Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1521244
The harsh summer sun was the main problem with the location, which I resolved by constructing an Ur-mother tangerine tree, that was trellised over the main square, built by greens maestro Carla Jackson and her team. It gave welcome shade on the scenes there, and made a unique centerpiece to the set. The village played in three different states: flashback, with more vibrant set dressing; present day under Arlong's venal rule, where the thatched roofs were sprayed with green paint and sawdust for an effective mossy finish, and finally, the fire-destroyed village at the end. With a tight turnaround schedule, this was mostly achieved with scenic effects, including a highly secret recipe for charred, crystalized timber that was breathtaking. The final gem John unearthed was an unfinished mansion build, stripped back to the cement, to create the various grand rooms of Kaya's mansion. Here, we could wallpaper the entire staircase lobby with ship trompe l'oeil, a work of love by the talented Fred Mpuuga, and cover one room in porcelain to create the dining room. I love how locations can offer up unexpected inspiration. There wasn't a space that worked for Kaya's kitchen, but wandering back through the columned indoor swimming pool, I realized this would make an extraordinary kitchen, with levels, angles and features built-in. This covers only some of the sets from the show, such was its scale, which made it such a huge physical undertaking, and a great responsibility to capture the spirit of a beloved manga. Inventing its unique visual language infected everyone in the entire team with an excitement and pleasure that showed in our work, honored the fans' world and opened it up to a whole new audience. ADG D E F G Richard Bridgland, Production Designer Mark Walker, Super vising Art Director Jonathan Hely-Hutchinson, Senior Art Director Catherine Gaum, Ella Rushforth, Alan Munro, Art Directors Chris Evans, Assistant Art Director Werner Hendrich, Joshua Vermaak, Marcel Br ynard, Set Designers Matthias Beeguer, Jakub Vykoukal, Deon Delange, Frederick Mpuuga, Andre Human, Kevin Hunter, Concept Artists Erik Rose, Illustrator Emlyn Nield, Thomas Dorman, Graphic Artists Tom Hannam, Set Decorator