Not Just Akira - 10 Hidden Otomo Works
There is no denying it: Otomo is one of, if not the most influential illustrator to come out of Japan.
His masterpiece AKIRA is said to have familiarized the west to anime, and other works like Domu and Short Peace are up there too. But apart from these classics, what doesn't often make it overseas is the other works and illustrations he does. From Japanese TV commercials, book covers, to corporate logos, there is a big selection of his archive that has almost never made it out of Japan, never made it out of the respective works' era. Here is a list of 10 pieces Otomo worked on that you probably never knew about.
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "ROCK MONSTER STRIKES BACK" [1996]
Otomo's artwork for Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra's 1996 album "ROCK MONSTER STRIKES BACK".
Canon T-70 TV Commercial [1984] [otomo canon.mp4]
A Canon commercial aired in Japan in 1984 for the T-70 Camera.
TBS TV Commercial [1997]
A TBS [Tokyo Broadcasting System] commercial Otomo did in 1997.
SABU "Ten no Chasuke" [2015]
Otomo's cover illustration for movie director SABU's 2015 novel "Ten no Chasuke
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra "TOKYO SKA TREASURES' [2020]
Otomo's artwork for Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra's 2020 compilation album "TOKYO SKA TREASURES". The album was a 3 CD set, each with a different Otomo illustration.
1997.
Otomo Katsuhiro "INSIDE BABEL" [2017]
Otomo's illustration depicting the inside of Pieter Bruegel's 1563 painting "Tower of Babel".
Kourakuen "Luna Park" Commercial [1996]
Otomo's for Luna Park, an event at Korakuen Amusement Park.
Takashi Sato "Nige" [Escape] [2018]
Otomo's cover illustration for Takashi Sato's non-fiction cycling novel "Nige" [Escape].
James Cameron x Takao Komine "Goukai! Eiga Gaku - James Cameron Talks About Film" [2001]
Otomo's cover illustration for the 2001 book, which features a talk between James Cameron and Komine Takao.
Toyota x Tetsuo Hara x Street Fighter II x TOMIKA x Katsuhiro Otomo TV Commercial [2017]
A wild 5 name collab commercial for Toyota with Tetsuo Hara [Fist of the North Star], Street Fighter II, Japanese toy car maker TOMIKA, and Katsuhiro Otomo.
