May 12, 2014

Takashi Murakami's feature film debut "Jellyfish Eyes" arrives in the U.S.

Jellyfish Eyes marks the feature film directing debut of Japanese superstar artist Takashi Murakami. Described as a post-Fukushima sci-fi fantasy, the $7 million live-action/CGI hybrid film incorporates Murakami's goofily-styled creatures throughout, as well as an appearance by his fine art character Miss Ko2.

Murakami had intended the film to be the first in a trilogy, but he pissed off his animation crew so much that they refused to work on the follow-up films with him. According to the Wall Street Journal:

Later in the same interview, Murakami alludes to a sequel, so perhaps additional films are still being planned. What we know for certain is that Jellyfish Eyes flopped when it opened in Japan last spring. The film is currently on an 8-city musuem tour in the U.S. with Murakami appearing in person at a number of the events:

Dallas, TX – May 1 (Dallas Museum of Art) Boston, MA – May 1, 10, 11, 12, 25, and 26 (Institute of Contemporary Art) Seattle, WA – May 2, 3, 4 (Henry Art Gallery) Washington, DC – May 22 (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden) Chicago, IL – May 25 (Museum of Contemporary Art) Los Angeles, CA – May 30 (The Theatre at Ace Hotel) New York, NY – June 1 (Film Society of Lincoln Center) San Francisco, CA – June 5 (Asian Art Museum)

Visit the film's website for ticket details.