Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A Place of Magic
I am being very careful with this post.Taking photos inside this museum is not normally allowed. I was only allowed to take them with special permission because of who I was with. So I am not posting any images of the actual exhibits out of respect. I have chosen just a few pictures so that those of you who may never go to J*pan will still get to see this amazing place, and maybe discover something that most an*mation-lovers, east and west, revere.
If you don't recognize this character, then you need to put this movie (listed below) on the top of your rental. Charming. The director of these famous anim*ted movies is a national hero of sorts, because he makes beautfiul, ethereal, adventurous, sometimes action-packed and always entertaining films that touch people. They're breath-taking, pastoral, sweet and wildly creative.
And the interior of this child-friendly, hands-on museum is meant to be a wonderland of his studio's creations! What I thought would just be a little one-story showcase of some art....
...turned out to be a 3 or 4 story massive building crammed full of adventure and color, with a cafe, a bookstore, a fantastic giftshop, a movie theatre and so many unique exhibits that used his characters to show (instead of tell) the joy of animation.
(see the tiny people in front?!)
No space is ever wasted in J*pan. This giant metal sculpture of another of his characters is ... on the rooftop garden ... you take an exterior spiral staircase to get to it.
Three interior shots of this stylish, warm and welcoming space evoke a European sensibility while keeping a clean Japanese aesthetic...
It may look empty... and my shots a bit blurry... but this is because I was snapping with haste because there were at least 100 (well-behaved) children laughing and darting about in and out of my shots.
Difficult to get this shot of the elevator shaft with the light pouring in from the beautiful skylight above...
The exterior had so many nooks, crannies, exits and entrances...
I wasn't allowed to take photos in the giftshop. So this photo is from a shop in Asakusa in Tokyo. I found it for B, and he loved it, so it now sits in his office.
If you google "C*tbus"... you will see this character from T*t*r*. But if you're short enough, and you visit the museum, you get to PLAY on the Catb*s!!
* * *
The cafe food was very interesting. The desserts were my favorite!
This concoction was titled "Looking-Up-at-a-Clear-Blue-Sky-in-a-Field Cream Soda." (ice cream floating in a blue cream soda!!). It was yummy, and reminded me of a rootbeer float.
A giant lady-finger-like cake with strawberries!! It was titled "Strawberry Shortcake with Berries of All Sizes."
This amazing creation of ice cream, hot fudge sauce, strawberries, kiwis and surprises (note the funny little rock candy on top) was titled "Today's Ice Cream." Not very creative you say? Doesn't it make you want to return day after day to see what they come up with?!
So this isn't lost on those who don't know the studio and talented Oscar-winning man, here are images/DVD jackets spotlighting my personal favorites of his films. You can Netflix every one of them, and they are dubbed with American actors' voices, so no excuses, People!! You will at the very least be able to say "I had no idea what was going to happen next, and have never seen anything like them."
Charming, easy pace, serene and sweet
This one is kinda romantic, a favorite for me
The left one... won the Oscar. And it is one of the most bizarre, beautiful and fascinating animated movies I've seen, a picture window into a culture and mythology through the eyes of a little girl. The right one... more child-like, easy pace, very sweet coming-of-age story, and I have a softspot for the cat in it.
(taken while in line to enter The Shogun's Palace in Kyoto)
This shirt is not a suggestion. It's a lifestyle.
Stay tuned for more photos!
~Shephard :)
It may look empty... and my shots a bit blurry... but this is because I was snapping with haste because there were at least 100 (well-behaved) children laughing and darting about in and out of my shots.
Difficult to get this shot of the elevator shaft with the light pouring in from the beautiful skylight above...
The exterior had so many nooks, crannies, exits and entrances...
I wasn't allowed to take photos in the giftshop. So this photo is from a shop in Asakusa in Tokyo. I found it for B, and he loved it, so it now sits in his office.
If you google "C*tbus"... you will see this character from T*t*r*. But if you're short enough, and you visit the museum, you get to PLAY on the Catb*s!!* * *
The cafe food was very interesting. The desserts were my favorite!
This concoction was titled "Looking-Up-at-a-Clear-Blue-Sky-in-a-Field Cream Soda." (ice cream floating in a blue cream soda!!). It was yummy, and reminded me of a rootbeer float.
A giant lady-finger-like cake with strawberries!! It was titled "Strawberry Shortcake with Berries of All Sizes."
This amazing creation of ice cream, hot fudge sauce, strawberries, kiwis and surprises (note the funny little rock candy on top) was titled "Today's Ice Cream." Not very creative you say? Doesn't it make you want to return day after day to see what they come up with?!
So this isn't lost on those who don't know the studio and talented Oscar-winning man, here are images/DVD jackets spotlighting my personal favorites of his films. You can Netflix every one of them, and they are dubbed with American actors' voices, so no excuses, People!! You will at the very least be able to say "I had no idea what was going to happen next, and have never seen anything like them."
Charming, easy pace, serene and sweet
This one is kinda romantic, a favorite for me
The left one... won the Oscar. And it is one of the most bizarre, beautiful and fascinating animated movies I've seen, a picture window into a culture and mythology through the eyes of a little girl. The right one... more child-like, easy pace, very sweet coming-of-age story, and I have a softspot for the cat in it.
(taken while in line to enter The Shogun's Palace in Kyoto) This shirt is not a suggestion. It's a lifestyle.
Stay tuned for more photos!
~Shephard :)
Labels: Japan
posted by Shephard @ 
