Creator of Japanese Animation Art Yamamoto Nizo Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

ABOUT

Yamamoto Nizo has won numerous awards as an art director and background creator for animated films. At the age of 24 he was chosen by director Hayao Miyazaki to be the art director on the animated series Future Boy Conan (Mirai Shōnen Konan). Thereafter, he was art director on such animated films as Castle in the Sky (Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta), Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka), Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime), and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki o Kakeru Shōjo). Yamamoto has been a driving force in the Japanese animation world to this day. On display at this exhibition are some 230 works of his hand-painted scenes of anime background art, spanning works from early in his career to his latest creations. They include painted backgrounds, sketches, and image boards selected by the animator himself. The exhibition shows the fascinating appeal of his artwork-how it supports the scene taking place in the narrative and simultaneously draws the viewer into the unique world of his imagination.