Post It’s 7 is coming up this thursday. Here’s the work by Mari Inukai. Her works are always beautiful, delicate, and at the same time with attitude.

Minutes after we posted that the Bliss Kent Williams cover was out, he appeared. Literally minutes.

Bliss a free paper features Kent Williams on the cover including an interview. Not enough people pay attention to Kent, but here he is. That’s him floating upside down. That’s Mari Inukai below on the bed.

That’s Ayako Fujitani below

Mari on the left and Sena Inukai on right. This painting looks gangster. Mari with a sword… dangerous.

Mari Inukai is a friend to Giant Robot much like many other artists. Her work is often depicting her daughter Sena, but not always. Inukai explores popular culture with her own range of characters, which manifested into her own character figure series, Sekaiseifukudan as seen at Giant Robot Store. They’re not toys, but more in line as an artist work. The video below was taken at Comic-Con when Inukai signed figures and charmed new and old fans.

Her next exhibition, In the Wake of Dreams is below and begins tomorrow. It’s a four person show and should promise beautiful art works. Inukai’s daughter, Sena is pictured below, second from the left.

Mari Inukai is an artist living in Los Angeles. This is a short message about what she thinks about signings. It was shot during Comic Con 2011.

Kid Koala signed his new book, Space Cadet!

David Horvath did his usual, and entertained little kid drawings. A sort of portfolio review.

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Giant Robot at Little Tokyo Design Week. I’m a bit behind on the LTDW posts. There’ll be one more post up soon. These photos are from Friday which was slow in our area. It was packed at the JACCC which was screening Totoro and featured another 10 containers, an alcohol area, and a swarm of people. The evening led to nice photos.

Little Bony for you. The little dude fit perfectly in the container as if he were a product.

Martin Hsu who now lives in SF. He’ll be showing at Giant Robot 2 later this year.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Giant Robot at Comic-Con San Diego July 20-24

Giant Robot Booth 1729 (Same space every year! – Look for the red lanterns)

Giant Robot will be at Comic-Con San Diego, and will set up our merchandise booth.

Signing Schedule

Mari Inukai – Friday July 22nd 3:30-5:30 (Sekaiseifukudan figures and bonus items)

Kid Koala – Saturday July 23rd 10:30-11:30 (His new book Space Cadet)

Mari Inukai – Saturday July 23rd 12-2

Bonnie Burton – July 23rd 3-4 (Star Wars Craft Book)

David Horvath – July 23rd 4:30-5:30 (Bossy Bear and more!)

Watch for more announcements at www.giantrobot.com

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Sion Sono’s epic films showed this weekend at Cinefamily in LA. Here’s a shot of Sion Sono below. Unknown to a most of the sold out crowd was the fact that we brought in some extra fun in the form of food trucks. Lomo Arigato brought in the Japanese Peruvian food. I saw some of the folks munching down. Out in the patio was James Chong and Jesse Fillingham. The next day featured Mandoline Grill, Mari Inukai and Albert Reyes!

Lomo Arigato!

This pic rocks. Jesse and James brought their wares. These guys are great.

Since the release of her new vinyl figures and autograph signing at GR2, Mari Inukai’s Sekaiseifukudan series has been in popular demand. Giant Robot Online had seven figures available for customers to purchase. Now we are releasing an eighth figure for her enthusiastic fans!

The Usagiman Do-It-Yourself figure is a clear light mint figure, measuring about 7 inches tall. It is similar to the light pink Usagiman figure, but this DIY figure is unpainted, allowing customization of its various features. All Sekaiseifukudan figures are eligible to receive a customized signature by the artist herself! Just choose “Signed” from the drop-down option when you make your order. There is no deadline for an artist signature request yet.

Mari Inukai was originally born in Nagoya, Japan but moved to the United States to study art. She studied art first at Santa Monica Community College until she graduated with a BFA in Character Animation from the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California in 2004. She has worked with Sanrio Co., Disney Consumer Products, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, O Entertainment, Wild Brain, Nylon Motion Inc., Oishii Productions and NGTV. She has produced a short animated film, titled Blue and Orange, which has been featured in numerous film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival 2003 and winning the Japanese Grand Prix title at the Short Shorts Film Festival Expo 2005. Her art is featured in numerous galleries and exhibits for the many admirers of her talent.

Click on the photo above or follow this secure link in order to check out her newly released Sekaiseifukudan figures:

Mari Inukai Sekaiseifukudan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – the Cinefamily and Giant Robot Present: Japanese Director Sion Sono in Person at Cinefamily
Four Sion Sono films showing at the Cinefamily.

June 10 and June 11, 2011
611 N Fairfax Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90036 323 655 2510
cinefamily.org

Giant Robot and the Cinefamily is proud to host four Sion Sono films, with director Sion Sono in person to do a Q and A after the first screening on each day. Sono is scheduled to introduce the second screenings if time permits. Sion Sono is among the hottest filmmakers from Japan and is a film festival favorite worldwide.

June 10th Cold Fish 8pm *free, Hair Extensions 12 Midnight $10.
June 11th Love Exposure 2:30pm $10, Noriko’s Dinner Table 8pm $10.
the Cinefamily screenings are free for members.

In addition: Giant Robot Friends will be showing their wares, art, and more, before and after the screenings. Pick up some zines, prints, and artwork.

Friday: James Chong + Jesse Fillingham
Saturday: Mari Inukai + Albert Reyes

For your hunger, we’re bringing in some great GR approved food trucks.

Friday: Lomo Arigato (Peruvian Japanese)
Saturday 2nd screening: Mandoline Grill (Real Vietnamese)

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

If you’re interested in Mari Inukai’s Sekaiseifukudan figures, you can find them at Giant Robot

MARI INUKAI – SEKAISEIFUKUDAN

New from artist and designer Mari Inukai! Sekaiseifukudan is a new line of vinyl toy figures that debut this Saturday, May 7th at GR2! Meet all seven new characters and their creator at Giant Robot this Saturday from 2-4pm. Get your signed by Mari Inukai even if you live far away!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – New Figure Signing

Mari Inukai

Saturday May 7, 2011, 2-4 p.m.

GR2

2062 Sawtelle Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

gr2.net

(310) 445-9276

Giant Robot is proud to host a signing by Mari Inukai who’s Sekaiseifukudan series is set to launch on that very day, Saturday May 7^th. Designed by Mari Inukai, 7 different figures were meticulously created by Inner Sanctum in methods new to the toy making world. These pieces are treated like works of art, and we will also have rare and exclusive versions as well.

This special event will take place on May 7 from 2-4 p.m.

Mari Inukai is an artist  born in Japan who came to America in 1995 to pursue her art. She has worked in animation, clothing design, and shows her work in numerous galleries.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries, as well as an online equivalent.

For more information about the event, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura

Giant Robot Owner/Publisher

eric@giantrobot.com

(310) 479-7311