Another in PIE International's very fine compendium artbooks, the focus of this volume is clear from the title - moe art of girls, for girls.
Now, I realise that really limits my qualifications here, being as I am a 41 year-old man, albeit with a passion for artwork of all stripes and origins. I can tell you that my other half loved the book, and she has pretty good taste even without my experienced artistic eye, so the target audience seems to be onboard.
What I can observe objectively is both the quality of the construction and the variety & style of content. On the former, the book is printed on high-quality stock, softcover, with a beautiful dust-jacket. The book features the artwork of 29 talented artists, with works taken from their collections, and a few illustrations created exclusively for this book.
Beautifully detailed living spaces by Chiaki Ida
From the stunning watercolour fantasy portraits by Yoshioka to the Alice-In-Wonderland style fantasy art of NAFFY, this is a book with charm and surprises around every corner. I love Chiaki Ida's wonderful woodland-home style illustrations, full of homely details like scattered cushions in a wonderfully detailed bedroom, through to the pots, pans and packages strewn throughout a two-tier kitchen/diner. It's the sort of art that I love to linger on, enjoying the fantastic details and worldbuilding that the artists have poured so much heart and soul into.
Yuki Kawatsu concentrates on form, with energetic girls in imaginative garb (love the girl dressed like an aquarium!) while Kukka goes in the opposite direction with lush landscapes populated by characters enjoying the ambiance of a miniature world scattered throughout some flowerpots.
If you're a lover of fashion and already have the Fashion Illustration artbook I reviewed a few weeks ago, then fear not, for every style of outfit imaginable, from Gothic Lolita to hip street fashion is utilised here, with a little something for everyone.
A delicate touch with traditional themes by Nekosuke
The book's collection of highly feminine artwork is a real celebration of the softer side of girl's fashions. The book is heavy on pastels, delicate features and intricate clothing. There are a few pictures of more modern and street-style attire, but there's no doubt that the illustrations are focused on the Moe style. This of course is true to the title, and I can tell you that fans of the style will not be disappointed with the curated works bound and presented within this very pleasing volume.
As usual with PIE's books, there is the minor inconvenience that the volume has not been translated, rendering some of the commentary (and particularly the breakdown of key artworks) impenetrable for Western audiences unable to read Japanese. This is a real shame, and while it doesn't mar the enjoyment of the artwork, you are missing some of the content that walks you through the magic.
If there's a moe girl in your life, this could be the stocking-filler you've been looking for. And chances are she'll have the lacey stocking for you to put it in! For me, this is a book that I'll be giving to my daughter when she's older, something to fire her imagination in the years to come.
This book was kindly provided for review by PIE International. I have also purchased a copy to gift.
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