Susumu Matsushita (松下進 Matsushita Susumu; born February 6, 1950, in Fussa, Tokyo)[1] is a Japanese manga artist known for his unique American comic–influenced design. His most famous works are the designing of the mascots Neppie[lower-alpha 1] and Ripsea[lower-alpha 2] of the Orix Buffaloes, the concept art for the Monkey Magic television series, and video game artwork for Hudson's Adventure Island series (1986), Motor Toon Grand Prix (1994), and Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (2001).

Early years

Born in early 1950, Susumu Matsushita developed an aptitude for artistic design at a young age. He was influenced by animated Disney films featuring animal designs and by the American comics that were enjoyed by Matsushita's American uncle. He attended a specialized school and was educated in industrial design and later music where he gained a lasting appreciation for The Beatles.[2] During this period, Matsushita attended an exhibition by Alan Aldridge in Ikebukuro's Seibu Department Stores. Fascinated by Aldridge's original illustrations for The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics, the exhibition made a strong impression on Matsushita and he determined to learn how to use the airbrush. Within a few months of experimentation he completely shifted to graphic design and the airbrush became his primary tool.[3]

Career

Matsushita began working as a freelance graphic designer in 1973.[1] He had difficulties marketing himself initially, however his career gained momentum after securing a 1976 deal with Magazine House[4] to produce magazine covers for the fashion magazine, Popeye. This was soon followed by a contract with Shueisha[4] in 1979 to creating artwork for Young Jump.[2] Matsushita's development of Young Jump's mascot, Mac Bear[1] (later Buddy Bear), was to provide a significant moment in his career as he would shift increasingly toward the development of characters and mascots.

Creating his own studio company in 1986, Matsushita immediately signed a contract with ASCII to produce covers for the video game magazine, Famicom Tsūshin (subsequently shortened to Famitsū). With professional connections to the Jump magazine line and to Famitsū, requests were made for the development of numerous mascots for magazine split-offs and for video game character designs. These in turn became business propositions for Matsushita to develop mascots for musical bands, sports leagues, and even commercial and industrial organizations.[1][2]

Mascots and characters

Matsushita's illustrations have frequently appeared in video game magazines including the creation of numerous covers for publications such as the Jump magazine line and Famitsu (for which Matsushita has designed the mascot, Necky the Fox[lower-alpha 3][5][6]). Matsushita also designed Baby Necky[lower-alpha 4][7] for younger readers and is responsible for creating the mascots of numerous Famitsu spinoff magazines including:

He also drew the old Shueisha Business Jump magazine's mascot, which was a mouse.

Matsushita has also designed mascots and characters for video games and collectible card games including:

In addition to creating characters for games and game magazines, Matsushita has also designed mascots for numerous sports organizations like the mascots for the 1994 Asian Games which were being hosted in Hiroshima at the time, Poppo[lower-alpha 9] and Cuccu[lower-alpha 10]. Matsushita designed The Gamba Osaka's Gambaboy[lower-alpha 11][3] as well as The Orix Buffaloes' Neppie[lower-alpha 12] and Ripsea[lower-alpha 13].

Matsushita's designs, mascots, and characters have also appeared in the Kitakyushu-based theme park Space World (Matsushita designed Lucky Rabbit and friends),[17] Minato's All of Me Club,[1][15] and as concept art for the Monkey Magic television series.

Exhibitions

Matsushita has exhibited his works on a number of occasions throughout his career. Career highlights include:

  • Susumu Matsushita 30th Anniversary Show (松下進 イラストレーション展) (2003, Sony Building, Ginza, Tokyo)[11]
  • Susumu Matsushita Art Works Exhibition (松下進ArtWorks展 ～2013年 画業40周年をむかえる松下進の世界～) (2013, Gallery EpiCute, Chiyoda, Tokyo)[4][18]
  • Old & New Susumu Matsushita Solo Exhibition (「OLD&NEW 松下進個展」) (2019, Bunkamura in Shibuya, Tokyo's Dōgenzaka district)[1][15][19]

