Do you think I could
get into an art school?
I don't know.
But when hard workers do things they like,
they're unstoppable.
STAFFROOM
You know why I called you here, right?
I'm not really sure.
Come on.
Just don't give me this crap.
You're a smart kid. It's a waste.
I'm serious.
I want to go to art school.
But I'm not rich, so TUA is my only choice.
Since when did you do art?
I'm joining the art club.
You haven't shown this to your parents, have you?
I knew it.
You have to convince your parents first.
We can't afford a private school.
Yaguchi.
Shall we?
I'm Yatora Yaguchi, a 2nd-year student.
Nice to meet you.
No one told me that delinquents would hang out here.
It's horrible.
I really want to learn about art.
Hope we can get along.
Wait. He might be nice.
And isn't he intelligent?
Now, since summer vacation starts next week,
I've prepared a special plan for our 1st and 2nd-years.
Follow this plan, and your skills will surely be improved.
That's not a lot, right?
So, that's not a lot?
That's a lot!
Use three or more different subjects for still-lifes and watercolors.
No more than five hours on each piece.
Please be sure to follow this rule.
You can paste or draw anything you like in the scrapbook. Just do what you want.
Keep a photo diary on your phone.
Please keep composition in mind.
Print them out and submit them.
Lastly, make one art piece.
It can be in any size and made with any material.
3D or 2D, video or manga, anything is fine.
Try to enjoy yourself the most through the process.
So let's do some still-lifes today.
And we'll have a review session later.
A review session?
She'll review our works one by one.
That's scary.
This situation alone looks professional.
Also, everyone else seems super good at it.
Yaguchi.
I guess you don't have the supplies. I'll lend you some.
Thank you.
It's not a joke.
The lead is this long on purpose.
You can show different expressions by holding the pencil in different ways.
Saeki Sensei.
I've been thinking about this for a while. Do we really need to do still-lifes?
There are many skilled artists on the internet
who have never done still-lifes.
I see. Well… Let me get straight to the point.
Your art can be improved even without doing still-lifes.
However, it's an approach that anyone can do
and improve quickly in all training methods.
It’s like learning a formula that you can apply in many ways.
Your observation and technical skills will improve.
Something doesn't look right.
I'm drawing it as I see it. But…
She's too focused.
That's scary.
Yes. You're doing well, Yaguchi.
The overall composition is nice.
-Yaguchi? -Yes.
Mori is a good artist,
but let's concentrate on this for now.
I'm sorry.
When drawing a shape,
use a pencil to measure the size, angle, and distance between objects.
So that's the point behind that artist pose.
After the shapes are done, add shadows.
The direction of light is important.
See these shadows as big surfaces.
Next, draw patterns, textures, and colors.
People tend to lean in close when drawing,
so stand up and check from time to time.
Look carefully at the nearest, furthest, brightest, and darkest areas.
And draw the labels and patterns in detail.
When drawing curved areas,
you can lighten the shade and lines
to make it look more three-dimensional.
She's so good.
I wish I could be that good…
Damn! This pisses me off!
She's being nice.
The labels and patterns are rough.
It feels like you're not pushing yourself.
I think you can do better, Mori.
Yaguchi, you're next.
You paid attention to the direction of light.
Please keep up the good work.
Even though I was the worst…
No, it's because I was the worst.
I alone got special treatment from the start.
I'm exhausted.
My back hurts like hell.
My shoulders too… my eyes too…
Yakkun, If you have laundry…
Boy, you'll catch a cold.
2ND YEAR CAREER PLANNING SURVEY
TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS
Why?
Good morning.
What?
I didn't expect you'd come during summer vacation.
I heard the club is open twice a week.
I hang out with the guys at night anyway.
But you even come to draw at school.
His joining the art club surprised me in the first place.
At that time, when I praised his work, he seemed so happy.
So I invited him to help the club.
Aiming for art schools?
Never thought you were so passionate.
What?
You were eavesdropping…
Don't get the wrong idea.
I was there first.
-You… -Why don't you draw with us, Yuka?
Sure.
Before I started drawing,
I thought making art was a kind of magic that only a select few could use.
But it doesn't seem to be the case.
Now that I'm drawing, the scenery I've always seen
appears more clearly than before.
I thought I knew,
but it feels like I knew nothing until now.
Wow, is it because I learned how to use a brush properly?
It feels so good.
My brain is in full gear.
My hand's moving to the right places on its own.
I'll have to tell my parents someday.
But how can I persuade them?
Yakkun.
It's beautiful.
So he's serious.
This year, those who completed all the tasks are…
Yuka, Umino,
and Yaguchi.
And everyone made an art piece.
Yes. Excellent.
It's hard to tell from the still-lifes,
but their personalities shine in the art pieces and scrapbooks.
Comparing photos like this, you can see everyone has a different point of view.
Umino's scrapbook is all about her hobbies.
Yuka-chan decorated theirs.
Shirota, you made a costume?
That's awesome.
By the way…
Yaguchi made 30 still-lifes. Are you kidding me?
That's nearly one each day.
He has improved so much.
That delinquent has great potential.
Oh, really?
I'm glad to hear that.
He's not tanned at all.
By the way, Mori, you went to prep school this summer?
-Yes. -How was it?
I guess you're the best in the class.
-That's not true. -What?
In prep school, I was fifth from the bottom.
There are non-first timers in prep schools.
New graduates grow until the day of exams,
so don't worry too much.
Also, Mori, you have the recommendation for MAU in three months.
