Fans of western and eastern cartoons can rejoice over this quirky illustration by Jose Armillas Nieves. The Puerto Rican artist has combined four beloved animated characters, Totoro and Neko Bus from ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ and Professor Zoidberg and Bender from ‘Futurama,’ into these bizarre cross culture cartoon creations that are sure to invoke nostalgic tears. If you had any doubts that globalization was an actual thing, these drawings should put those concerns to rest.
If you want to continue walking down memory lane, you’ll be happy to learn that Jose Armillas Nieves’ entire deviantART portfolio is filled with illustrations based on children’s shows and interests. From ‘Pokemon’ and ‘Street Fighter’ to ‘Adventure Time’ and ‘My Little Pony,’ Nieves’ collection of works is a visual treasure chest for those young at heart.
Cross Continent Cartoon Mash-Ups
Jose Armillas Nieves Melds 'My Neighbor Totoro' with 'Futurama'
Trend Themes
1. Cartoon Mash-ups - The trend of combining beloved animated characters from different cultures opens up opportunities for disrupting product design, entertainment and advertising.
2. Nostalgia-based Art - The trend of creating art that appeals to childhood memories and interests can disrupt the art and design industry by appealing to a broader audience.
3. Globalization of Pop Culture - The trend of the global popularity of pop culture and animation can disrupt the entertainment industry by creating opportunities for international collaborations.
Industry Implications
1. Product Design - By merging popular animated characters from different cultures, the product design industry could create innovative merchandise that appeals to a broader, multinational market.
2. Entertainment - The entertainment industry could capitalize on nostalgia-based art and cross-cultural cartoon mash-ups by producing new films, television shows, and video games that cater to a broader audience.
3. Advertising - Marketers could tap into the global popularity of animated characters and cross-cultural mashups to create compelling advertisements that resonate with a global audience.