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Studio Moebius is a visual artist whose work is quickly capturing the hearts and minds of creatives across the internet. He combines a Japanese animation-like aesthetic with a keen eye for the nuances of the interactions and occurrences that take place in the world around us. He also injects a dynamic, lifelike quality into every project he undertakes; creating recreations of people, places, and food that at times look more vivid than they would in real life. His latest project is a collaboration with Chef Lakhan Jethani of Mizu Izakaya fame, where they recreated a Japanese delicacy in an anime-inspired short vignette.
We sat down with Nikunj to talk to him about this collaboration, his influences as an artist along with how he conceptualizes the creative endeavours that he undertakes.
Could you tell us a little more about this project?
When Chef Lakhan Jethani (Mizu Izakaya, Mumbai) and I got chatting in 2019, we were connected by our common love for cooking, music, and Japanese animation. Over the years, we kept in touch and finally decided to work together on a piece close to both their hearts. The Chawanmushi is a very personal dish for Chef Lakhan especially as it symbolises how much more there is to Japanese food than Sushi, Yakitori and Ramen. I observed Lakhan at work, crafting the Chawanmushi step-by-step, and decided to create an anime-inspired food sequence paying tribute to the humble dish. I also composed and produced the music used in this piece.
Who or what do you look to for artistic inspiration?
Studio Ghibli, Robert Valley, Buck Design, and The Line Animation
Could you describe your creative process and the purpose with which you create?
I usually follow the traditional process of 2D Cel Animation where each frame is hand-drawn. These days we use digital tablets but the frames are still drawn by hand. The backgrounds are painted in photoshop usually. Once both the animation and backgrounds are ready, they’re ‘composited’ together in a program like After Effects. My purpose is to showcase the sense of nostalgia and wonder that 2D animation can evoke. It can also present ideas in ways that sometimes cameras can’t and I love that. I usually try to explore this aspect of my discipline a lot. I also like to work at the intersection of music and visual art as is evident in most of my work.
Who has influenced your work the most as an artist?
Studio Ghibli, Robert Valley, Buck Design, and the Line Animation.
Who are some artists who are currently on your radar?
Isha Mangalmurthi, Priyanka Shah, and Shweta Sharma
What’s one project you wish you were a part of?
A Tool music video.
You can view the project here.
You can find Nikunj Patel here.
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