Aug 15, 2012

ウルトラマンアート! Ultraman Art

昨日、北浦和の埼玉県立近代美術館に行ってきました。
「ウルトラマンアート!」展をやっています。

Yesterday, I went to The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama in Kita Urawa.
They are having this exhibition "Ultraman Art" this summer.

「ウルトラマン」が放映されたのは1966年。たちまち日本中の子供たちが夢中になりました。翌年「ウルトラセブン」が、その後も次々とウルトラ兄弟たちが登場したのはご存知ですよね。

In case you don't know "Ultraman," it is a Japanese TV series first aired in 1966.  This super-hero in his silver-and-red costume fought against monsters to save our earth.  It grabbed the heart of all the boys at that time, and became a big hit.  It was followed by "Ultra Seven" next year, and so many other "Ultra-Crusaders" up until today.

でもなんで私が「ウルトラマン」展に?とお思いでしょうか?
実は私もウルトラマンや怪獣たちには、懐かしい思い出がいっぱいあります。というのも子供たちが小さいころウルトラマンに夢中だったんです。ビデオは何十回何百回と見たし、字だって「ウルトラ大百科」で覚えたほど。怪獣遊びに夢中になっている間に家事を済ませることもできました。

But why am I interested in that hero?  I kind of have fond memories around these heroes and monsters.  My children LOVED them when they were little.  They watched their videos over and over, learned to read thanks to "Ultraman Encyclopedia," and played with these toys for hours, while I could finish my chores.

人形もたくさんもっていました。古い写真でごめんなさい。
They had so many monster toys. Sorry, old pictures
 近代美術館は広い公園の中にあります。
昨日は久しぶりの恵みの雨で、草木もほっとしたことでしょうね。

The museum is in a big, nice park.  
It rained yesterday, a blessing after so many sunny days.
Trees and grass looked relieved.


建築は黒川紀章 architect: Kurokawa Kisho
入口でもう笑顔になっていました。

I already smiled at the entrance.
ピグモン、カネゴン、それとアントラーですかね?Pigmon, Kanegon, and is that Antler??

セブン!Ultra Seven!

ウルトラマン!Ultraman!


嬉しいことに、最初の二部屋は写真撮影可でした。
It was nice that in the first two sections, we could take pictures.
セブンとメトロン星人 Seven and Alien Metron
バルタン星人Alien Baltan
ビラ星人 Alien Villa


いいですね!OK, both, no fight in the museum(^_^)


なんか叱られているみたいなウルトラマン obedient Ultraman

彫刻家成田亨の怪獣デザイン画や撮影に実際使われた小道具や衣装なども展示されていました。昔のことだからCGなどありません。だから街もお城も精密に作っては、壊したり燃やしたりしていたんですね。製作スタッフの情熱が伝わってくる展示でした。


It was interesting to see monster design sketches by a sculptor named Toru Narita and original items and props used for the series. Of course, they didn't have CGs. They had to make very sophisticated models of towns and castles, and destroy and burn them.  I could tell how hard it was and how devoted all the people in the team were.


それだからこそ、半世紀にわたり多くの人に愛されてきたんですね。会場には子供から大人まで大勢の人が来ていました。普段美術館ではあまり見かけない50代くらいの男性も熱いまなざしで見ていましたよ。この夏大盛況の美術館でした。

That's why it has been loved by so many people over half a century.  There were many children in the museum, but also there were many used-to-be boys, looking at each item enthusiastically.  
It seems the museum is attracting many people this summer.


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7 comments:

Rurousha said...

Even I know about Ultraman! ^^ Alien Villa looks much scarier than the Kyoto dragons on the ceiling, and that "please be quiet" sign made me laugh.

A museum is a nice refuge on a hot day, isn't it? :)

Merry Witch said...

I like this museum, because it is close to where I live and it usually is not so crowded. Yes, very nice in a hot day.(^_^)

In this exhibition, they are evaluating "Ultraman" from the artistic point of view. The design sketches of the monsters were so beautiful, and I admired their creativity.

lina said...

Rurousha directed me here.

This is one of the few places of anything Ultraman related that we have yet in visit in Japan! Imagine that! ;p

lina said...

Forgot to add - they had the same exhibition up at Mori Tower a few years back, right?

Merry Witch said...

Dear lina,
Thank you very much for visiting my blog.
I see you like Ultraman?

I don't think this exhibition is the same one as the one in Mori Tower 4 years ago, but probably very similar.
This exhibition is called "Ultraman Art!" and it started in September last year in Hokkaido and toured Kagoshima, Fukui, Ibaraki, Nagasaki. It will be in Saitama until September 2. Then, it will be in Takamatsu from September 15 to October 28.
I hope you can make it.(^_^)

(V)o¥o(V)

Peter@English study tour melbourne said...

I would like to learn Japanese. I like the way you have interpreted in English on your blog.

Merry Witch said...

Thank you very much for your comment.\(^o^)/

I hope you can someday read my blog in Japanese.