Workspace visit of anime artists Linnea Kataja and Bellamy Luna Brooks
Artists Linnea Kataja and Bellamy Luna Brooks's Hybrid Anime Studio
In the heart of Tokyo, two renowned artists, Linnea Kataja and Bellamy Luna Brooks, have crafted a unique workspace that seamlessly blends traditional and digital animation methods. Their shared studio, born out of passion and necessity, is a testament to their dedication to the Japanese anime industry.
Linnea's workspace is illuminated by lanterns, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Her desk is adorned with sakkan paper, timesheets, Polaroids, and an extra fan for the hot Japanese summers. On her second monitor, a wallpaper by the illustrator Yuyuco adds a personal touch.
Across the room, Bellamy's studio reflects her growth in the industry. A plant purchased from a store outside Studio Ghibli stands as a symbol of her journey. Her desk is home to various items, including animation textbooks, art books, and collectible figures from her favourite series.
Their setup is equipped with high-end iPads (like the iPad Pro) and Apple Pencils, serving as primary digital drawing tablets. The Apple Pencils offer precise, pressure-sensitive sketching and inking directly within Clip Studio Paint, the core software for digital illustration, storyboarding, animation frames, and coloring.
The artists also make use of traditional animation tools such as light tables, pencil sets, animation paper, peg bars, erasers, fine liners, and markers. These tools are essential for creating initial sketches and key frames by hand.
The workspace is divided into two areas, one for digital work and the other for traditional work, allowing for a smooth transition between paper-based rough work and polished digital completion. Adjustable drawing desks and ergonomic chairs support them during long hours of detailed artwork.
The walls are adorned with anime art prints, model sheets, and inspirational posters, while shelves hold animation textbooks, Japanese art books, and collectible figures. High-resolution monitors connected to desktop PCs are used for frame editing and compositing, and external storage devices ensure large animation project files are safely backed up.
Bellamy and Linnea have worked on several notable projects. They have collaborated on senior animation supervision for the movie premiere of "The Lord of The Rings: The War of the Rohirrim". Bellamy was the character designer and keyframe supervisor for an illustration by Bellamy for her self-published doujinshi "Petals". Linnea's work can be seen in TV anime as well as popular VTuber media, and she is the creator of the indie idol horror manga "Idol Royale", available in both English and Japanese.
Bellamy also purchased a large wooden iPad stand to mimic the feeling of a Wacom Cintiq. Their tools include inking supplies like nib pens and brush pens, kept neatly in a cup. A feather duster, gifted by Bellamy to Linnea, helps brush away eraser shavings.
Their studio is a hybrid creative environment, designed to fully utilize the flexibility of digital tools like iPads and Clip Studio Paint while respecting the tactile, traditional aspects of anime production. This balance supports their workflow in producing authentic Japanese anime-style animation.
Read also:
- Avoidable foods during shingles: Hot, spicy dishes, sugary items, and so on
- U.K.-based software, dubbed MEMORI, gains first certification as a medical device, able to predict infections in real-time
- Connection between Broccoli Consumption and Gout Management: Key Insights
- Home Studio Allergy Management: A Comprehensive Guide for Designers
