I was surprised that the folks from ImagineFX magazine asked me earlier this year to send in my artwork for their October issue being that I was already featured in their December 2008 issue. I haven't received my October magazine yet, so I don't know which of my artwork they used. Although my artwork is on the DVD and not in the Reader FXPose section, I'm still glad they chose my art...I just need to work a little harder.

     In the land of high tech gadgets, thousand year old temples, and
cho-kawaiko(super cute girls), it's amusing how Christmas is celebrated
here. In the States and other western countries, turkey with all the trimmings
are eaten. However, here Japanese eat...KFC. That's right, They flock to their nearest Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and pick up their favorite type of chicken...sorry, no original or extra crispy chiken sushi(if you're wondering).
Can you imagine long lines trying to get a bucket and biscuits?

      There are a lot of Christmas decorations and lights all over Tokyo, and Tokyo Disneyland would make you feel like you're back in the States, but it doesn't truely have that Christmas feeling.

     ...for me, I'll be celebrating the traditional way...on an American base!


     To every Deviant, Happy Holidays and have a joyous Merry Christmas!!!

    Okay, for those who couldn`t afford to make it here in Tokyo to see the Anime fair, I`ll give you folks a brief description. There were litterally hundreds of animation companies(including Disney), as well as dozens of animation schools, voice actors, girls in cosplay(very few good looking ones in my opinion), movie booths, anime singers, 3 meter high Gundam robots, tons of food, free giveaways, a huge anime bazaar...did I mention the cosplay girls?
All this was held in a convention center complex called Big Site. Somethings to note: Naruto is still going strong, Fists of the Northern star is making a comeback in a big way, Ghibli Studios(Spirited Away) will release a new movie this summer, and Gundam is promoting their new CG DVD movie. I took home a crap load of pamphlets and DVDs, sorry no cosplay girls, haha. Overall, it was fun.
     My laptop computer is still down and I`m anxiously waiting for my family to send me my Power Mac G5. Without it, I`m nothing. Take care, Later.


jyaa nah,

ed

No, it's not a city full of motorcycles. Despite freezing mornings and sporadic earthquakes, it's not that bad. I'm still trying to adjust to the 1.5 hour commute to and from work(as opposed to the 600 second commute when I was back home). A few days after arriving, my former company hired me and the following day I started work(teaching English at junior h.s.).

The students are the same just like back home in the states, but a little more disciplined. Get this. When a teacher walks in the room, someone yells,"KIRITSU(stand up)!...KYOTSUKEH(attention)!...REI(bow)!. Then the class starts. It's somewhat militaristic. Even during student assemblies, they're in rows and the dean of discipline makes them stand at attention, or go to parade rest...and bow before and after when someone makes a speech(usually the principal).

Oh, and for you anime otaku, the Tokyo Anime Fair is next month 3/25-3/26. I guarantee it's gonna be awesome, nothing like anything back home. I'll definitely be there, but just to see the cosplay girls, haha! Nahnjah Koreeyah(what the hell r u talking about)??!!!

...jyaa nah,

ed-sensei

     After almost 4 years back in the states, I'm heading back to the home of the sushi. I think I'm running out of mecha ideas and Japan is the perfect place to inspire me...again.

     For those of you who have never been there, it's a good place to live while you're young and single, and you can afford buying $30 pizzas. But the summers are very humid and the winters are bitterly cold.

     For you anime and manga lovers, I can tell you that you are being exposed to a small fraction of what is actually being published. And, many will never find their way beyond Japan. It's a very huge industry being that there are animation schools that teach you how to draw anime/manga. And, it's not unusual for elderly people to read them. I would always see them reading on the trains. I also remember teaching English to a famous mangaka(manga artist), Shinji Mizushima, who created, Dokaben.

     If you have any questions about Japanese culture, just ask me. Besides living there for 7 years, I hold a B.A. in Asian Studies. I'm pretty knowledgeable, but I admit I don't know everything.

...sayonara,

ed

I'm teaching myself Maya and it's an awesome 3D program. Hopefully, in a few months, I'll be able to make my mecha units in 3D. Although I did receive formal 3D training, I need more practice. And combining it with Photoshop will just make it better. I have a few mecha ideas but would like to create it in Maya...but PS by itself is ok, too. I know that there are a lot of other good 3D software like Lightwave, 3Dmax, and Softimage, but my school uses Maya, and I'm glad they did.

