Probably the most interesting work that came out of this experiment that Mr Darrow mentions (at min 19:00) is Baru's Autoroute du soleil. Don't know if Kodansha ever even published it or if it got translated in English, but it's worth a look. There have been several European editions since the nineties.
This was such a great series of videos! I really need to revisit this comic. I think the only other manga work of comparable scale and influence might be Miyazaki's Nausicaa - it would be interesting to hear y'all unpack that, the next time you make space for a epic-scale manga. Miyazaki's cartooning and storytelling is so different from Otomo's, with different set of strengths and weaknesses brought to the drafting table. Some dense, interesting (and kind of challenging) panel compositions.
53:48 I was just talking to a japanese friend of mine and he told me that the japanese language is full of words based on onomatopoeia. I remember him saying that even a doctor will refer to pain and other sensations using words like that. So i find it plausible that there are sounds that express "majestic entrance", because even the "propper" words of the language are very close to onomatopoeia expressions
Great point about Japan being fertile ground for comics / manga post WWII due to lack of infrastructure for television at the time. Most definitely helped push the rise of manga here, at least in the main hub for manga production, Tokyo. As for Miyazaki's comments about Japanese culture being destroyed by Ultraman, I think that was more of a tongue in cheek comment. Ultraman IS Japanese culture. Just the evolution of it. It's funny that one of his greatest underling animators, who would later collaborate on several other recent projects, Hideaki Anno, would go on to write and produce the most recent incarnation of Ultraman - "Shin Ultraman".
Unca Geof--do not EVER doubt that butts are not in seats, eyes peeled, ears pricked (gotta find a less filthy verb!) for EVERYTHING you've got to say! Cousins Ed 'n' Jim always bring the best to the table--the various mutations of AKIRA, via the numerous iterations of production, present the "pure" views as well as the later adaptations. I remember seeing the movie at an anime con in Athens, OH, back in 91-92, being thoroughly blown away by the sheer power of the story, as well as the animation used to present it. Thanks for the guided tour, guyz! ps: Are you lads coming South for HeroesCon in Charlotte this June? Would love to say Howdy! 🖖♾
Which is the Akira publication translated to English that has the sound-effect lettering left in its original Japanese? In particular, the one that Ed starts using from 57:46 on.
I hope the new shaolin cowboy has an uncoated paper stock like the burleyman run. for my money, those comics are the best looking and feeling printed comics I own. when the light hits those page at the right angle, individual paper fibers glow. the thinner, glossier stock used later doesn't suit the material nearly as well. It makes the organic, worn out, used up spaces feel plastic and artificial. But, no matter the print quality, you better believe I'm going to be in the comic shop for the next 7 months.
Definitely watch Ozu's 'Good Morning'. Top notch cinema. It looks absolutely beautiful in its color and composition. The story is poignant, quiet, sweet and hilarious. Lots of Wes Anderson energy. Must see.
I got a cheap Japanese version with the idea of cutting it up for art projects, but as i went through them i could not cut it up it because it is already art.
Way late to this video, but when Geof Darrow asks about Satoshi Kon working on AKIRA, he is correct. Satoshi was an assistant on AKIRA, and their relationship blossoms from there.
I'm still saddened by the loss of tone work in the English volumes. The Japanese collections appeared years before the English translations in Toronto and the tone work in them is spectacular. Where you see white skies, I see magnificent gradations of clouds or smoke effects, brilliant sunrises, almost entirely absent from the English publications. It is most noticeable in Vol.6, but present (or absent) throughout. I don't know about the color volumes, but anyone who has only read the B&W volumes has seriously never seen what Akira really looks like!
I find the idea that TV=No comics/ No TV=Comics to be fascinating...manga as a replacement for TV, but then anime being the extension of that, and then live-action adaptations of anime to be the logical extension of that...
See the art in this manga is the subtlety and the kinesthetic overpowering of the lines, Wich get negated with the colors, plus it's look fucking shallow compared to b&w
I am overjoyed by these Akira videos, thank you so much fellas!!! I re-scored the Akira anime last year with synth wave music I composed, if you’re interested. The music makes good soundtrack to reading the manga: thehumaniac.com/album/akira-synthetic-suite And you can watch the whole film with my score here: ua-cam.com/video/9_mD5tlcDhA/v-deo.html (PS I know this is an insane thing to do, the Akira score is brilliant. I just wondered how the film would play with a more John Carpenter / Tangerine Dream 80s vibe and I always wanted to write some music like that)
![Domu, A Child's Dream (1980-81), [Spoilers abound]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pyOErw0GG_k/mqdefault.jpg)
Quitely for Vol. 5 and now Darrow for Vol. 6, well done guys. Great way to wrap up looking at this series.
Geof is a legit artistic legend.
Every Darrow episode is a diamond!! Thank you so much for having him on!!
Amazing Manga. Great video guys. Conglaturations.
Probably the most interesting work that came out of this experiment that Mr Darrow mentions (at min 19:00) is Baru's Autoroute du soleil. Don't know if Kodansha ever even published it or if it got translated in English, but it's worth a look. There have been several European editions since the nineties.
Tsui Hark does variant covers! wow
This was such a great series of videos! I really need to revisit this comic. I think the only other manga work of comparable scale and influence might be Miyazaki's Nausicaa - it would be interesting to hear y'all unpack that, the next time you make space for a epic-scale manga. Miyazaki's cartooning and storytelling is so different from Otomo's, with different set of strengths and weaknesses brought to the drafting table. Some dense, interesting (and kind of challenging) panel compositions.
Nothing like waking up to hear Uncle Geof talk about Shaolin Cowboy and Akira. That's a good morning. Nice work gents, keep it up!
Great to have you make it to the final volume. Loved all of this series. Thanks so much!
