Impressions of the Reiko Shimizu Original Art Exhibition

I traveled all the way to Sunshine 60 to visit the Reiko Shimizu 40th Anniversary Original Art Exhibition. While checking where the station exit was and where Sunshine 60 was, I arrived without getting lost for once. At the entrance, there were flowers from Moto Hagio and a large, beautiful display of Maki-san from the key visual. When you buy an admission ticket, you receive a lovely bookmark with a message from Reiko Shimizu.

My biggest joy is seeing how Shimizu-sensei creates her art. The original drawings for her early work, 'Elena & Jack,' are colored with an airbrush in deep blue, so they are smooth and beautiful. For every picture, I can't tell if the shadows are colored pencil or layered paint. That is how beautiful the finish is.

In particular, the cover of 'Top Secret Season 0' has such transparency that I wondered if it was drawn with CG, but knowing they were all hand-drawn originals, the finish is unbelievably beautiful. There are no corrections or bleeding outside the lines at all.
The appropriate colors for the motifs are applied with a fine brush, creating a smooth texture. Maki-san's hair is drawn with energetic lines, one by one, carefully pulled to the very tips. Paint is layered finely over the remaining pencil lines, and you can barely see any brush marks. It is truly the work of a master.

A characteristic of her composition is that in works like 'Moon Child' and 'Kaguya Hime,' the backgrounds are drawn in detail, and there are many pictures with numerous characters on the screen. The picture where Jimmy, Art, and Jona from 'Moon Child' are all gathered features detailed drawings of the characters, their costumes, and the background. Each person's pose is different, and the delicate ruffles and patterns of the costumes are a masterpiece. It takes only a moment to look at, but you can savor the time the artist spent on this picture.

'Top Secret' mainly features compositions of Maki-san alone or with Aoki, making the characters' expressions more impactful. The covers of Melody often feature Maki-san alone with plants in the background, which was very impressive as a work of art. Each leaf of the plants is drawn carefully to highlight Maki-san.
I was so curious about how Maki-san's eyes and lips were drawn while he was wrapped in 'Keep Out' tape that I stared intently. It seems the eyes were given depth by layering colors finely many times. The lips biting the tape also have a three-dimensional feel. I thought it must have been hard to draw those letters, but she used modern technology. I was surprised. This Maki-san is very realistic.

I sometimes try to draw Maki-san, but it is truly difficult. A video of 'Manben' was being shown at the venue, and seeing how many times Maki-san's eyebrows and eyelashes were drawn with fine lines until they were finished made me sigh at how much effort goes into it.

And then, the artist's idea notebooks! In a regular university notebook, things like 'Top Secret' Muji 4 volumes are roughly drawn with panel layouts. Does she draw everything at once after having a nearly perfect image in her head? It's amazing. The sketches of ballerinas from before her debut also accurately capture body movements, joints, and the twisting of feet.

At the fun merchandise corner, I bought a clear file of Maki-san holding a bouquet and one of the key visual. I like the pale colors of both. I want to put the clear files in frames and display them. I should have bought two, one for regular use. I hesitated on the mug, but it was a bit heavy, so I passed. The 'Top Secret Season 8' cover keychain I wanted most was sold out on the second day. As expected of Maki-san. I also gave up on the 'Season 0' volume 10 cover art I wanted because it was too large. That Maki-san, with his white shirt and expression looking diagonally upward, is wonderful. I wonder if the art book included pictures that weren't on display. If there are many pictures of Maki-san, I want it even if it's big. I regret not looking inside the sample. I want to go again just for that.

After that, I went to the collaboration cafe. The tea, both hot and iced, was delicious. It was a shame I didn't get a 'Top Secret' coaster, but I'm happy enough with Elena and Jack. I read it in real-time when I was a child. I liked Jack back then, but now I think Elena is cute.

Bonus: Favorite Characters
Heroine?
1 Maki-san (Male)
Because I am captivated. Being beautiful, a genius, mean, and actually kind is the ultimate combination.

2 Elena (Robot)
It's cute how the selfish Elena is devoted to Jack. I was surprised by the beauty of the art and the sense of panel layout in 'Milky Way,' and it felt different from other manga.

3 Louis
Because she is a strong, kind girl with a big heart. I really think so when reading through the series. It's good that she doesn't lose to Elena and talks back.

3 4-head-tall Jimmy
It makes me cry how Jimmy, who is like a little boy, tries his best to get Art to notice him. This part is truly like The Little Mermaid. The parts where the two of them, the short Jimmy and Art, are together seem happy, and it's my favorite.

Men's Edition
1 Jack
He is calm, reliable, and honest about his feelings.
'20XX' has cruel scenes, but it is a sad and beautiful story. Because he doesn't forget the sadness of the past, the current Jack is kind. When I read 'Metal and the Bride,' I felt so heartbroken. I think so all the more because his first love is wonderful.


2 Okabe-san
The reason 'Top Secret' is interesting is because Okabe-san is there to take care of Maki-san like a mother. I want him to be happy soon. The way he gets anxious when he notices Maki-san's feelings speaks for 'Top Secret' fans. It's good that the supporting characters in 'Top Secret' have a lot of flavor.

3 Shona
Even though he is selfish, he is devoted to the person he likes, and it's wonderful how he acts immediately when his feelings for Setsu change.
It's interesting that in the world Shona sees, other people look like aliens from Star Wars. Only Jimmy and Setsu look normal. Shimizu-sensei is good at gags.

4 Aoki
In the heavy atmosphere of 'Top Secret,' he is the embodiment of human kindness and brightness. He is a natural and has a habit of running wild? Even though he should be cool, the fact that he rarely looks that way makes him different from previous characters. Although Aoki on the cover is beautiful, in the story, he becomes a normal person on par with Jimmy (from a peerless beauty to a boy).

5 Suzuki
An irreplaceable best friend who tried to protect the precious Maki-san to the end. The only person Maki-san could rely on. Every time a scene of them getting along appears, it becomes heartbreaking. His only flaw is that he is too cool and has no flaws.

6 Tajik
A genius chef who had the only intellectual battle with Maki-san. It's good that he doesn't hide his obsession with Maki-san. I want him to appear again. With his genius intellect that Maki-san is wary of, he seems like he would liven up the story. (According to Okabe-san, they are on the same level of cunning.)

#ReikoShimizu #TopSecret #MoonChild #KaguyaHime #ReikoShimizuOriginalArtExhibition #MakiSan