Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimazu Yuko Shimizu

Award winning Japanese illustrator based in New York City and instructor at School of Visual Arts.

Trussardi’s short animated film Sky Watcher is released

Just came back from Tokyo.
Main reason of this visit, first time in 14 and half years since I left there in 1999, was to attend Italian fashion brand Trusssardi‘s event at Two Rooms in Aoyama, Tokyo. The event was to release a short animated film SKY WATCHER celebrating 40 year anniversary of their famous greyhound logo.
The film was directed by James Lima, a big name in fashion film.  I was involved in the project as a concept artist, dedicating most of September and October to work on close to 100 drawings that were then turned into 3D objects then to an animation film.
The film was released on December 4 in Tokyo as well as at Trussardi flagship store in Milan, and can be seen online on Trussardi website and on YouTube


As an illustrator working in the field for more than ten years, I have recently been thinking about how to bring my work to the next level, to something more than just print media. To expand one’s horizon, one have to take risks of loosing a total control of one’s work, meaning, teaming up with third parties who take one’s images and create something completely new out of them. It is a scary thought, then again, without the risks and trust for teams of professionals who are good at what they do (in this case animation) there will be no progress.

Thank you creative director Gaia Trussardi, director James Lima, Tomaso Galli, Federica Salmerigo, Giulia Lupo, Trussardi Japan, Aaron Barr of BA-Reps,  and everyone on the team for giving me this rare opportunity. And, last but not least, thank you Rovina Cai who came into my studio almost every day to help me scan and color numerous drawings through out the process.

some of the characters and Milan City designs I have created that were later turned into 3D objects:











some scenes from the film:

you can watch the full film on Trussardi website and on YouTube

the whole event space in Aoyama was turned into Sky Watcher world (all the photos from the events are copyrighted to Trussardi):

from left: Gaia Trussardi, James Lima and me at the event

some press:
Vogue Italia  D Repubblica (Italy)  WWD (USA)  Embelezzia (Spain)

conversation with Tatiana Córdoba

2013 is coming close to the end. My life is never perfect, but I think I had a pretty good year. How about you?
One of the best part of the year was that I was able to travel to places I never thought I would have a chance to visit, and met some wonderful people along the way.

One of those memorable trips included a week in Bogotá, Colombia  in April to speak and give workshop during illustration conference Congreso Internacional de Ilustración. 
there I met a young, talented and enthusiastic illustrator Tatiana Cordoba, who had recently worked on a graphic novel about the life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez Gabo: Mamorias de una Vida Mágica.  We became good friends, and she took me around all around Bogota.

One quiet afternoon, Tatiana and I sat  in a cozy coffee shop slash book store located right near now closed bull fighting arena to have a conversation. She has recently published it both in Spanish and English, so I wanted to share with you. Also, some pictures I took during the magical trip to Bogota are posted here as well.
read the interview in Spanish here.
read the interview in English here.

Tatiana and me, in front of the cathedral, on a rainy day in Bogota

See you on Nautilus (nautil.us)

For the last month and half or so, I have been working on an extensive project with new online (and quarterly print) science magazine Nautilus. One of the most exciting new thing happening in the editorial world.
There will be total of 12 illustrations I created accompanying various interesting and informative articles in theme of WASTE coming out every Thursday for next three weeks. The first chapter just launched today. So, please take a look at this beautifully designed site, and read the smart articles.
You can also subscribe to print issues of the magazine here. 

The Original Art Founder’s Award for Barbed Wire Baseball

The Original Art exhibit opened last week at the Society of Illustrators. This is an annual competition for children’s book that was published this year.  The book I illustrated Barbed Wire Baseball was honored to receive Founder’s Award, which is given each year to an illustrator who is new to children’s book.
I know, I have been illustrating for more than ten years now, and I have to be honest I was feeling a bit guilty receiving the award for ‘new’ artist. But the jury members and the Society reassured I fully qualified to receive this because it is, in fact, my first children’s book.
I always knew working on a children’s book is a ton of work and it is a pure labor of love. I became ill under huge pressure and stress while I was working on the final images two falls ago (to the point I had to rush to ER. No worries I have fully recovered!), but looking at this shiny medal, I feel all the work was worth the effort!
Thank you very much for the founder of The Original Art Dilys Evans, as well as everyone who was involved in the show. Also big thank you goes to AD Chad Beckerman at Abrams, editor Howard Reeves, and the writer Marissa Moss,
You can see all the original art works accepted into the show at the Society of Illustrators till December 21.
See pages from Barbed Wire Baseball here   Purchase from Amazon here

