Nizo Yamamoto: Master of Anime Scenography
From October 3, 2026 to January 10, 2027, the S. Tchoban Foundation. Museum for Architectural Drawing, Berlin, presents Nizo Yamamoto: Master of Anime Scenography, the first comprehensive exhibition outside Japan dedicated to the artistic work of Nizō Yamamoto (1953–2023), one of the most influential art directors in Japanese animated film. For more than four decades, Yamamoto created visual worlds that have left a lasting mark on the visual memory of the genre.
In Japan, Yamamoto's work has long enjoyed great recognition. Internationally, however, his name remains far less known than the films in whose creation he played a key role. Through his work on Castle in the Sky (1986), Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997), and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), his imagery is familiar to audiences worldwide.
Curated by Stefan Riekeles (Riekeles Gallery), the exhibition presents around 120 original works and builds on the museum's earlier exhibitions on background art in Japanese animated film: in 2016, Anime Architecture showcased the urban spaces of major science-fiction anime such as Patlabor (1989), Ghost in the Shell (1995), and Ghost in the Shell 2 – Innocence (2004); in 2022, AKIRA – The Architecture of Neo Tokyo presented the original background art from the groundbreaking film AKIRA (1988) for the first time worldwide.
S. Tchoban Foundation. Museum for Architectural Drawing, Christinenstraße 18a, 10119 Berlin · October 3, 2026 – January 10, 2027.
The Book
An accompanying publication, Art for Animation: Nizo Yamamoto (Riekeles Gallery, Potsdam 2026), brings together essays by Toru Nozaki and Stefan Riekeles, with contributions by Kazuo Oga, Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki.
Title: Nizō Yamamoto: Art for Animation
Editor: Stefan Riekeles
Language: English
Publisher: Riekeles Gallery
Design: Annika Paetsch
Publication date: October 2026
ISBN: 978-3-00-087124-5
Format: 24 × 28 cm, landscape format
Binding: Hardcover with yellow cloth spine and printed cover boards
Pages: 190
Illustrations: background paintings, image boards, layouts, production materials
Edition: First edition
Shipping starts: October 2026
Pre-order price until September 30, 2026: €39.00 incl. VAT
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Description
Nizō Yamamoto (1953–2023) was one of the defining art directors in Japanese animation and a pioneering figure in the development of anime background art. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he shaped the visual worlds of some of the medium’s most celebrated works, collaborating with directors such as Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki, and Mamoru Hosoda. In Japan, his achievements have long been held in the highest regard, yet internationally his name remains far less familiar than the landmark projects he helped to create. Through Future Boy Conan, Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and more, his images are cherished by anime fans around the world. As the first English-language book dedicated to Yamamoto’s art, this volume brings together background paintings, image boards, and rare production materials. It traces the development of his visual language and reveals how his extraordinary command of light, atmosphere, and space transformed background art into one of the central expressive forces of Japanese animation.
Featuring background art and production materials from (among others):
Future Boy Conan
Castle in the Sky
Grave of the Fireflies
Princess Mononoke
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Weathering With You
Including a glossary, selected filmography, and bibliography.
Includes a spectacular gatefold featuring a 1:1 reproduction of background art from Princess Mononoke, unfolding to an impressive 160 cm in width.
Cover and specifications may be subject to minor changes before publication.