http://www.sankei.com/entertainments/news/150929/ent1509290005-n1.htmlAoki Ume Exhibition starts 3rd of October (sponsored by Sankei Shimbun et al.). The unique cuteness of Aoki Ume.
An exhibition featuring the illustrations, drafts, and other works of Aoki Ume, the mangaka responsible for the manga "Hidamari Sketch" and the original character designs for "Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika" is starting October 3rd in the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo. The characteristic of her art is cute girls with big, round eyes and soft faces. "Our goal was to make somewhere you could visit and forget your worries", Aoki-san says.
Aoki-san's debut as a mangaka was in 2004 with "Hidamari Sketch". The story is about Yuno and her group of friends living in an apartment building called "Hidamari-sou" while attending an art program in a nearby high school. The story of the daily lives of Yuno and her friends is still being serialized, and an anime spanning four seasons has been produced.
On the other hand, Aoki Ume has also worked as the original character designer for "Madoka Magika", where her cute art was contrasted by the serious story. It's because of this gap that Madoka Magika has become the representative for late night anime in the past few years. "Combining my drawings with a darker writing style was really interesting", she says, looking back.
Even if cuteness is her main feature, her character designs are instantly recognizable thanks to a unique flair. She has made a conscious effort toward it while drawing, and she says "I have been aiming to draw something unique. Something where you can tell that Yuno is Yuno and Madoka is Madoka even if you only saw a glimpse."
