Character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto has legendary status in the Japanese anime industry. The talent behind countless beloved characters, from the original Macross to Megazone23, Mobile Suit Gundam and Gunbuster, his wistful, dreamlike figures with soulful eyes were a staple of mega-hit anime in the 80's. More recently his work can be seen in Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (2016) which was so popular that it spawned a video game and a cinematic feature.
Alas due to licensing issues there's no sign of his Macross work within this book, which is a massive shame considering his work covered Macross, Macross II and Macross 7 (I love his artwork for Ishtar and Mylene Jenius). However, given his superlative body of work, this omission can't damage the book's status as a must-have collection of the artist's work.
The book is split into chapters that cover each series/project, 27 in all with another chapter showcasing planning sketches. With full colour poster illustrations, character model sheets and sketches, this is a real insight into an amazing career.
What makes the book so essential are the insights placed around the book from the artist himself - it's as if he's sitting alongside you explaining what the work means, how it was approached and its significance, it creates an intimate atmosphere and shows why translated artbooks are so important, something PIE International has been pioneering for many years.
The hardcover presentation is stunning, with a striking wraparound cover beautifully offset by a two-tone sketch of the same illustration greeting you as the book is opened. It's such a treat to see the concept and the final article together like this, and the book is full of breathtaking illustrations ready to surprise you on each turn of the page. I own a lot of coffee table artbooks but this has easily become a favourite, adorning my office coffee table (currently joined by Udon's Street Fighter Memorial Archive which I'll cover later) and it frequently delights guests as I explain the significance - it might be the more familiar Chun-Li and Ryu cover that catches their attention, but it's Haruhiko Mikimoto's artwork that keeps it.
For those of us who remember growing up with the likes of Gunbuster, Megaroad, Macross and Gundam, this is a nostalgic rush - there's nobody else quite like Mikimoto when it comes to illustration, his style is instantly recognisable. Just looking at his (as yet) unused planning sketches is just such a thrill, and whatever he's planning with the fantasy designs, I want in.
Clearly this is a strong recommend from me. How can it not be? A behind-the-scenes look into the mind of one of the all-time greats is just a no-brainer, and even if you only have a passing interest in animation design or just beautiful art in general, you'll find much to love here.
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