Talks
Art, Entertainment, Animation and Manga: Talks on Japan Media Arts
The legendary director and creator of the Anime films Gundam series TOMINO Yoshiyuki was in conversation at 15:00 on 18th September Saturday. KUSAHARA Machiko, who has been curating and researching the history and nature media arts gave a talk at 16:30 on the 18th September as well.
Mobile Suite Gundam (Legendary Creator and Director)
Originally created
as a televised anime series, the film became a theatrical release and was split
into three parts in 1981. When the first one was released, it was regarded as the new age of
Anime. Set in a
fictional universe in the Universal Century year 0079, the Principality of Zeon
has declared independence from the Earth Federation, and subsequently launched
a war of independence. The conflict has directly affected every continent on
earth, also nearly every space colony and lunar settlement. Zeon, though
smaller, has the tactical upper hand through their use of a new type of
humanoid weapons called "mobile suits." The story begins with a newly deployed
Federation warship, arriving at the secret research base.
TOMINO Yoshiyuki
Born in 1941 in
Odawara City. After graduating from Department of Cinema of Nihon University
College of Art, he joined Mushi Productions and worked on the production of TV
series such as Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy).
He then went freelance and did numerous storyboarding jobs and acted as a
producer on several projects. His major works as director include Umi no Toriton (Triton of the Sea), Mobile
Suit Gundam, and numerous other popular works. He is also a novelist and
university lecturer.
Mono and Art - A Look
at Media Arts Through Traditional Japanese Culture
"Since
postmodernism, the borders of art, design, architecture, and fashion have begun
to disappear. Japanese media arts play a role in that phenomenon. Utilizing the
tradition of Japan's rich culture of play, which is symbolized by the 12th
century Scroll of Frolicking Animals
(Choju Giga) that lively illustrates
in a manga-like style a variety of
animals playing and enjoying, how will we contribute in pursuit of creativity
in digital media society? In an era where the importance of cultural diversity
is being rediscovered, I am sure that Japan can provide a new perspective."
KUSAHARA Machiko
KUSAHARA Machiko
KUSAHARA Machiko curates and studies media
art since early 80s. She served in launching NTT InterCommunication Center
(ICC) and other venues, and juried for many competitions including Ars
Electronica and Japan Media Art Festival. She researches and writes on
interaction among media technology, art, culture and society, both in
contemporary and early visual media such as magic lantern and panorama.
Kusahara is currently a professor at Waseda University. She holds a Ph. D. in
engineering from University of Tokyo.
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