To learn Maya, at first, is intimidating. With so many functions and buttons, a beginner would not know where to begin. But spending a lot of $, as well as Yen, on books and classes has helped me, and slowly but progressively have I gotten better. Plus getting a new G5 renders my images super quick.

hope everyone is doing well.

ed

Now that I'm done with my classes I can focus on my artwork. My past artwork were from ideas drawn months ago. Some of my ideas came from looking at Star Wars sketchbooks(no longer in print). If you like traditional Star Wars concept designs, Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston
drew them. As for the new trilogy, Doug Chiang, Ryan Church, Feng Shu, and others are responsible. They're all great, but McQuarrie is my favorite.

I gained a lot of digital drawing techniques from training DVDs I bought from the gnomon workshop online. I highly recommend these if you want to get good at designing. The prices are a bit steep, even at academic prices.

Summer has begun, hope everyone is doing well.


ed

Jeez, with projects due within a few weeks, I have no time to create anything. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the same position.
I have some mecha ideas in my head, but then again, it's not going to help me get a good grade. When I see all of your artwork, I feel like grabbing a pencil and paper and drawing something, anything.
Oh, well, just a few more weeks and I'll be free to create.
Hope everyone's doing fine.Take care.

Ed

Okay, I'm back from a long training mission in Japan. I had very limited time on the "regular" internet. The military has there own.
'nuff about work.

I bought more books for reference on mecha, and sexy women, so in a few weeks I'll be putting out stuff(it'll be tough with class projects due soon).

I had many deviations in my inbox and was unable to respond, so please forgive me for not commenting, they were great!

As for anime, I wasn't able to see a lot on tv(my trip was more business than leisure), but I was able to view some. I saw: Mai-Hime, Legends, Prince of Tennis, Jipangu, and some Seed Gundam. There are anime shows past 12 midnight, but they're somewhat darker(it makes Cartoon Network's Adult Swim tame and laughable,btw, CNAS shows would be primetime shows in Japan.HAHA)

Imagine going to a Wal-Mart store and being overwhelmed with nothing but Hobby stuff. I went to this store called TAM TAM and this place is huge. What struck me with awe was the amount of Gundam stuff they had. I'm not a fan particularly, but i was quite impressed. Macross stuff is still popular.

PSP is in full swing, as with Nintendo's DS. Oh, Enthusia Professional Racing(like Grand Turismo) came out, and you can buy this racing accessory pack that includes a racing seat, shifter, steering wheel,
and pedals. If it comes to the states, large people will have a hard time fitting in that seat.

As for manga, I can't express how much there is. Many will never make it here in the states just due to the sexual nature or the culture differences.  Depending where one goes, almost 1/4 of the space is dedicated towards manga. "BLEACH" is being promoted heavily.

Well, hope everyone is doing fine, and I'll start cranking out some mecha within the coming weeks, i just hope my class projects won't suffer...

mata au zeh!

ed

Well, the army is sending me to Japan for some training. I'm not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to hanging around with my Japanese buddies and getting some ideas for my future mech designs. 2 weeks are enough,and I'll be missing some classes, but at least my teachers didn't put up a fuss.

Speaking of classes, Maya is kicking the living hell out of me. Rigging and Binding are difficult, especially when the required book we're using sucks! I hope I'll be able to use it comfortably by the end of the year! I can't wait to make my designs in 3D, yeah, baby. and animate them.

Projects are piling up and posting designs will be few. I haven't decided which will be next: a mech or a sexy chick. How 'bout a sexy cyborg...ahh, I dunno.

dekireba Tokyo kara mata kaku zo(if i can, i'll write again from tokyo).

mata au zeh,
(later)

ed

If you're a Miyazaki fan, you should get "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind"(Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa,in Japanese). His other works are also worth watching like Porco Rosso(Kurenai no Buta), and Castle in the Sky(Laputa). One of my favorites is Mimi wo Sumaseba(don't know English title). It's not one of his best but it's just that the story takes place in a city of Tokyo where I once live, Seiseki-Sakuragaoka(don't worry if u can't say it). What I don't like is how Disney Packages Hayao's animated movies, the packaging is so damn plain and I feel it's like insulting its creator. If you have the chance to see the Japanese DVD package and contents, you can compare the quality. Btw, they usually go for $40 and is in 8 languages(voice and subtitles)?! jeezuz! And, if you want all of his works, go down to your nearest Chinatown for a box set. The quality is okay and it's only in Japanese with Chinese and English subtitles...you get what you pay for.

Maya 3D class is difficult as usual. Yesterday's class was difficult to the point where one of the students had to show the teacher how to do something.lol. it's very technical to me,
but hopefully it'll make sense soon.