Let's focus on composing art pieces to build a portfolio.
I will.
Now, let's clean up.
Mori is incredibly good.
And I'm not good enough even among these art club members.
So what's my level at the moment?
Stop being so analytical.
I should be proud of these pieces and the improvements I've made.
So gloomy.
What's up today?
You know,
the result of Mori's recommendation for MAU…
It should've been announced around noon.
I get that Yuka-chan is sad since they're close to Mori,
but why you too, Yaguchi?
I'm also worried about Mori,
but I've been losing steam to do still-lifes lately.
Maybe it's because
you only have a vague impression of the entrance exams for TUA.
Why don't you go to prep school?
You think I can't pass the exam by simply practicing still-lifes?
Of course, still-lifes are essential.
But most art students in Eastern Japan have attended prep school.
There's no harm in trying it out.
I'm going.
In fact, my grandmother asked me to go. I'm applying for Japanese Art.
TOKYO ART INSTITUTE APPLICATION FORM RYUJI AYUKAWA
And you, Yaguchi?
I want to go, but I haven't decided on my major yet.
And I'd have to tell Mom if I go.
Sorry for being late, Saeki Sensei.
The result was announced around noon, but my mother
insisted on ordering sushi to celebrate.
-Congratulations. -All right!
-Wow. Awesome! -I knew it.
-Congratulations, Mori. -Mori.
Congratulations.
Yuka-chan, you helped me a lot.
Thank you very much.
She passed.
Mori.
Congratulations.
Thank you, Yaguchi.
Saeki Sensei.
Yes?
I'll choose the Oil Painting Course too.
Ask your parents to sign this time.
What? You haven't told your parents?
Yes, I did. However…
But Yakkun,
you can't make a living by doing art.
Then she gave me a pamphlet for a cultural center.
That'd make you lose confidence.
But I still have to convince them.
Mom.
Is TUA not a solid university to you?
Yakkun.
Why do you want to go to TUA so badly?
Yaguchi.
I thought there were no classes using the art room at this time.
Why did you come here?
I'm taking my stuff home, little by little.
I see.
Since you got accepted to MUA,
you basically graduated.
Yes.
You'll be missed.
But I'm also a bit excited.
Once I'm a college student, I can focus entirely on art.
I'll miss these days though.
By the way, were your parents against your career plan?
No, I've been doing art all the time since I was little.
If only I could be as good as you.
-What? -Nothing.
Actually, Yaguchi.
I want to ask a favor of you.
Why would she want my art?
I'm so happy to get a graduation gift from a cute 2nd-year.
Please don't put pressure on me.
I liked your art.
I'm sorry for exchanging yours with mine.
Don't say that.
If not for you,
I wouldn't have started making art.
Really?
I like your art that much.
Glad to hear that.
That reminds me,
we talked in the art room last spring, right?
Back then,
I couldn't imagine you aiming for art school.
You looked like a punk.
and were good at faking a smile.
To be honest,
I thought you were insincere at first.
But you're actually working very hard.
No, I…
Me? I only do art that I like.
That's why I tried to use my art for the recommendation.
I think that fits me.
On the contrary, I don't think I could pass the general entrance exam.
But I do have
some faith in you.
Yaguchi, do you know the origin of paintings?
There are many theories, but one of them is prayer.
Therefore,
when I'm making art, I pray that
the person who receives it
will go in the right direction.
Nike is the goddess of battle, wisdom, and victory.
I pray for your success.
Mori.
You've given me courage.
Thank you.
Did I finally act like a proper senior?
You did enough.
Mori, about my art for you, can you wait until the graduation ceremony?
What?
What's this? Is that me?
Yes.
It makes me happy, but shouldn't we talk about the university?
You're right.
But I drew it because I don't know how to express it in words.
Art conveys things
that cannot be conveyed by words.
I realized that there are many interesting things and ideas
in this world.
When seeing it, you get to know it. When drawing it, you get to understand it.
At first, I wanted to draw a portrait of you,
like kids always do on Mother's Day.
But when I was drawing, I realized one thing.
Your hands.
You got hangnails by washing dishes in hot water
and gained muscles unexpectedly by carrying heavy groceries.
As I drew it,
I gradually remembered many things.
You cook meat or fish for us in turn every other day.
And you always have the portion that looks the worst.
I realized that you really only think about your family.
If I hadn't made that drawing, I wouldn't have noticed that.
I'm sorry.
Sorry for not being a good son.
I'm so sorry.
But,
I want to go to TUA.
Perhaps I'm not gifted.
But at this moment, I want to bet everything on art.
I want to get better and see more of the world.
For that,
I need your help.
Instead of just worrying about me,
I hope you can trust me a bit.
Thank you for relying on me.
And thank you for drawing this for me.
GRADUATION CEREMONY
Mori.
Yamamoto.
-Congratulations on your graduation. -Congratulations on your graduation.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
What a big bouquet.
That's awesome.
With these many flowers, you can get a lot better at drawing florals.
No, let's float them in the bath and take a photo.
Stop those art club remarks.
We'll make a fanzine after the exam.
You mean a joint publication.
I want to draw pretty girl fighters.
-You really like that. -Mori.
Please do your best in university.
Don't get me wrong…
She just opened it.
It's a picture of me.
I'm not sure if I drew it well enough.
Don't worry.
Thank you.
I'll cherish it.
Mori.
Saeki Sensei.
Please take a photo with us.
Sure.
TOKYO ART INSTITUTE
RECEPTION
Subtitle translation by: Chih-Chung Yung