These Paper Sculptures Are Amazing! Love Live! Characters Reimagined Through Paper!

Love Live! School Idol Product Rin Hoshizora

Right now, there are amazingly skilled creators blowing up on Twitter! Many of them surprise users with their works themed after anime and manga. Up till now on Tokyo Otaku Mode, we’ve taken a look at many creators, a recent one being a creator who makes Sailor Moon-themed tote bags. This time, we were successful in getting in contact with Takahashi, whose paper sculptures of the members of μ’s (pronounced “muse”) from the series Love Live! School Idol Product are blowing up online and receiving high praise from users, who say they are “works of the gods!” We talked thoroughly with Takahashi to find out all about these amazing sculptures!

──When did you begin doing paper sculptures? And how did you first get into it?

The truth is, I started doing paper sculptures two years ago. I’m still a relatively unknown novice. I got into it after finding the work of artist Jeff Nishinaka online. I was taken aback at first sight. His work and meeting him had tremendous influence on me.

Nonetheless, I didn’t know anything at first, and I began creating by relying only on the visual information given through pictures and my own imagination. I currently create while also researching on my own.

──Why did you choose this time to express the characters of Love Live! as paper sculptures?

The reasons why I chose Love Live! this time are:

1. It’s a work I personally like
2. Undertaking a large nine-work project is a milestone for me
3. I’m on a quest to pursue new ways of expression

I first started doing derivative work due to research and discovery. Because I’m self-taught, I don’t have any foundation and I don’t understand techniques of expression and the rules.

By creating work based on already existing art, I happened upon expressions and detailed depictions that I didn’t even think about, and it became necessary to express those using new techniques in order to complete them. By clearing those, I began creating from the thought of elevating my techniques and making new discoveries. There was also a goal that drove me, and I thought it would even be wonderful to decorate a completed work. For that reason, my goal was research and the pursuit of new discoveries connected to original work more than work created from something derivative.

Nico Yazawa. She is intricately detailed and the height of Takahashi’s techniques can really be felt.

──Regarding the process of creating the nine girls from Love Live!, what was the hardest part?

The question “How far can I push myself?” Being a large project consisting of nine works, elevating my techniques through researching and pursuing new ways of expression, strengthening my mentality - I acquired a lot of experience points from this project.

For the duration of creating these, I was staring at nothing but blank white paper and I saw hardly any color. Also, the clothing was all about the same. Because of that, though I was continuing to create mainly the same thing, it was necessary to maintain my motivation. When I consider those things, I think they may be in line with answering the question “How far can I push myself?”

──Of the nine Love Live! sculptures, which parts or which character are you most pleased with and why?

Nozomi Tojo. There are a tremendous amount of points in her construction that I am pleased with, including the frills on her skirt and collar, her socks, hair, her style of expression, her hair ornaments, and more. Well, I guess the whole thing. I think I finished off the trouble areas extremely well. By the way, I’m a fan of Hanayo Koizumi and Nozomi Tojo.

Hanayo Koizumi

Nozomi Tojo

──Are you thinking of continuing to create paper sculptures of anime and manga characters from here on as well? If there are any themes you are considering or characters you’d like to try creating, please tell us.

I haven’t thought about it fully. I feel like if something interests me, I’ll create it. I said it was for research and discovery, but, of course, I’m quite proud to be able to decorate something expressed as a paper sculpture. They are lovely, if I were to say so myself. So, I think I will give it another go in the future if I happen across a character I’m interested in.

Creating an original work will be the foundation for my paper sculptures to come, so I will continue to create my own work.

Takahashi’s Twitter Page

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.

Love Live! School Idol Product Honoka Kosaka
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Honoka Kosaka
Love Live! School Idol Product Honoka Kosaka
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Honoka Kosaka
Love Live! School Idol Product Honoka Kosaka
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Honoka Kosaka
Love Live! School Idol Product Eli Ayase
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Eli Ayase
Love Live! School Idol Product Eli Ayase
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Eli Ayase
Love Live! School Idol Product Kotori Minami
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Kotori Minami
Love Live! School Idol Product Kotori Minami
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Kotori Minami
Love Live! School Idol Product Umi Sonoda
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Umi Sonoda
Love Live! School Idol Product Umi Sonoda
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Umi Sonoda
Love Live! School Idol Product Umi Sonoda
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Umi Sonoda
Love Live! School Idol Product Rin Hoshizora
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Rin Hoshizora
Love Live! School Idol Product Rin Hoshizora
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Rin Hoshizora
Love Live! School Idol Product Maki Nishikino
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Maki Nishikino
Love Live! School Idol Product Maki Nishikino
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Maki Nishikino
Love Live! School Idol Product Nozomi Tojo
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Nozomi Tojo
Love Live! School Idol Product Nozomi Tojo
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Nozomi Tojo
Love Live! School Idol Product Hanayo Koizumi
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Hanayo Koizumi
Love Live! School Idol Product Hanayo Koizumi
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Hanayo Koizumi
Love Live! School Idol Product Hanayo Koizumi
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Hanayo Koizumi
Love Live! School Idol Product Niko Yazawa
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Niko Yazawa
Love Live! School Idol Product Niko Yazawa
*Love Live! School Idol Product* Niko Yazawa

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