There’s a sequel to Bladerunner coming, so that’s a good prompt to post these interviews with legendary designer/futurist Syd Mead. This September also marks the release of a new Syd Mead art book, which you can pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/Movie-Art-Syd-Mead-Futurist/dp/1785651188/
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djBk03lER4U?rel=0]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo2GjDdHTbI?rel=0]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VPT-Ug-gF4?rel=0]
So, that motorcycle looks like a big brother to Kaneda's machine from Akira. What year did Syd put the acrylic to paper on that guy?
I thought the same thing, JV. And although I don't know when that particular piece was made, Syd has been designing bikes like that LONG before Akira. Literally by decades.
I just researched it. That is a recent piece, painted in 2004, commissioned by Honda.
However, Syd designed the motorcycles seen in Tron (which are quite similar) several years before Akira was published. His first book, Sentinel was also released in the 70s and was likely a influence on Otomo.
I look forward to see the movie and the book.