The Unwritten: the end is near…

The Unwritten #54 is in comic book stores today.
This marks the end of five issue long The Unwritten Fables segment. The Unwritten series will take a bit of a break till early next year, then we will start the last 12 issues leading to the big finale of the journey I have taken with Mike and Peter as well as with DC Vertigo team since 2009. (issue #55 and #54 covers below)

Another (a bit old) news from The Unwritten world is the release of original hard-cover graphic novel  Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice (Mike Carey, Peter Gross, Kurt Huggins and Zelda Devon) . The book has been on New York  Times graphic novel best seller list for the last three weeks. Yay!
(photos below: wrap around cover with foil and emboss, and interior pages by Kurt and Zelda)


workshop in Sarajevo (studio is closed)

I took off to Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina to teach a three day workshop and give a lecture at SOS Dizajn Festival.
The trip finalized last minutes, so I didn’t have enough time to spread the words, but if you are in Sarajevo area, you should come stop by! More info here.
I would love to meet you, locals. Take me to the coffee shops and long walks I have been reading about. 

Big thank you to the organizers of SOS who made this happen, and Mr. Mirko Ilić, acclaimed designer and my SVA MFA professor, for connecting us together.

Studio in New York is therefore closed. I will be back on regular schedule from Wednesday, October 16. Thank you and have a good week.

released today!: ultra limited edition Ghost Variant for Sex Criminals issue 1

If you are into comics, you may have heard about Ghost Variant, a mysterious entity who puts out awesome variant covers for various comic book publishers. They don’t announce till the day the issue comes out, and you can only purchase the issues through very limited number of comic book shops in US and Canada. It lives up to the name.

I am happy to announce my variant cover for Ghost Variant is released today, for issue #1 of Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky. There is Chip’s own story on how it came about, but that story aside, I have known Chip (I simply know him as Steve) for close to ten years, and he is a dear friend of mine. When he asked me if I wanted to be on board, I didn’t even need to think twice. …ok, that’s a lie. Yes, I got abducted by guys in a van and forced to create this cover.

Joke aside, this variant issue comes out in ultra limited edition. Get one before it’s gone. Here is the list of the stores who carry them.


Hand-drawn type is based on House Industries’ Cyberspace from House 3009 

exhibition @ Madformacs, Barcelona opening this Friday


Friends at Madformacs, design studio + design shop located in the center of Barcelona, Spain, is going to be showing my work from this Friday for two months.
So, if you live in the area, or have a plan to visit this beautiful city in next two months, please come stop by.
Opening party is on September 13, 2013 from 7:30PM, and you can join and get more info on their Facebook event here. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it to the opening due to the new school year here in the US, as well as extensive projects I am working on right now 🙁 But, booze will be served, so you should go and have fun!

Madformacs is located  on Muntaner 111, Barcelona, 08036, Spain. See map here

yes! the 80ft YES mural is now complete!

Yesssss! Just as the summer of ’13 is coming to the end, the 80 foot long murals (about 24 meters) that had been getting painted in DUMBO, Brooklyn is now officially complete! And can I tell you I am ultra excited?
This is a project I have been collaborating with Stefan Sagmeister and Wade Jeffery of  Sagmeister & Walsh for last couple of months as a part of Dumbo Walls project organized by DUMBO Improvement District and Two Trees Management Co.  Coby Kennedy single-handedly painted two panels in just about two weeks. Wow.
You can read more details in my previous news post.

When you are in DUMBO area, please stop by to see! The walls are on Jay street under-path, right outside of F train York Street exit, and very easy to find. (see the map below)

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