My mech units seem to get more attention than others. I'll start working on another one soon. I usually make really crude sketches and after numerous ideas, i lock on one and start to work on the general shape then detailing. I think coming up with an idea is the hardest part about designing mecha, but it's worthwhile...i think.


mata au zeh
(later),

ed

You know, i'm getting repulsed by seeing so much anime, that I feel like I'm back in Tokyo. It's not the artwork itself but just being saturated, like at school, and what my younger friends draw. But then again, I was like that over ten years ago(which was a factor for me to move to Japan in the first place).

DMED(Digital Media) classes have been pretty fun. Great learning projects from Photoshop and Maya 3D classes.Somewhat difficult but eager to learn.

With school, and a new job, it's hard to find the time to sit down and create something. When I work on something, it seems time goes by so quickly and before I realize it, 5 hours have passed, and I'm not even half way done!...or maybe I'm just slow.

Ore beigun yobihei kara Tokyo wo renshuu ni ikun jya. Ikitain desu kedo sa daigaku no classu ni ikenainda, CHIKUSHOU!

jya, mata au zeh
(later)

ed

Well, i'm back in the states and back to school. Japan was fun, and i brought back expensive photoshop digital coloring technique books and illustration books for reference. I think what people outside Japan fail to realize is that the typical manga/anime style is much MUCH more than big eyes and small nose and mouth. And that you see favorite characters in the train stations, at department stores, everywhere. One reason why I did move to Tokyo was my love for these kinds of stuff. But I guarantee one gets overwhelmed and becomes disgusted seeing famous characters plastered everywhere.

Btw, if you are a big anime fan, Tokyo will hold an international animation fare in March. So save your yen!

I spend so much time designing mecha sh*t when i should spend more time creating other objects. Also, I'm taking Maya 3D and Photoshop classes that i won't have time to put up many artworks  as much as I'd like. I'll still keep posting.

kotoshi ni gambarimashou(i'll do my best this year)! yeah, right!!!

mata au zeh!
(later)

ed

Parties were everywhere in Tokyo. While I and friends were celebrating at one place, my other buddies where celebrating somewhere else.

Now, many Japanese are going to Shrines or Temples to welcome the new year. Me? I'm taking it easy and kickiing back with my Limey mate at his apartment. We can't go anywhere since every place is closed, except the convenience stores(somebody has to sell toilet paper).

3 more days in Japan before I go back to the states and start putting my ideas on paper. I really miss making stuff after seeing great artworks on DA. I've seen literally tons of anime/manga stuff here. You know those magazines about anime you see in the states like Newtype, Protoculture, and Animerica? Well, there are like 20 kinds over here. I never buy the ones in the states cuz there's too much of an American angle rather than straight Japanese insight. That really upsets me. When you study about Japan and are completely immersed in it's culture(or for that matter, any country/culture), you get a little irritated when the American media completely distorts it.

Before I leave I plan to buy more anime books, probably will spend another $50.Btw, if you can read Japanese and can input Japanese characters, you can order on amazon japan. It's sometimes cheaper to order than buy direct.


Akemashite Omedetou(Have a Happy New Year)!!!

Ed

While I was celebrating with friends eating turkey at a U.S. military facility, most Japanese were eating Kentucky Fried Chiken. It was amusing to see a loooooooooong line of people in front of KFCs' counters waiting to get their bucket of original or crispy. Oh, well, we all have our own way of celebrating.

For Playstation fans, Gran Turismo 4 came out today. Graphics are pretty cool. The PSP and Nintendo are selling well.

Anime? How about "The King of Tennis", or "Beck", or even "Mongolian Chop Squad"? . You know, they have their own version of "Adult Swim", but on the regular networks. So what we, as Americans, might think of some shows as "mature subjects not suitable for younger ages" that are shown at later hours in the states are shown on primetime in Japan. Is that a kick in the ass, or what?!

Oh, and I just bought Wacom's Intuos 3 Pen Tablet. One thing that is definitely different about the Japanese version and the American version is the included software. It includes, Photoshop Elements, Corel Paint Essential, and Comic Studio(software for creating manga). See, manga is thought of differently here, not just some kind of trivial amusement for children. This Pen Tablet is for pro use, otherwise, get the cheaper wacom tablet. Anyway, the tablet works well, there are some shortcut keys on the tablet that are helpful.

I also bought more how-to-draw/create manga/anime books. That's another $40. Damn!

One more week and I'll be back in the states creating more artwork.

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year! Take care.

Ed

Since last Thursday I've been going to parties and bars every night.
I went to this bar, Lounge O, and they had this model night, and all these beautiful ladies were there and OMG! Well anyway, every morning I woke up with a hangover, slept it off, and got ready for the next night.

