Drawing the Sword: Samurai in Manga and Anime
Cartoon Art Museum exhibition: January 16 – May 2, 2010
NEW ANIME EXHIBIT CUTS INTO THE PAST AND REVEALS HIDDEN TREASURES
San Francisco, CA – The popular Japanese art forms of manga and anime cut into the past and assume their rightful place in the canon of fine art in a new exhibit at the Cartoon Art Museum. Drawing the Sword: Samurai in Manga and Anime (January 16 through May 2, 2010) explores the complex evolution of Japanese artistic traditions by demonstrating the ever-changing image of the iconic samurai.
Curated by Julian Bermudez, the exhibit juxtaposes 19th century woodblock prints with 21st animation production cels and drawings. Additionally, the exhibit includes animation production models, motion picture stills, original comic book drawings, American and Japanese comic books, and toys from private collections. Popular titles on display throughout the exhibit include fan favorites such as Afro Samurai, Bleach, Evangelion, Gundam, Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai Champloo, Samurai Jack, Lone Wolf and Cub, Usagi Yojimbo, and Wolverine.
Sounds like fun.
By Sheila February 18, 2010 - 5:43 pm
Would go if I lived in the state, but unfortunately I don't, oh well I'll just wish for now…
By yuma April 30, 2010 - 4:48 pm
Actually I wasn't impressed with the museum exhibition on description of Anime cels and drawings. There are so many discrepancy in descriptions. They didn't put the accurate names and dates for the cels and drawings. For example, Evagelion cel was dated circa year 2000 and all Gundam cels labeled simply as Gundam when I could tell those are from G Gundam. Those cels and drawings are only 10 to 15 years old and yet information are inaccurate.
Also it feels like the exhibition is treating anime as some kind of pop art from Asia with exotic theme rather than a part of the world-wide animation family.
I have feeling that curator and his/her staff had really short time to prepare cels and drawings for exhibition. I live in SF. If I knew the museum people and if they allow me to participate for identification, I would love to volunteer my time for it.
By Rob May 1, 2010 - 7:12 am
That's a shame to hear. I'm not sure which bothers me more, the approach or the sloppiness with the labeling…