Personal life

Matsushita is married to American-Japanese jazz singer Naomi Grace,[20] for whom he acts as her producer.[2] Matsushita also performs with the band, Honda Fujio & His GANG (本田富士旺＆His GANG).[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ネッピー
  2. ↑ Japanese: リプシー
  3. ↑ Japanese: ネッキー・ザ・フォックス
  4. ↑ Japanese: ベビー・ネッキー
  5. ↑ Japanese: アーノルド・アルマジロ
  6. ↑ Japanese: サビー・ザ・フライング スクウィラル
  7. ↑ Japanese: ペンギン・ブラザース
  8. ↑ Japanese: バギー・ザ・バット
  9. ↑ Japanese: ポッポ
  10. ↑ Japanese: クック
  11. ↑ Japanese: ガンバボーイ
  12. ↑ Japanese: ネッピー
  13. ↑ Japanese: リプシー

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Staff. "ファミ通“ネッキー”のデザインでもおなじみの松下進氏の原画展が開催！ 初日には古舘伊知郎とのトークショーも". Famitsu.com. 11 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Fujimoto, Taro. "Executive Impact: Everything By Design". Japan Today. 13 January 2009.
  3. 1 2 Staff. "『POPEYE』『ファミ通』でおなじみのイラストレーター·松下進インタビュー「きっかけはビートルズ」". Nikkan Taishu. 21 December 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Staff. "イラストレーター松下進氏のアート展が開催中！　開催2日目のトークショーの模様をお届け". Famitsu.com. 25 August 2012.
  5. ↑ Gifford, Kevin. Weekend Factyard: Famitsu/Famicom Tsushin Archived 2010-01-03 at the Wayback Machine MagWeasel. 19 September 2009.
  6. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian. Gaming Magazine Totally Snubs Xbox 360!? Archived 2009-05-05 at the Wayback Machine. Kotaku. 4 February 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 'Necky the Fox' 今も尚輝き続ける松下進の代表的キャラクター Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine. SusumuMatsushita.net. 10 July 2004.
  8. ↑ Elfaria manual (in Japanese). 1993. p. 37.
  9. ↑ Haynes, Ric (February 1994). "Fantasy Quest: Mervil's Ambition". Super Play. No. 16. Future plc. p. 15. ISSN 0966-6192.
  10. ↑ Next Generation staff (January 1995). "ng alphas: Motor Toon Grand Prix". Next Generation. No. 1. Imagine Media. pp. 64–5. ISSN 1078-9693.
  11. 1 2 3 Staff. "おなじみのキャラクターが勢揃い！　"松下進 イラストレーション展"開催中！". Famitsu.com. 23 December 2003.
  12. ↑ Staff. "女神とメイドがコラボ！『ファミ通GREE』の松下進先生描き下ろし女神も登場！『女神マスターズ powered by アクエリアンエイジ』 でタイアップイベント「めいどマスターズ」開催". CNET. 22 November 2012.
  13. ↑ Staff. "マキシマム ザ ホルモン、松下進手がけるイラストでTカードに　『週刊ファミ通』で対談も". RealSound.jp. 14 November 2017.
  14. ↑ Staff. マキシマム ザ ホルモンのマキシマムザ亮君×松下進先生のコラボが実現！ マキシマムな対談をお届け!!【先出し週刊ファミ通】. Famitsu.com. 14 November 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Staff. "世界的ポップアーティスト松下進の原画展「OLD&NEW 松下進個展」初日は古舘伊知郎氏とのトークショー開催". CNET. 11 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Staff. "『Death end re;Quest』戦闘システムの詳細公開！ 松下進先生がデザインしたボスキャラの情報も！【先出し週刊ファミ通】." Famitsu.com. 25 December 2017.
  17. ↑ Characters|SpaceWorld Archived 2010-11-25 at the Wayback Machine SpaceWorld.co.jp. 2005.
  18. ↑ Staff. "イラストレーター松下進氏のアート展“松下進ArtWorks展 ～2013年　画業40周年をむかえる松下進の世界～”が開催決定". Famitsu.com. 3 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Staff. "古舘伊知郎氏の「しゃべる」絵を松下進氏がプレゼント". Sports Hochi. 2 February 2019.
  20. ↑ Betros, Chris. "Naomi Grace breathes new life into Tokyo's jazz-pop scene". Japan Today. GPlusMedia Inc. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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