👀 Take a trip to the Uncanny Valley
#355 | Where still images tell moving stories
I grew up in Durgapur, a small town in West Bengal. My childhood was perhaps no different than anyone else’s around me. School, friends, parents. The constant monotony, punctuated by occasional bursts of despair. At least on the surface.Â
For you see, I had a dearly cherished secret. Shared occasionally with my equally awkward younger brother.Â
ANIMAX! A world of exquisitely beautiful, animated stories from Japan. Stories that did not condescend, belittle, and most certainly did not punch down.. I was 10, and my brother 5, when the channel first aired on Indian cable and I was instantly hooked. These were stories, real stories, told through images! Just imagine! Animax introduced me to a form of self-expression that has defined my childhood, adolescence and frankly, even my adult-life.
I devoured all things Japanese (not sushi though. I did still live in a small town). And while, today, this may seem like a strange flex, I’m still proud to say I turned into a complete weeb. I even spent a year pretending to be Japanese saying ‘chotto-matte’, ‘yamete’ and ‘neko’ at every possible opportunity! My love for anime spilled over into everything. I started drawing. It became my single greatest passion that has evolved into a career as an Illustrator and aspiring Graphic Novelist.
I discovered Mangas and their Korean cousins Manhwas and even rediscovered comics!Â
Which brings me to the thing I’m sharing with you today
- this absolute gem of a microsite, SwampLandResorts. Possibly my favourite thing on the internet these days. It’s the most absurd, morbidly gorgeous piece of artwork (moonlighting as a comic) I have ever seen by Mike Watt ( Give him a follow! He’s got far fewer followers than he deserves.
Have fun!
Amreeta
Amreeta Banerjee is an Exhibition Design graduate from NID, Ahmedabad, India and has worked as an Immersive Experience Designer, a Visual Designer, and now works full-time as an illustrator, making colourful and curious artworks, that she hopes tells the stories that tumble around in her head all the time.