Giant+Torayan--Kenji+Yanobe

=//Giant Torayan// - Kenji Yanobe, 2005.=

Title: //Giant Torayan// Artist: Kenji Yanobe Date: 2005 Period: Country of Origin: Cultural/Ethnic Affiliation: Medium: Aluminum, steel, brass, and styrofoam Dimensions: 720cm×460cm×310cm Museum/Collection: Yokosuka Museum of Art Current Location and Manner of Display: Provenance:
 * Artwork Identification**

Kenji Yanobe is a Japanese artist who was born in Osaka in 1965. He studied at Kyoto City University of the Arts and graduated with an MA in 1991. While much of his education involved the "great masters" of Western art, Yanobe felt that his interest lied in the things that excited him as a child: science fiction, robots, and Godzilla, to name a few. Like the many modern American artists who look to American pop culture for inspiration, Yanobe draws on his childlike enthusiasm for futuristic Japanese fantasy in his works. However, while they might be charming, cute, and colorful, Yanobe's protective suits, radiation-proof vehicles, and aluminum robots often have haunting undertones of post-apocalyptic paranoia. It is this "whimsical doomsday" quality that defines Yanobe's work and makes them so compelling.
 * Introduction**

//Giant Torayan// (2005) is a large animatronic sculpture made of aluminum, steel, brass, and styrofoam, measuring approximately 720cm×460cm×310cm. Polished to a shine and resembling an enormous child in a hazmat suit, //Torayan// can do a number of things - move its head and arms, sing, dance, light up, and sound a foghorn, among others. Most notable, however, is its ability to shoot a jet of flame from its mouth.
 * Descriptive Analysis**



//Torayan// is controlled by a small metal console with a microphone located several meters away. It responds to vocal commands, but only those given in the voices of children. Because of this, Yanobe calls //Torayan// the "ultimate child's weapon."



Additionally, on //Torayan//'s torso, there is a sealed door which leads to a chamber. Inside are several identical heads from the ventriloquist dummy Torayan, the namesake of //Giant Torayan// and the trademark of Yanobe, along with a television monitor serving as an internal entertainment center.

As the "ultimate child's weapon," //Giant Torayan// appears as if directly pulled from the realm of childrens' imaginations. It represents everything they need to protect themselves in the world of a post-atomic apocalypse - while cute, whimsical, and approachable in appearance, //Torayan//'s loud sounds and fiery blasts make adults keep their distance. //Giant Torayan// is their friend and guardian, responding only to their commands.
 * Formal Analysis**

However, //Giant Torayan// is also an illustration of the power it is meant to protect against. A feat of engineering and technology, it is at essence something that destroys, creating fear in those around it with fire, sound, and sheer immensity. As one looks up at it, //Giant Torayan// looks down with an ambiguous smile on its baby-like face, an innocence that masks its true nature.

Much of Kenji Yanobe's artwork comes from the Japanese science fiction he was raised on, and //Giant Torayan// is no different. Inspired directly by the giant robots that have become a staple of Japanese pop culture, //Torayan// resembles icons like //Tetsujin 28// and various //tokusatsu// characters. This familiarity creates an immediate connection with Japanese children and adults who have always been surrounded by giant robot heroes. Also from Japanese pop culture comes a strong paranoia and fear of disaster, which has stuck with Japan ever since the atomic bombings at the end of World War II. This can be seen in films like //Akira// and //Gojira//, as well as in //Giant Torayan// and other Yanobe works.
 * Contextual Analysis**

As previously mentioned, //Giant Torayan// meant to be the robot version of Torayan, Yanobe's trademark puppet based on a ventriloquist dummy his father once owned. As such, //Giant Torayan// is directly modeled after the "atom suit" that Torayan wears. The "horns" on the sides of his head are said by Yanobe to be an homage to //Astro Boy//, a popular Japanese robot character with a similar hairdo.



media type="youtube" key="Se3q_QLZv84" height="344" width="425"media type="youtube" key="ZWhPM8lDp6g" height="344" width="425"
 * Video of Giant Torayan**


 * Bibliography**

Hornyak, Tim. "Here be dragons." //Loving the Machine//. 3 July, 2007, 

Kobuki, Takafumi. "Future Ruins - Kenji Yanobe." //Osaka Brand Center//. 6 November, 2007. 

Tachibana, Kyoko. "Kenji Yanobe." //Shift//. 7 September, 2007. 

