Curated by: Fabrizio Modina
Organized by: Lucca Crea
In collaboration with: Fondazione M-Cube
Location:
- Lucca Comics & Games
October 20 // November 3, 2024
Lucca Comics & Games 2024, in collaboration with Bandai and Cosmic Group, presents an exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Chōgokin, the die-cast metal toys that have become cult objects among collectors.
The selection, curated by Fabrizio Modina for Fondazione M-Cube, with contributions from Piero Delrivo and Marco Olivotto, explores the vast Popy/Bandai production, which over five decades has generated an unprecedented cultural phenomenon, becoming a key reference point in representing the evolution of technology and design applied to the toy industry.
Beginning with the elusive GA-01—the very first Chōgokin produced and now nearly impossible to find—the exhibition showcases the finest examples from the historical line, within a journey that also explores the commemorative Soul of Chōgokin series, which since 1997 has revived metal Super Robot models by reimagining them for the adult collector market. From Mazinger Z to Gurren Lagann, fifty years of animation, manga, anime, and modern mythology converge in a time capsule where nostalgia meets fascination, Japanese creativity meets Italian devotion, and tradition meets innovation.
SHŌJI KAWAMORI: Engineer of Anime
Since the creation of Tetsujin 28-go in 1956—considered the first “Super Robot” in the history of manga and anime—authors have sought to infuse these steel giants with a distinctive “engineering” ambition. This impulse became rooted in the authentic aesthetic of creations designed to amaze rather than to be realistically plausible. From this vision emerged the profession of the mecha designer, a unique feature of Japanese animation.
Credited as a mecha designer for Studio Nue since 1978, Shōji Kawamori (Nagoya, Japan, 1960) played a fundamental role in the ambitious project Chōjiku Yōsai Macross (Super Dimension Fortress Macross), a groundbreaking and innovative work that, beginning in 1982, marked a further evolutionary leap in anime.
Kawamori’s visionary approach gave rise to the Valkyries, the signature mecha of Macross, transforming Super Robots into “Real Robots” through a meticulous focus on engineering, breaking completely with past conventions. Over the course of his career, Kawamori has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the animation industry. His creative approach and dedication to the art of design continue to inspire generations of artists and animators. His ability to create vehicle and machine designs that integrate artistic and functional elements is admired worldwide.
This retrospective, curated by Fabrizio Modina for Fondazione M-Cube and presented at Lucca Comics & Games 2024, focuses on his influence in the field of mecha design through the display of toy models based on his most iconic concepts, starting with the celebrated Valkyries from Macross.