP), Jeremyville (AUS), Daniel & Geo Fuchs (GER), Mariano Barbieri & Doma Collective (AR), Christian Guémy & C215 crew (FR), Other (CAN), William Cooney (JP), David Horvath (USA), Touma (JP), Joe Ledbetter (USA), rthq.com (UK), Shin Tanaka (JP), Remember Little Guy (UK), Charuca (ESP), Tesha from The Cute Institute (CAN), SupaKitch (FR), Chisami Tsuchiya (JP), Detrus (USA), Skaffa (NL). PARTNERS Zile ºi Nopþi, Sunete, 115.ro digital art gallery, Roland.ro, Top Invest, Level, Animax, creationstation.ro, Independenta Film, AVmotional.com, Asociaþia Musashino Japonia, Anonim TM, H2O, Rozalb de Mura, Yume Teahouse, Moking Bird, Remus Miron (DTC), Tralala Events, Rage.ro. WEB Myspace.com, Deviantart.com, Feeder.ro, Alternativ.ro, Skatebord.ro, Snowboard.ro, HipHopLive.ro, Drumandbass.ro, Manga-shop.ro, Anime-club.ro, Anime-xg.ro, Anime-mania.ro, aikan.zuavra.net, Manga-anime.ro, anime-soul.myforum.ro, Another.ro, Dordeducã.ro, GhidRomania.ro. FRIENDS Flaviu Fultman, Mihai Badescu, Albert Szolt, Silvana Bratu, Andrei Ene, Tudor Pop, Alexandra Silvestru, Mandela, Sensor, Rancha, synopsis media crew, Gojira, Bully, Bogdan Morar, Dermon, Aria Urbanã, Snow, Alina Alexa, Manuela Mazilu, Cristian Stupariu , Timea, Bobi, Milena, Claudia ªandru, Costel Cristea, Ricã, Tibi, Marian, Capa, Dani, Z-kun, Urfe, Workbot, Alexander, Miki Birish, Andreea Apostol, Bragar Lucian, Agnes, Mihai Gurei, dj Bela, Project Sakura, Kavdanska, Noru Negru, DJ Snow, hardcomics crew (Milos, Matei Branea), carusel crew, zerounu01, Clau (dj Roli Breaker), Vlad Nanca, Helion, Daos... ºi pe toþi pe care i-am uitat îi salutãm ºi le mulþumim pentru ajutor. Special Thanks to: Aiko from Furi Furi Company, Ryosuke Noda from WonderWall, Inc.,Tsuchiya Naofumi from Tokyo Japanese Restaurant (Cluj-Napoca, RO), and Atsumi Fujita from Kaikai Kiki New York.