'Misao and Aoshi'

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY ! THIS IS A GIFT FOR ALL THE PERSONS WHO SUPPORTED MY ARTISTIC EFFORTS DURING 2009 ! I HOPE YOU’LL CONTINUE THAT WAY ! THANKS !


“Misao & Aoshi”
Rurouni Kenshin Fanart
2010.01.02.


Tuân’s…
Mood: Artistic
Listening to: The-Dream – “Love Vs Money”
Reading: Setni Baro - “L’animation et la bande dessinée japonaises en France (1970-2002)”
Watching: Takashi Miike - “Ichi The Killer” (does anyone know if the manga can be found in French or in English ?)
Playing: Dragon Ball Z : Attack Of The Saiyans (DS)


I used to be a great fan of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga “Rurouni Kenshin” back in the days. I spent numbers of afternoons and evenings watching Kenshin’s OAVs (Tsuioku-Hen, a must see) and reading the mangas with my dudes Fawzi, Nour and Bernard. Kenshin reminds me of really good stuffs that I shared with some of my best friends. It was already ten years ago, time moves so fast. If only money could buy time…

It’s because of the manga I became a fan of the Shinsengumi (especially of Soujiro Seta, Toushizo Hijikata and Hajime Saitou). When I was in Kyoto, I visited the Mibu Temple with my brother. It was strange to be in front of Isami Kondou’s grave, former commander of the Shinsengumi. I’m such a geek hahaha.


“Rurouni Kenshin” is a manga based on the adventure of Kenshin Himura, a clumsy vagabond looking like a girl. But behind this clumsiness and this fragile appearance lie Hitokiri Battousai, a legendary samurai who killed many political actors during the bakufu (1603-1868). We could say that “Rurouni Kenshin” is a jidaigeki manga, containing a lot of sword and katana fights.

As my friend Fawzi said, Nobuhiro Watsuki is a total wacko cuz he has the bad habit to create ATROCIOUS CHARACTERS (Raijuta Isurugi to give a name…). That’s why “Rurouni Kenshin” manga will never be a classic. But some other elements are just beautiful in it, like Kenshin’s past (watch Tsuioku-Hen, it’s an order) and the drawing style. When I was like 16 years old, I really liked Watsuki’s style. It still influences me now.

However Watsuki can have good tastes sometimes and can create beautiful characters as well. Among them there are the ninjas Misao Makimachi and Aoshi Shinomori, the two characters that I drew. Misao is in love with Aoshi and tries everything she can to catch his attention, but the leader of the Oniwabanshu is kinda uncommunicative. I just intended to represent their distant but warmhearted relationship. I love Misao efforts and her positivity. She’s the only person who can bring Aoshi back to light.


I only did one “Rurouni Kenshin” fanart (and another one for Fawzi’s 16th birthday). I started it when I was 17 years old and finished it last year in putting some colours. It was supposed to be Kaoru Kamiya, but she looked more like a tranvestite… But hopefully I made some progress since that time…

I really wanted to draw Misao with my style and a more mature face compared to her manga version. Aoshi’s there as well, just behind her. A simple illustration with a cold feeling, but you can feel there’s something behind this bleakness.


I’m glad I made this drawing. I’m getting increasingly tired of drawing for people in the rap game: they always want the same stuffs and have the same inappropriate expressions of their egos. 2010’s gonna be my year, in the sense that I’ll focus on my personal projects. The artwork “Misao & Aoshi” is a drawing I made with pleasure because I wanted to do it. Which is rare now. I must admit I do not take a lot of pleasure doing collabos, except with famous artists or artists I really appreciate.

Let me think about a thing or two: I restarted to draw in April 2008 after seven years off. It’s been a year and a half now. For 2010, I wish you all the best, especially to all those who supported me, support me, and will support me: you’re my real success.

I wanna give some extra shout outs to my friends who helped me during the end of 2009 because it wasn’t easy for me. One love to Bernardo, Nour, Aubred, Fawzi, Nam, Dam’s for being here. I know some of them for 25 years now, they’re family to me. Thank you so much.


I know it’s nothing, but take this artwork “Misao & Aoshi” as a gift, I did it for all of you.

Now I know that my resolution for 2010 is not to have a beard or a chin or anything like that. For 2010, I wanna bring more positive and funny stuffs to you. And even if you don’t love me, I’ll still make you dream.

Happy new year.


_Tuân aka “I’m not a drawer I’m a dreamer”