“Mimicries” is designed to nurture scientific curiosities in children by finding everyday objects that “mimic” or resemble nature. Through this process, the program encourages children to think about the common laws of nature, and the reasons and meanings behind the similarities. For example, by associating the coiling patterns of a snail to those in seashells and the tendrils of a morning glory, one can discover the law of the “spiral.” This simple finding can help children recognize other similarities within their surroundings. The repetitive shifting between “concrete” and “abstract” nurtures the scientific curiosities in children.

APPROACH: Character design and algorithmic animation

By attaching a pair of “eyes” as a consistent feature that unites different “mimicries,” the design achieves both a consistent identity and character diversity. This idea also relates to the program’s concept to encourage and nurture the “observing eye” in children. In “Voronoi: Wonders of Shape,” the program features Voronois pattern as found on the wings of a dragonfly and the patterned skin of the giraffe. In this segment, animation of a complex algorithm, which wouldn’t have been possible to achieve manually, is made possible by the repetitive prototyping process using programming.

“Mimicries: the Secret of Yellow and Black” that aired in 2014 received the Best Work in the Pre-school Category (The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Prize) at the 41st Japan Prize, an award known for recognizing the world’s great TV shows and film works created with an educational theme.

Art Director, Designer, Project Director

While majoring in design at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Kotaro Yamaguchi also gained experience as a designer in a wide range of visual design including graphic design, signage design, video design, and UI design. In 2014 he completed the post doctorate program at Tokyo University of The Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts. He joined Takram in 2014. His Notable projects include art direction for “mimicries,” a children’s science education program by NHK E-Television. Recipient of D&AD Yellow Pencil, Good Design Award, 2014 Japan Prize The Best Work in the Pre-school Category (The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Prize).

Kotaro Yamaguchi

Design Engineer, Project Director

Shota Matsuda engages in graphic design, interface design, software engineering, and hardware prototyping. He is a graduate of Keio University, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. After becoming a researcher at the Ochanomizu University, and assistant researcher at the JST ERATO IGARASHI Design Interface Project, he joined Takram in 2013. He is particularly interested in technology related to text and is recognized as Super Creator in Digital Typography by the Exploratory IT Human Resources Project (MITOH Program). His notable recognitions include the Good Design Award in 2011.

Shota Matsuda

Branding, Visual identity, corporate identity

Brand

Takram was in charge of the character design and art direction for “Mimicries,” a children’s science education program by NHK E-television.

Mimicries

Takram was in charge of the character design and art direction for “Mimicries,” a children’s science education program by NHK E-television. 

“Mimicries” is designed to nurture scientific curiosities in children by finding everyday objects that “mimic” or resemble nature. Through this process, the program encourages children to think about the common laws of nature, and the reasons and meanings behind the similarities. 

Other than visual designs for characters and title logo, Takram was also involved from the initial planning stages of the program and participated in conceptualization and segment proposals. 

The project further expanded to include the development of interactive contents such as websites and smartphone applications.

Mimicries

CONCEPT: Mimicries

APPROACH: Character design and algorithmic animation

OUTCOME: Award Recognition

Project Information

Team

Mimicries

.css-16wsddp.en.en-ja{font-size:108%;vertical-align:-0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.en.en-zh{font-size:108%;vertical-align:0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.zh{-webkit-font-smoothing:subpixel-antialiased;}CONCEPT: Mimicries

.css-16wsddp.en.en-ja{font-size:108%;vertical-align:-0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.en.en-zh{font-size:108%;vertical-align:0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.zh{-webkit-font-smoothing:subpixel-antialiased;}APPROACH: Character design and algorithmic animation

.css-16wsddp.en.en-ja{font-size:108%;vertical-align:-0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.en.en-zh{font-size:108%;vertical-align:0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.zh{-webkit-font-smoothing:subpixel-antialiased;}OUTCOME: Award Recognition

Project Information

Team

CONCEPT: Mimicries

APPROACH: Character design and algorithmic animation

OUTCOME: Award Recognition