b a c k g r o u n d      o v e r v i e w      T E C H N I C A L     i m a g e s        p o s t e r s        p u b l i c a t i o n     n e w s        r e v i e w s

Link: visual documentation of the NGV Melbourne exhibition
Link: visual documentation of the AGNSW Sydney exhibition
Link: visual documentation of the AAM San Francisco exhibtion

Structure

The exhibition is concentrated on 2 distinct bodies of work:

a. manga from which Tezuka (mainly through his companies Mushi Productions and Tezuka Productions) produced shorts, TV series and feature animations:

Metropolis (Metoroporisu)
Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atomu)
Jungle Emperor - aka Kimba The White Lion (Jungeru taitei)
Princess Knight (Ribbon no kishi)
Wonder 3 - aka The Amazing Three (W3 aka Wunda 3)
Marvellous Melmo (Fushigi na Merumo aka Mamaa chan)
Black Jack (Burakku Jakku)

b. The gekiga work of Tezuka produced between the late 60s and the late 80s. Gekiga is a more seriously-toned adult-oriented narrative form of manga which stresses realistic effect and emotional impact as opposed to the visual symbolism and hi-keyed archetypes displayed in early postwar manga. While manga - 'comic pictures' - is the umbrella term for all Japanese comics, gekiga - 'drama pictures' - can be viewed as a branch within manga.

Crime & Punishment (Tsumi to batsu)
Ludwig B (Rudovihi B)
Bomba! (Bonba!)
MW (Mou aka MW)
Eulogy for Kirihito (Kirihito sanka)
Human Metamorphosis (Ningen konchu ki)
Song of Apollo (Apporo no uta)
Buddha (Buddha)
Phoenix (Hi no tori)

(Excerpts in an introductory section also include pages from The Crater, Vampire, Tiger Books, Dororo, The Adventures of Lolo, The Glass Citadel)

Exhibition

Contents

1. Original pencil and ink drawings on paper (marked up ready for plate-making in preparation for the printing of the manga)
2. Original water colours on paper (actual size and larger scale works used for the printing of colour covers and title pages of the manga)
3. Blown-up digital print reproductions of manga pages

Audience

From late 30s (people who remember Astro Boy on TV when they were kids) to late teens (who are in tune with Japanese pop culture and are especially attracted to its animation). This exhibition - as with the KABOOM exhibition at the MCA - will appeal to a wide youth-oriented audience to whom the bold and sharp sensibilities of the comic form are exciting and enlivening. The exhibition's identity would hand largely on its contemporary/mass/Pop appeal. Parallel to this, the exhibition has potential to expand a general gallery audience's perceptions about the depth and quality which governs the manga form in Japan, as well as reveal the sophisticated artistry of Tezuka whom is regarded with great respect in Japan.

Catalogue

Edited by Philip Brophy and published by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (2006), this 156 page hardback catalogue contains:

1. A set of 6 critical essays written by English and Japanese writers, dealing with various aspects of Osamu Tezuka’s manga (with some reference to his anime)

2. A complete checklist of all 234 works exhibited in the exhibition

3. A summary bibliography

4. 66 reproductions from the exhibition

(For detailed information on the publication go here)
(For ordering information on this publication go direct to the NGV)

Complete contents of this page © Philip Brophy (All images © Tezuka Productions)