News
Modern Artist Murakami to Open Animation Studio in LA
posted on by Egan Loo
The blog of the Los Angeles Times newspaper reported this week that modern artist Takashi Murakami will open an animation studio in Los Angeles next summer. Murakami is best known for his unbashed embracing of popular culture — especially anime and manga — in his florid art pieces and video projects. He created the Superflat Monogram anime movie (pictured at right) and the Kaikai & Kiki anime shorts, which had an episode bundled on DVD with Vogue Nippon magazine in Japan.
Murakami already has his headquarters in Tokyo and another studio in New York. The new Los Angeles facility will be located at North Highland Avenue, and will have enough room on two floors for 30 employees.
The "© MURAKAMI" exhibition had a successful run in Los Angeles last year, after a launch gala party with rapper Kanye West, actress Christina Ricci, music producer Pharrell Williams, and other celebrities. Murakami premiered his "Planting the Seeds" short with the Kaikai & Kiki characters at the "© MURAKAMI" exhibition, and his new Los Angeles studio will develop a feature-length film based on this short.
Thank you to Daniel Zelter and Kirielson for the news tip.
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