In January 2021, Otaku USA reported on Yukidaruma Shokunin Toshinyan and the amazing snow sculptures he makes, including one of Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro. He even got Catbus to glow. Flash forward to February 2022, and of course Toshinyan is still making amazing sculptures themed after otaku interests.
In fact, he was all set to join a snow lantern festival, but when the festival got called off, he simply made his own snow lantern festival at home. In the background you can see kodama from Princess Mononoke, plus little Totoros from My Neighbor Totoro in front. And naturally they glow, so he didn’t need an official snow lantern festival to get his work done.
But this isn’t the only otaku-themed snow art he’s done this winter. Let’s take a look at what else this creative has up his sleeves.
https://twitter.com/mokomoko_2015/status/1490250093575884800
And how could he not make Pokémon snow sculptures?
アルセウス 東北地方のすがた#雪像 #一人雪祭り #雪だるま職人 #PokemonLEGENDS #PokemonLegendsArceus #Pokemon #ポケモン #アルセウス #ポケットモンスター pic.twitter.com/NkArnVRy9W
— 雪だるま職人としにゃん (@mokomoko_2015) January 31, 2022
The Super Saiyan hair has been added, but the rest of this Dragon Ball theme he made himself.
うへへへへへ・・・
あ あと30秒だ・・・#雪像 #一人雪祭り #雪だるま職人 #dragonball #ドラゴンボール #ドラゴンボール超 #セル #鳥山明 pic.twitter.com/BmZ3NoycRC— 雪だるま職人としにゃん (@mokomoko_2015) January 24, 2022
Here’s a nod to the Ultraman universe:
まぼろしの雪女#雪像 #一人雪祭り #雪だるま職人 #帰ってきたウルトラマン #まぼろしの雪女 #雪女怪獣 #スノーゴン #特撮 pic.twitter.com/ZXi1yBmjru
— 雪だるま職人としにゃん (@mokomoko_2015) January 23, 2022
Then he’s getting back to Studio Ghibli with this Porco Rosso artwork. Look at all the detail, down to the folds of clothing!
飛ばねえ豚は、ただの豚だ#雪像 #一人雪祭り #雪だるま職人 #紅の豚 #スタジオジブリ #金曜ロードショー #ポルコロッソ #宮崎駿監督 pic.twitter.com/vh8BrmutPe
— 雪だるま職人としにゃん (@mokomoko_2015) January 3, 2022
Then there’s some more Studio Ghibli love:
https://twitter.com/mokomoko_2015/status/1476465151448875011
Any Jujutsu Kaisen fans in the house? This one is for you!
玉犬#雪像 #一人雪祭り #雪だるま職人 #十種影法術 #玉犬 #伏黒恵 #呪術廻戦 pic.twitter.com/wscpzxOh7x
— 雪だるま職人としにゃん (@mokomoko_2015) January 2, 2022
And here’s Pochita from Chainsaw Man:
ワン!!!#雪像 #一人雪祭り #雪だるま職人 #チェンソーマン #ポチタ #藤本タツキ #週刊少年ジャンプ pic.twitter.com/SuFRdtwRsb
— 雪だるま職人としにゃん (@mokomoko_2015) December 25, 2021
It seems he has a soft spot for Totoro. Take a look at this.
小トトロが生えてきたよ#雪像 #一人雪祭り #雪だるま職人 #トトロ #ジブリ #スタジオジブリ #となりのトトロ #小トトロ pic.twitter.com/hvvsbzsr4M
— 雪だるま職人としにゃん (@mokomoko_2015) December 24, 2021
Studio Ghibli previously shared a tweet of a No Face snowman and got a lot of people responding with pictures of their own No Face snowmen. If Studio Ghibli follows this Twitter account, they’d have a lot to share! But not many people would be able to recreate this sort of detail and attention to character. Have you ever made an otaku-themed snow creation? If so, please share with us!
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin. She is also the author of its upcoming sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.