I've already spent over $200 in how-to-draw (cg)manga/anime books.It's just that these books are so damn expensive. One artist that is popular now is Range(pron. Rahn-geh) Murata, he was the one that designed the characters for Last Exile and Blue Submarine No.6. I can't believe I dished out almost $50 for his illustration book.

What's new in anime? I was able to catch more on tv. There's this show called Viewtiful Joe(which is unlike your traditional anime show). It's out on Playstation but I'm not sure if it's available in the states. Another show is Card Captor Sakura, seems like it's tailored for girls. And one more show for Gundam Fans: Gundam Destiny.
A lot of anime here ultimately ends up in video games(like DBall) or vice versa(like Street Fighter). The Gundam video game, Gundam vs. ZetaGundam,looks pretty cool.

What's Christmas like in Japan? This sounds funny but instead of eating turkey, many people eat KFC. Isn't that something? As for me, I'll be enjoying turkey with my Japanese friends at a U.S. military facility.HUUUAH!

mata au zeh(later)!

Man, did I get wasted last night. I saw more friends and got more drunk. I'll be going to 3 parties this weekend and a friend's concert next week in Yokohama. Damn!

So far being in Tokyo has been fun. And staying at a military installation keeps me within budget. A bottle of beer for a buck fifty?
Pass me another Bud, Arigatou and Kampai(Cheers)!

I haven't been able to get used to riding on the trains during rush hour. It's like being wallpaper. The trains get so jammed pack that there are attendants to cram everyone in so the train doors can shut. This creates a lot of unwanted touching.CHIKAN, or pervert/molester, is a big problem in Japan. Some train companies have women only cars during cerain times.

Before I met my British buddy tonite, I stopped by a stationary store that specializes in manga materials. If you're into COPIC markers, these  are super expensive. A set of about 150 markers can cost over $550. No thank you, I'll stick with my crayola. They have many different size light boxes, a great selection of How-to-draw manga books, manga pens, etc. I really don't like the books that are made in the states showing how to draw anime/manga. It's like a Japanese book on how to celebrate the Fourth-of-July. It's not the real thing, but that's how I feel. I'm not talking about the translated books but people in the states who claim to know how to draw anime/manga. I'll stick with the Japanese ones. And another thing, there are many human pose(some nude) books to help draw certain positions. I was surprised to see a Hands pose book. I think that is a very helpful book.


Next next week there'll they'll be a huge Manga market where profesional and amateur mangaka(comic artists) will gather and
show there works. That should be interesting.

mata au zeh!(later)

Since I've been here, I've met many of my friends, gotten drunk, eaten good food, and been catching up with current anime shows. Naruto is still popular, but there is much more. Marshmallow Tsushin, Rage Ends, Zoids, Goshberu, School Rumble,etc.Damn!
If they ever get exported abroad, there'll be a lot of editting to do.

You know, in the states, animated programs on tv generally will never use the word,"Die!"(it's like,"you will be destroyed",or,"say,goodnight"). But here, during fighting scenes, it's used. Over here, programs are about good stories and visual effects. In the states, where everything seems to be take serioiusly, there would probably be a plethora of complaints from irate parents...hey, lighten up.

It seems that all cars here have Ka-Nabi(Car Navigation sys.) which is pretty cool. Some have 3d Car Navi sys. where it looks like first person perspective driving on a video game. cool!

I needed to get a keitai-denwa(cell phone) so I got this cell which can play FM radio and it can be used as a tv...and it cost just 1 Yen(that's just 1 cent). And then I went to a U.S. military base, and the same thing cost almost $50! What a rip off!

I bought a drawing pad and some pencils to capture any ideas I get should I see something visually stimulating. I've be scoping the bookstore for how to draw anime and manga books,DAMN! I can't decide, so many! Maybe I'll just stuff them in my jacket and look at them back in my lodge room.lol.

anyway, JAA MATA AUZEH!
                   (later!)

I'll be in Japan in December and January hanging around with friends and searching for new ideas I can use for my artwork. Most of my anime, manga, sci-fi books were bought in Japan when I lived there, and there is a lot of material that will never be released worldwide. Why? Dunno. If you can read/write Japanese, there are Japanese websites that sell goods you can't get here in the states. Like Amazon Japan. Although it can be read in English, not all material is in English.
And the shipping costs an arm and a leg!

i was tired of my old avatar, and created a new one. this is better than my last 15 second avatar drawing. this artwork is good b'cuz you can't see the mistakes.