CONTENTS Cover Title Page I Love Kawaii: Introduction Aranzi Aronzo Bubi Au Yeung Bukubuku Catalina Estrada Charuca Clémentine Devil Robots Douman Friends With You Hiroko Yokoyama Itokin Park Laura Osorno Leo Espinosa Lilidoll Little Amie LouLou & Tummie Marichan Meomi Mimio Mizuka Pablo Moreno Paul Shih Peskimo La Princesita Ryoko Sheena Aw Superdeux Tado Terelo Tokidoki Toto Wang Yukiko Yokoo Acknowledgments Copyright About the Publisher I LOVE KAWAII: INTRODUCTION Kawaii is a Japanese word meaning “adorable, sweet, cute.” It’s common for the Japanese to exclaim, “Kawaiiiiii!!!” upon seeing something or someone that is exceptionally cute—a puppy, kitten, or baby, for example. Kawaii can also apply to anything that appears childish, both in terms of an object’s graphic simplicity— geometrical and curved shapes and bright colors—and the humorous and/or positive message it conveys. Another feature of kawaii is that everything, be it object or animal, is humanized. The proportion between head and body is extremely distorted. A kawaii character usually has a head the same size as the rest of the body, sometimes even larger. Think of the world-famous Japanese icon Hello Kitty—the perfect global example of kawaii. I had wanted to put together a book on kawaii art for some time. At the risk of sounding like a kawaii freak, I have to admit that I am a huge fan of the art. My love for it borders on the obsessive. Not only have I integrated some aspects of kawaii into my own artwork, but I have also sought out the best kawaii artists in the field to learn from them. Aside from this, being the compulsive collector of art books that I am, I could no longer stand the gap in my bookcase, which desperately needed filling with a collection on this type of art. After a great deal of research, I decided to create this book myself, presenting works of my own as well as those of my favorite artists. I felt an urgent need to share kawaii with the rest of the world if only to make life a little more pleasant and enjoyable. I want you to fall in love with kawaii just as I have. The book you are holding in your hands is a whimsical compendium of kawaii-based creations from a handful of my favorite artists, many of whom are my friends. Each artist, of course, has his/her own unmistakable style. This book celebrates the art of kawaii—and the artists who are at the cusp of the form—for all its color, supercute graphics, and delightful sense of humor. I think these images are incredibly exciting; they carry me away to a dream world filled with bright colors and the sweet smell of candy. I welcome you to my kawaii world, and hope you enjoy your trip. ARANZI ARONZO Osaka, Japan www.aranziaronzo.com [email protected] In 1991, Yoko Yomura and Kinuyo Saito created the brand Aranzi Aronzo. Their premise is quite simple: “To create and sell the sort of things we like.” Yomura and Saito began by creating fabric dolls in their homes and selling them in shops. Aranzi Aronzo currently employs twenty staff members and makes all types of products; each product is treated and created with love. Aranzi Aronzo puts quality before quantity and any product bearing this name is vigorously inspected for quality control. Aranzi characters are unmistakable: They have a captivating style with some highly amusing graphics. Their shop in Daikanyama, Tokio, is well worth a visit. PANDA SEA T-shirt design CLAPPING HANDS WHITE RABBIT BROWN BUNNY