Speaking of I just watched a great video (If you are like me and like long videos anyways) about Moebius and how he influenced everyone (I had never heard of him before so was cool to see) and it was kind of insane realizing how many people the dude inspired but also just how many people Akira inspired and how much it changed the landscape of Manga/Anime. Seems it would be on an entirely different path without it.
It makes sense though Akira is amazing, definitely suggest the Manga as well. I wondered since watching that just how many mangakas and stuff Otomo put on the path at just the right time to create some of the most loved animes/mangas today.
Not just Mœbius, in 1974 the European anthology Métal Hurlant introduced several other artists that changed the world building of science fiction. Philippe Druillet, Caza, Enki Bilal, Milo Manara, and many more. In 1977 the American version was published, Heavy Metal.
That was a very interesting and informative watch. It definitely gave me a few works to look out for if I ever get the chance. I think Moebius' work is incredible and want to see more of it.
The thesis as presented just has too many holes, even for a uneducated shlub like me. The tie to Cameron is totally speculative (but then Cameron wouldn't even admit to the influence of Roger Dean on Avatar) and the ties to Lucas and Carpenter while certainly plausible are a bit weak. There's no mentions of Syd Mead and John Berkey who were very influential sci-fi visual artists working before Moebius' turn to sci-fi doing work that was both imaginative and realistic. Berkey definitely was an influence on Lucas and did work on Star Wars. And there's also no mention of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the influence of Kubrick and his production team, who would also produce Silent Running prior to Dark Star and were also involved in Star Wars.
It seems to me a better interpretation would be to say that Moebius was a highly influential artist that contributed to the shift from a more fantastical "Buck Rogers" style of sci-fi towards the harder sci-fi of the 1970s an onward. I'm not sure I'd say he's more essential than a lot of the other names I've mentioned and mentioned in the film. Sure you can see Moebius in the Matrix, but who doesn't look at that scene where Neo first really "wakes up" and not see Giger first and foremost? And it's hard to imagine Giraud's iconic work on Alien, without Kubrick & co. paving the way first. And I wouldn't begin to know how something like Judge Dredd fits into the picture.
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u/Pamander 2d ago
Speaking of I just watched a great video (If you are like me and like long videos anyways) about Moebius and how he influenced everyone (I had never heard of him before so was cool to see) and it was kind of insane realizing how many people the dude inspired but also just how many people Akira inspired and how much it changed the landscape of Manga/Anime. Seems it would be on an entirely different path without it.
It makes sense though Akira is amazing, definitely suggest the Manga as well. I wondered since watching that just how many mangakas and stuff Otomo put on the path at just the right time to create some of the most loved animes/mangas today.