HOME | DD

Description
On Saturday, December 11th, I drew from my jar Shingen from "Usagi Yojimbo" created by my favourite comic book creator, Stan Sakai.
And now for some information.
The world created by Stan Sakai is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, 'cause Stan was very fascinated by Disney's idea - but it is a world much closer to the human. Despite the animal faces, you do not see animals or cartoon characters there - but human, only human. What's more - Stan's genius is that having two characters similar to each other, we are able to tell after one or two frames which of them is older and more experienced. Despite the simple and slightly cartoonish drawing style, Stan Sakai can create emotions that I have not seen in any other comic.
It was Stan Sakai who inspired me to draw comics in the form in which I create them today - so he is a kind of master for me, although I have not yet met him in person (I have an autograph in my favourite volume "The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy", captured by the Titatotrix).
Also thanks to comics from the series "Usagi Yojimbo" I became fascinated with Japanese culture and fell in love with ninja. One of the characters belonging to undoubtedly my favourite ones of the cycle is Shingen - the commander of the Neko Ninja clan until the end of fourth volume, "The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy" exactly, where he played a great role in the plot (but he also appeared as jounin in characters' flashbacks in later volumes). Shingen is the quintessential ninja to me - insidious, loyal to the clan, ready to sacrifice everything for the mission - but also honorable and even noble.

Originally I wanted to draw Shingen here at his greatest triumph or during his fight with Usagi - but then I figured I'd do something Master never did - introduce Shingen as a child. Do ninja born and raised in a clan to be future shinobi have any childhood? I don't know. But somehow I like to imagine that as a child, before fate directed him to be a kashira of Neko clan, Shingen was cocky, confident, and liked to show off. So that's how I drew it.
I tried to colour it so that it resembled the watercolor style of "Usagi Yojimbo" covers, and although I am far from the intended effect, I'm proud of it.

Thank you, Mr. Stan Sakai. For a great comic books, a lot of emotional, sympathetic, and sometimes hateful (but still well-written) characters, dozens, if not hundreds of amazing stories - and constant inspiration for me to perfect my workshop and make my works better and better. May you live and create at least for the next thirty years!

PS. I drew Shingen many, many years ago .

You don't know what going on? Here is the link to main post of this event

Usagi Yojimbo (c) Stan Sakai
Art (c) Nayia Lovecat

Description
On Saturday, December 11th, I drew from my jar Shingen from "Usagi Yojimbo" created by my favourite comic book creator, Stan Sakai.
And now for some information.
The world created by Stan Sakai is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, 'cause Stan was very fascinated by Disney's idea - but it is a world much closer to the human. Despite the animal faces, you do not see animals or cartoon characters there - but human, only human. What's more - Stan's genius is that having two characters similar to each other, we are able to tell after one or two frames which of them is older and more experienced. Despite the simple and slightly cartoonish drawing style, Stan Sakai can create emotions that I have not seen in any other comic.
It was Stan Sakai who inspired me to draw comics in the form in which I create them today - so he is a kind of master for me, although I have not yet met him in person (I have an autograph in my favourite volume "The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy", captured by the Titatotrix).
Also thanks to comics from the series "Usagi Yojimbo" I became fascinated with Japanese culture and fell in love with ninja. One of the characters belonging to undoubtedly my favourite ones of the cycle is Shingen - the commander of the Neko Ninja clan until the end of fourth volume, "The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy" exactly, where he played a great role in the plot (but he also appeared as jounin in characters' flashbacks in later volumes). Shingen is the quintessential ninja to me - insidious, loyal to the clan, ready to sacrifice everything for the mission - but also honorable and even noble.

Originally I wanted to draw Shingen here at his greatest triumph or during his fight with Usagi - but then I figured I'd do something Master never did - introduce Shingen as a child. Do ninja born and raised in a clan to be future shinobi have any childhood? I don't know. But somehow I like to imagine that as a child, before fate directed him to be a kashira of Neko clan, Shingen was cocky, confident, and liked to show off. So that's how I drew it.
I tried to colour it so that it resembled the watercolor style of "Usagi Yojimbo" covers, and although I am far from the intended effect, I'm proud of it.

Thank you, Mr. Stan Sakai. For a great comic books, a lot of emotional, sympathetic, and sometimes hateful (but still well-written) characters, dozens, if not hundreds of amazing stories - and constant inspiration for me to perfect my workshop and make my works better and better. May you live and create at least for the next thirty years!

PS. I drew Shingen many, many years ago .

You don't know what going on? Here is the link to main post of this event

Usagi Yojimbo (c) Stan Sakai
Art (c) Nayia Lovecat