Special Effects Sky: Shimakura Nisenroku,
the World of Background Paintings Large Book 
Shimakura Nisenroku (Author)
 
 
The first autobiography and photo collection of the work of the cloud magician Shimakura Nishiroku, the man who has continued to support the Japanese special effects industry with his backgrounds.
Did you know that the sunset sky in "The Targeted City" in "Ultra Seven", Mt. Fuji painted in the background of "Destroy All Monsters", and the magical sky background of "Space Sheriff Gavan" were all painted by one person?
It is no exaggeration to say that the skies that Shimakura Nishiroku continued to paint in response to the image of the work and the director's requests are the history of the Japanese special effects industry itself.
At first glance, the backgrounds painted in the studio look like real landscapes or photographs. However, they are skies painted by human hands.
Fascinated by the magnificent skies, Japan's successive special effects directors, as well as masters such as Akira Kurosawa, all requested Shimakura to paint them.
The number of skies he has painted in his 60-year career as a background artist is immeasurable. And his work continues to this day.
The first autobiography and photo collection of background paintings of Shimakura Nishiroku, the man who continues to support the Japanese special effects industry with his backgrounds.
This miraculous book looks back on Shimakura's work, which everyone involved has praised, with around 200 precious photographs, including those taken on set.
It also features valuable interviews that only someone who has been on set can tell, as well as numerous comments from people involved in special effects.
Another chapter in the history of special effects is unravelled.
 
特撮の空 島倉二千六、背景画の世界 大型本 
島倉二千六 (著)

背景で日本の特撮界を支え続けた男、雲の魔術師・島倉二千六初の自伝&作品写真集
あの『ウルトラセブン』「狙われた街」の夕焼け空も、『怪獣総進撃』のバックに描かれた富士山も、『宇宙刑事ギャバン』の魔空空間の背景も、一人の人間が描いていることを知っているだろうか――。
島倉二千六が作品のイメージ、監督の要望に応えて描き続けた空は、日本特撮界の歴史そのものと言っても過言ではない。
スタジオに描かれた背景は一見すると、現実の風景、または写真にしか見えない。しかしそれは人の手によって描かれた空。
その見事な空に魅了され、日本の歴代特撮監督、また黒澤明をはじめとしたの巨匠たちがこぞって島倉に画を依頼した。
60年に渡る背景画家人生の中で描いた空の数は計り知れない。そしてその仕事は今もなお、続いている。
背景で日本特撮界を支え続ける男、島倉二千六初の自伝&背景画写真集。
関係者の誰もが賞賛を惜しまない島倉の仕事を、撮影現場を含む約200点の貴重な写真で振り返った奇跡の一冊です。
実際に現場を見続けてきた人間しか語れない貴重なインタビューと、特撮関係者からのコメントも多数掲載。
特撮の歴史がまた一つ、紐解かれる。