Yanobe, Kenji. "Giant TORAYAN." //YANOBE KENJI ART WORKS.// 2003, 

//Yokosuka Museum of Art.// 2008. <http://www.yokosuka-moa.jp


 * Title:** Your Own Toy Creation
 * Grade Level:** 5th grade
 * Time:** 4-50 minute class periods

This lesson meets the following [|National Standards for Arts Education:] VA.5-8.1 Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes (Proficient: a, b, c, & d). VA.5-8.2 Using knowledge of structures and functions (Proficient: c). This lesson meets the following [|National Educational Technology Standards for Students:] 1. Creativity and Innovation (a & b ) 2. Communication and Collaboration (d). 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making (b). 5. Digital Citizenship (b).
 * Standards:**

1. Inspired my personal interests artists/designers create toys with a specific meaning and purpose in mind by giving the toys specific features and aesthetic design. 2. Specific materials are chosen for different toys. 3. Many times toys are placed in a narrative background to make them more human like and exciting.
 * Significant Key Concepts:**

Day 1:
 * Teaching and Learning Activities:**
 * Project the image of Giant Torayan by Kenji Yanobe. Ask students to describe what they see and speculate the features of the Giant Torayan and the inspirations of the designer (artist). I ntroduce Kenji Yanobe. Discuss with students the purpose and inspiration of his artworks. His work will be used as an example of an artist who created a toy with a specific meaning and purpose, and it’s own personal story.
 * Introduce assignment: Students will be divided into groups with four members. Each group will design a 3D toy character, write a corresponding explanation of its materials meaning, and purpose, and its background story (See attached assignment sheet). Assign roles for group members (See role sheet).

Days 2 and 3: Work days.
 * Students will be given class time to complete their designs.

Day 4: Presentations
 * After having designed their toy characteraction figure or doll, they will present their design to the class. The instructor will record the presentations and they will be uploaded to a podcast server for viewing by parents, friends, educators, etc. Before recording, you need to send home a letter and a permission from to get the parents/guardians permissions to allow students to be recorded and videos to be uploaded to website.

Now that you are in groups, you should decide what you want to do. Each of you should pick one job.
 * Role Sheet**

1. Facilitator: It is your job to keep your group on track. Make sure that everyone sticks to the project so your group can finish the toy design on time. Make sure all group members agree on the information being recorded and drafted. 2. Recorder: Your job is to write down the information about your project that your group has discussed. This paper will be used by the presenter to explain the materials, meaning and purpose, and background of the toy. 3. Draft Artist: After all of your group members have drawn up their ideas, it is your job to create the finished drawing that will be colored and placed in the middle of the poster board. 4. Presenter: You will present your group’s toy to the class.

1. After you have selected your job in the group, take about ten minutes to talk about what you want your toy character to look like, its meaning and purpose, materials, and narrative background. Recorder: Take good notes! Facilitator: Make sure your group stays on task!
 * Assignment Sheet: Your Toy Creation**

2. Each member of your group should do a pencil drawing of what your toy character will look like. Think about materials (is your toy plastic, metal, stuffed, rubber?), it’s meaning and function (What are you supposed to do with it?), its features, background story (Where did it come from? Is it human, alien, or animal? What does it do? Does it have a job? Can it fly? Can it talk? What does it say?).

3. After all of your drawings are done your draft artist will make one final drawing in color. All of your sketches will be on your final poster board to show the steps you took to get to the finished drawing, but only one will be in color. Draft Artist: Make sure you include parts from everyone’s drawings and ideas.

4. Using a glue stick, paste down each of your drawings to a poster board, putting the color one in the middle.

5. Presenter: Using your recorder's notes and the poster board, present your toy to the class. Make sure you tell us what it is made out of, what its materials, meaning, functions are, and its background story.

6. After your group is done presenting, the class will be given 5 minutes to offer suggestions, questions and compliments. Group members, other than the presenter, will respond to the questions.

You will have 2 days to design your toy character, and on the third day your group will present to the class. Only your presenter needs to speak during the presentation, but you should all stand together. During the 5 minutes of feedback, group members other than the presenter, need to respond. Your recorded notes will be turned in with your poster.


 * The Big Finish:** Your presentations will be recorded and uploaded to a video podcast on the Internet so your parents and friends can see your presentation! This is your chance to show off your design to the world! To learn what a podcast is go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MSL42NV3c

Recorded Information: Includes materials, meaning, function, features, and narrative background. /10 Comments:
 * Grading:**

Sketches: Shows planning, attention to detail, and relates to written information. Poster board is neatly constructed. /10 Comments:

Presentation: Speaking is clear and to the point. Covers necessary points. About 3 minutes long. /10 Comments:

Total: /30 points