Anyone know what happened to his blog? It still exists, but all content is gone. Or has he moved to another host? (Hopefully not health related.)
https://sofvi.tokyo/250824-sofubi-anrakuansaku/ Octopus Monster + Mini Mogudan "Atlantis: The Seven Undersea Cities" Not about this release, but does anyone know is there any way to get something from the Medicom Toy Plus store's online? Seems like all of the releases I am interested (which are of the original Anraku Ansaku characters) have only been done from there. Does it just require finding a physical proxy to go to the location? Also, there was a Booska released through lottery in February apparently : https://sofvi.tokyo/250224-booska/
Another medicom cash grab situation perpetuated over what - 10 years now? They might as well be sculpted by AI at this point. Lifeless and boring…
His blog is still void of content. Before that happened, there were posts of the 3D modeling of ‘sculpts’ that definitely lacked the quirkiness of his old drawings and hand sculpts, but I think he was (is) no longer physically able to work with his hands like he used to. I’m actually glad he has found a new way still to create.
There is no shame in directing a hand sculptor to make one’s ideas. This digital crap is, well, utter garbage, and whereas I’d like to be on the same page regarding his continued creative endeavors - these figures really don’t hold up to the idea of a whole lotta creativity…
I was not championing the end results, but just saying that I was glad he found a way to keep going. I agree that the ‘new’ sculpts look processed and are void of the original funkiness that made us originally love AA, but I am certainly not going to be angry at someone that comes down with a disease that prevents them from creating the way they used to.
i haven't really followed what has happened over the years but from what i've seen there are very few licensed releases that i think look good, and even less that remind me of the original Anraku Ansaku stuff (mainly 1973 Goji and Anime ver Hedorah). however, i can't really fault an artist who is unable to physically work still wanting to create in some capacity. plus no idea whats going on behind closed doors with medicom themselves. really have to wonder what lead to the blog's content being removed the way that it was... that said, i just wish i could get access to purchasing the still ongoing releases of his actual original unlicensed work from medicom plus.
Anraku is one of the GOATs. I hope he keeps making toys for as long as can, any way that he can. His OG toys will always be my favorite but I am glad he is still at it. Original character/pachi neo sofubi has always possessed an inherently smaller audience than licensed fare; in a very real way Anraku’s godzilla sculpts are helping to insure he is remembered and appreciated in the future by new collectors, who will hopefully go down the rabbit hole and discover his wonderfully weird OG hand sculpted toys. Edit: this post was too P.C. All y’all can suck it! SUCK IT!!!! YEeaAaHHh!
Yawn. There’s no sucking happening…. just perpetual disdain for digitally rendered slop. And companies capitalizing on artists’ hard earned clout to the extent that the artists in question hardly even play a role in the production in question (cough NAG cough)…
I disagree. There’s plenty of sucking happening if you poke around.. Is digitally rendered slop any worse than hand rendered slop (cough RT Godzilla cough) ? (cough countless other sculpts cough) …cough Your cough seems to be contagious
I think that Booska looks good. I think just about any Booska looks good though... I think 3D sculpting does have a way of sterilizing the fun...making them less contagious. But if done well, I'll at least try to see it in person. AA is a maker that i find interesting--but 3D sculpting looks flatly strange to me in some respects.
ah well, what can ya do. Bad taste seems all the rage these days. And getting all personal, well… your beloved Shig must be smiling in his grave. Well done. Birds of a feather… Point of clarification - I like Anraku - when Anraku made Anraku toys. Critiques are purely directed at those responsible for the past few years of monetizing a once fantastic brand, and not with the man who put his own hard work into that brand. Nobody can please everyone. Fact of life
At least Anraku is alive and directing his art. Since he can’t physically make it, this is his closest ability to making it. So to me, this is his artwork period. He has to sign off. And since Medicom is doing all the work ( sculpting, painting, packaging) I mean it’s only fair they make enough to profit. NAG no longer has any say so all that comes forward is definitely a money grab. We have bootleggers even making NAG toys and saying that are homages. Everyone is getting in on it.
