The Tokyoiter Cover
'The Tokyoiter' is a submission based instagram account where artists submit a Tokyo themed cover
à la 'The New Yorker'. I decided to illustrate one of the most inspiring spots I’ve found as
an illustrator living in Tokyo: Mandarake, Nakano Broadway, which feels as much a museum
as it is toy and book store(s). It has toy collections that span decades often randomly juxtaposed together in glass cabinets.
'The Tokyoiter' is a submission based instagram account where artists submit a Tokyo themed cover
à la 'The New Yorker'. I decided to illustrate one of the most inspiring spots I’ve found as
an illustrator living in Tokyo: Mandarake, Nakano Broadway, which feels as much a museum
as it is toy and book store(s). It has toy collections that span decades often randomly juxtaposed together in glass cabinets.
Style
There was a challenge when trying to make the characters look consistent despite the different styles and materials. I'd intitially looked at adding form, but this would have demanded more detail on some characters and less on others. Except for Makoto Chan, the screaming boy (which stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw him), the characters I chose are really just ones that worked front-on, and are somewhat graphic (I wanted more kaiju from Ultraman, but they just didn’t look right). I'd have kept adding more and more, but set myself a time limit!
Finish
I experimented with different textures and finishes. As I'm drawn to the retro aspect of the toy collections, I wanted to pay homage to that in some way, so considered the old packaging. I added
a vintage paper texture and colour, then degraded the vectors a bit in photoshop.
I also looked at multiplied lines as opposed to black, but decided the boldness of the black was better suited for a cover. I looked at different colour options ranging from fun to moody to neutral.
I settled on the orange with a black header, the same colours as a Torii gate.
I experimented with different textures and finishes. As I'm drawn to the retro aspect of the toy collections, I wanted to pay homage to that in some way, so considered the old packaging. I added
a vintage paper texture and colour, then degraded the vectors a bit in photoshop.
I also looked at multiplied lines as opposed to black, but decided the boldness of the black was better suited for a cover. I looked at different colour options ranging from fun to moody to neutral.
I settled on the orange with a black header, the same colours as a Torii gate.
Animation
From time to time the New Yorker does simple animations of their cover, and I thought there
was an opportunity here too. A little parallax rotation to emulate the action or peering into
one of the cabinets.
From time to time the New Yorker does simple animations of their cover, and I thought there
was an opportunity here too. A little parallax rotation to emulate the action or peering into
one of the cabinets.
Find me on insta: @emiletheillustrator
