MAPPA Showcase

The **MAPPA Showcase** was a touring expo in early 2019 promoting five recent, current, and then-upcoming works by the Japanese animation studio MAPPA, creators of the 2018 *Banana Fish* anime.

## Venues

The showcase ran for two and a half weeks in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and a week and a half in Tenjin, Fukuoka, before returning for a three-week rerun in Tokyo. Each time the showcase was hosted in exhibition space inside of the PARCO department store. Tickets were 500 yen apiece and came in five designs, and ticketholders had the options of choosing the series displayed on their ticket and buying a bonus keychain to match their ticket for an additional 500 yen. At the showcase entrance was a timeline of the studio's works up until early 2019, and at the exit was a small pop-up shop exclusively for attendees, though the merchandise available varied by venue.

## Zone 1: Zombieland Saga

The first zone in the showcase featured *Zombieland Saga*, which ran from October to December 2018, airing its last episode on the same day as *Banana Fish*. The zone displayed large cardboard cutouts of several main characters, a portion of a classroom set that included a chalkboard, clothing, and a stuffed animal, and a wall covered in animation lineart.

## Zone 2: Dororo

The second zone in the showcase featured the then-ongoing series *Dororo*. The room displayed large prints of studio artwork on three walls, lineart and animators' notes, and a large screen played footage of the drawing process of several characters and demons from the series. Three of the studio artwork pieces were available as prints in the pop-up shop at the showcase exit, as was a set of clear files depicting animation drafts.

## Zone 3: Kakegurui

The third zone featured the then-ongoing series *Kakegurui ××*, sequel to *Kakeguri - Compulsive Gambler*. It featured several walls covered in studio lineart and artwork, a television screen playing the anime opening and ending themes and second season trailer, and in the farthest room, a billiards table with a replica of the cards and tokens used in the first episode game of rock-paper-scissors.

## Zone 4: Banana Fish

The zone dedicated to *Banana Fish* featured a replica of Ash's gun enclosed in glass. The walls were covered in animation lineart and staff notes for the opening and ending animation and several scenes in early episodes of the show. Several studio-drawn prints were on display, and a large screen on one wall showed a sped-up animation process for several background scenes from the anime in between playing the opening and ending themes. In the pop-up shop at the showcase exit, a set of key holders and two clear file sets were for sale.

## Zone 5: Yuri!!! on Ice

The final zone, showcasing the series *Yuri!!! on Ice*, opened with a television screen playing the opening and ending themes and trailer on repeat. Inside the room were three larger-than-life character statues, replicas of skating outfits on spinning pedestals, and walls minimally covered in animation sketches, posters, and a large gold foil print. At the exit was a poster for the series' upcoming film, at the time scheduled to be released in 2019, though since delayed. The pop-up shop outside sold several items of merchandise as well as the *Yuri!!! on Ice* key visual art book at a slightly discounted price.

## Gallery

Poster for the Tokyo showcasePoster for the Fukuoka showcasePoster for the Tokyo showcase rerunTicket options and key holders*Banana Fish* merchandise*Banana Fish* merchandiseClear file set 1Clear file set 2Print set on display in the *Banana Fish* zone