The 1980's saw the start of the japanese robot invasion, spearheaded by Transformers and their clones and a massive influx of mecha kits. Chief amongst them, was Imai with a vast range of Macross kits and later, other similar anime inspired models. I would eagerly buy each new release as they came out and later on, after the market became saturated, they appeared in discount stores for a couple of pounds and I bought even more!
I've still got all the boxes and most of the models and it is great to look over them from time to time, admiring the artwork. It was however, only recently that I discovered who the artist who breathed such life into these paintings was; Yoshiuki Takani. Takani is a sensei of the brush and has produced hundreds of paintings for models of all types, including mecha, military, anime and even book covers.
The beauty of Takani's work is that it is not just realistic, but it is dynamic and vibrant - swords vibrate with the force of the blow, tank treads clank and grind with the weight of armour and seas pound and wash the bows of ships in his work. Nothing is pristine, everything leaps off the canvas in gritty, exacting detail, with every tarnished rivet visible.
His work can be found on so many different lines, such as these amazing military scenes, the large scale Seaview model, the Zoids Zevle box art and in this cool War of the Worlds inspired novel.
A friend of mine had the one with the 'M' on its arms, he bought it when it had just come out and made a good job of it, as I recall. Long time ago now!
ReplyDeleteAh, the Phalanx, yep. Great models
ReplyDeleteI remember the Imai Macross kits coming out in the UK in 83. Strangely enough I found them in a gift shop rather than a model shop. I'd never seen artwork or designs like it before and just had to buy them. My favourite was the Super Valkyrie fighter. Still got it. A year or so later came the Imai Megaro Zamac kits and Arii Orguss kits. Great times. Imai went bust in the early 2000s and Bandai occasionally reissues some of their kits, but sadly many have disappeared. There is actually a new book coming out in Japan this year of Imai's classic Macross kits and the box art. https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10708711
ReplyDeleteAh yes, got all the Zamac kits and the transformable VF-1A Valkyrie. Sadly my modelling skills werent up to the task though
ReplyDeletehttp://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2012/04/rise-of-robots.html?m=1
ReplyDeleteI love box art. When Matchbox kits first came out, I poured over the catalogue, and finally selected the Spitfire Mk.IX. But I walked out of the shop with a Westland Lysander instead, sold totally on the box art showing a swarm of Lysanders strafing a road convoy - I had never heard of the Lysander before. Great artwork, I am sure this gentleman sold a lot of kits in his time.
ReplyDeleteWotan/Bill - Fifth from the bottom - those are the things I mentioned years ago, the track-units the Gerry Anderson effects teams used time and time again, they look like the running gear of the Para-portable Tetrach Tank of WWII and were battery-operated I think? But that's them!
ReplyDeleteNext level Gama-goat!
H
Hugh, I think the tracked running gear you're thinking of that the effects team used for the Mole, Firefly, and several other assorted tracked vehicles is based on the Vickers Vigor tractor.
DeleteGoogles . . . Victory, down the road in Guildford! You're probably right Scoop, and the Japanese kits being powered/scaled-down (?) copies? It's the same wheel with the central 'nipple'! Cheers!
DeleteH
I had many of the Macross kits, but my favourite was the Tactical Pod Glaug. Not just because of the design, or the excellent box art, but because of the ludicrous name !
ReplyDeleteI mean, what the Hell is a Glaug ?
Plus, they were great for useful 'wiggets' and detail parts for other custom spaceship models.
Mish.
A Glaug is a japanese getsion of a wabe. All mimsy like the borogroves
DeleteBravo! I love Yoshiyuki Takani, together with his mentor Shigeru Komatsuzaki and next generation illustrator Yuji Kaida. They all had the ability to make fantasy look like solid reality!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly do. I love japanese art and design, its second to none
Delete