Thanks for picking back up with the akira books lads by far my favourite comic of all time
53:48 I was just talking to a japanese friend of mine and he told me that the japanese language is full of words based on onomatopoeia. I remember him saying that even a doctor will refer to pain and other sensations using words like that. So i find it plausible that there are sounds that express "majestic entrance", because even the "propper" words of the language are very close to onomatopoeia expressions
Great point about Japan being fertile ground for comics / manga post WWII due to lack of infrastructure for television at the time. Most definitely helped push the rise of manga here, at least in the main hub for manga production, Tokyo. As for Miyazaki's comments about Japanese culture being destroyed by Ultraman, I think that was more of a tongue in cheek comment. Ultraman IS Japanese culture. Just the evolution of it. It's funny that one of his greatest underling animators, who would later collaborate on several other recent projects, Hideaki Anno, would go on to write and produce the most recent incarnation of Ultraman - "Shin Ultraman".
It’s surreal to listen to artists that I consider masterful, break-down another master draftsman in the same voice I use to break-down their work.
One of the few books I routinely reread every couple of years. This was a great video!
Man can you imagine, fucking moebius being stunned and taking notes from your work, this being beyond an accomplishment or recognition
Unca Geof--do not EVER doubt that butts are not in seats, eyes peeled, ears pricked (gotta find a less filthy verb!) for EVERYTHING you've got to say! Cousins Ed 'n' Jim always bring the best to the table--the various mutations of AKIRA, via the numerous iterations of production, present the "pure" views as well as the later adaptations. I remember seeing the movie at an anime con in Athens, OH, back in 91-92, being thoroughly blown away by the sheer power of the story, as well as the animation used to present it. Thanks for the guided tour, guyz!
ps: Are you lads coming South for HeroesCon in Charlotte this June? Would love to say Howdy! 🖖♾
minute 51:14 ... page 113, theres a missing character on the bottom left frame, should be someone behind that " AAH...!"
Yes! So glad these Akira videos are back. What a work of art.
Which is the Akira publication translated to English that has the sound-effect lettering left in its original Japanese? In particular, the one that Ed starts using from 57:46 on.
Simply amazing, guys. Thanks for this episode.
Loved the whole series. Great watch. Thanks.
You guys have got to convince Geof to share some of the doomed shaolin cowboy animated film with us! Loved this series of videos guys
Can someone explain to me what's happening in page 263 and 272? I'm confused about what that big metal sphere thing is 1:11:49 and 1:12:57
What an Amazing artists you are! Geof is so funny and a legend !
25:26 Exactly, Geof. Akira is virtually flawless.
This brought me joy. Thanks team. Uncle Geof is the most modest guy ever.
I hope the new shaolin cowboy has an uncoated paper stock like the burleyman run. for my money, those comics are the best looking and feeling printed comics I own. when the light hits those page at the right angle, individual paper fibers glow. the thinner, glossier stock used later doesn't suit the material nearly as well. It makes the organic, worn out, used up spaces feel plastic and artificial. But, no matter the print quality, you better believe I'm going to be in the comic shop for the next 7 months.
As always, a treat when we get uncle Geoff with you guys, specially with something as special as Akira.
feels like i've been waiting forever to this... almost sad it's over
103:40
Joker and R2D2 were both useful to their group. What you're seeing is Joker's face turn.
Definitely watch Ozu's 'Good Morning'. Top notch cinema. It looks absolutely beautiful in its color and composition. The story is poignant, quiet, sweet and hilarious. Lots of Wes Anderson energy. Must see.
Sheer joy watching this. Mr Darrow is a delight.
As an illustrator myself its so great to hear legendary illustrators also get depressed by otomo's work
the good stuff!
This was pretty awesome
I got a cheap Japanese version with the idea of cutting it up for art projects, but as i went through them i could not cut it up it because it is already art.
What's the edition Ed switches to at 57:50?
It's from the Akira 35th Anniversary Box Set Edition
Way late to this video, but when Geof Darrow asks about Satoshi Kon working on AKIRA, he is correct. Satoshi was an assistant on AKIRA, and their relationship blossoms from there.
What is the name of the book at 27:02?
What is the artist's book by Otomo's assistant?
heavens door
we love uncle Geof !!
lets talk about Kelley Jones's Batman Gallery edition yesss please
Tsui Hark? Wow, that's interesting.
I'm still saddened by the loss of tone work in the English volumes. The Japanese collections appeared years before the English translations in Toronto and the tone work in them is spectacular. Where you see white skies, I see magnificent gradations of clouds or smoke effects, brilliant sunrises, almost entirely absent from the English publications. It is most noticeable in Vol.6, but present (or absent) throughout. I don't know about the color volumes, but anyone who has only read the B&W volumes has seriously never seen what Akira really looks like!
It would be a treat to see the dynamic duo tackle Berserk.
I find the idea that TV=No comics/ No TV=Comics to be fascinating...manga as a replacement for TV, but then anime being the extension of that, and then live-action adaptations of anime to be the logical extension of that...
R.I..P E.P!
Yins make the best videos
BINGO
See the art in this manga is the subtlety and the kinesthetic overpowering of the lines, Wich get negated with the colors, plus it's look fucking shallow compared to b&w
The problem with volume 6 is it's not in colour like the other five books.
I am overjoyed by these Akira videos, thank you so much fellas!!!
I re-scored the Akira anime last year with synth wave music I composed, if you’re interested. The music makes good soundtrack to reading the manga:
thehumaniac.com/album/akira-synthetic-suite
And you can watch the whole film with my score here:
ua-cam.com/video/9_mD5tlcDhA/v-deo.html
(PS I know this is an insane thing to do, the Akira score is brilliant. I just wondered how the film would play with a more John Carpenter / Tangerine Dream 80s vibe and I always wanted to write some music like that)