Animation AKIRA Layouts & Key Frames 2 (OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS 24)

"AKIRA" was released in theaters in 1988 and revolutionized the world of animation beyond the realm of manga. This book is the second of a three-volume compilation of the huge amount of layouts, original drawings, and revisions used in the production of the film, all drawn by the original author and director Katsuhiro Otomo himself. A layout is a blueprint of an animated film, in which the necessary information is drawn for each of the scenes that make up the full-length animation. In addition to the original drawings and layouts of "Part B" (continuation from the previous volume) and the beginning of Part C" of the four parts (A, B, C, and D) that make up the entire film, the book also includes rare reproductions of celluloid images of famous scenes that were created based on the original layouts. Following the previously published two volumes of "Storyboard Collection," this book reveals in detail the production process of the cutting-edge expressions that are still being used today. The film version of "AKIRA" was created through a thorough process in which the "layout," which depicts the backgrounds and character movements for each cut, was directed and revised by the animation director, art director, and even director Otomo himself. The book is an unprecedented book that allows the viewer to experience the uncompromising quality of the screen work by simply flipping through the pages, one by one, and seeing the continuous action of each scene. As in the previous volume, almost all pages are printed in color, and many reproductions of celluloid images are included. This volume especially contains a large number of original drawings of corrections within a single cut in succession, allowing the viewer to see the movement of the pictures in greater detail, and this structure allows the viewer to further understand the details of the character movements that Director Otomo was so particular about. The total number of pages is approximately 710, more than the previous volume.

1988年に劇場公開され、漫画の域を超えアニメの世界までも革新したアニメ映画版『AKIRA』。本書は、その制作に使用された膨大な量のレイアウト、原画、原画修正の中から、原作者にして監督をも務めた大友克洋自身の手によって描かれたものを、全3巻にまとめたものの第2巻にあたります。レイアウトとは、アニメ本編を構成するシーンの一つ一つに必要な情報を描き込んだもので、アニメ作画の設計図となるものです。映画全体を構成するA、B、C、Dの全4パート中の「Bパート(前巻からの続き)とCパートの序盤」の原画・レイアウトの収録に加えて、それらを基にして出来上がった、数々の名場面の貴重な複製セル画も併録。先に刊行された「絵コンテ集」の2冊に続き、今なお先鋭的な表現の製作過程を詳らかに公開するものになっています。各カットの背景とキャラの動きが描き込まれた「レイアウト」が、作画監督や美術監督…さらには大友監督自身の手により指示・修正されるという、徹底した工程によって構築された映画版『AKIRA』。その妥協なき画面作りの凄さが、パラパラとページをめくるだけで1枚1枚連続して動作していく場面から体感できる、類例なき造本の一冊。前巻と同じく、ほぼ全編がカラー印刷で、複製セル画も多数収録。今巻は特に、ワンカット内の修正原画を多数連続して収録しており、より詳細な絵の動きを見ることができますが、これにより大友監督がこだわったキャラクターの動き(=演技)のディテールを、さらに理解できる構成になっています。総ページ数は前巻超えの約710ページ。