Manga-Inspired Artwork Captures the Spirit of Lexus
Anime and manga are deeply ingrained in the aesthetics of Japanese pop culture. That’s why Lexus has tapped a trio of artists to showcase the influence of modern Japanese popular art on the automaker’s vehicle designs. Here’s a look at what these artists created.
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Yishan Li
Inspired by the Lexus UX’s tagline, “New Horizons,” Yishan Li depicts a serene scene of a woman relaxing with her Lexus. According to the artist, this Lexus driver has just completed a big creative project, and is enjoying some well-deserved downtime and sunset on the beach after. Yishan commented that the Lexus UX was the toughest part of the illustration. “There are so many precise curves and design elements, they’re a lot harder to draw than characters,” she explained.
Timothy Kong
In Kong’s dramatic scene, a Lexus ES speeds away from a horde of dragons — including a fire-breathing behemoth that’s hot on its trail. Although it looks like an ambitious crossover between Monster Hunter and Fast and the Furious, Kong explained that his artwork more than just a combination of cool things. “I chose a dragon to highlight the brave design of Lexus cars,” he said. “In Japanese culture dragons are shown to be incredibly powerful and proud creatures that represent courage and strength, and to challenge one is seen to be a brave endeavor.”
Daniel Atanasov
Bulgarian-born artist Daniel Atanasov depicted a katana-wielding warrior riding atop a Lexus LC. Growing up in communist-controlled Bulgaria, Atanasov didn’t have access to very much fun media, but he got his hands on some sci-fi anime and has been hooked ever since. That sci-fi influence even carried over into his Lexus-inspired piece. Check out the driver seat — it’s empty. That’s no mistake, Atanasov explained. “The car itself is an autonomous being, but at the same time has a symbiotic relationship with the man,” he stated. “That’s why there is no driver behind the wheel; the car is intelligent, self-driving and reliable.”
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Source: Lexus
Kimiko Kidd is a native Daytonian. She graduated from Wright State University with degrees in environmental science and sociology. She loves her trusty old Honda Civic, but dreams of owning a 1974 Ford Falcon XB with a custom paint job and a vintage Kawasaki Z1000. In her free time, Kimiko can be found watercolor-painting, baking muffins, collecting rocks, playing old-school Nintendo games, writing her novel, sewing stuffed animals, and cosplaying as her favorite Mad Max characters. See more articles by Kimiko.