Book Review: Tekkon Kinkreet Art Book: Background Paintings

March 31, 2009 by Parka

鉄コン筋クリート ART BOOK シロside　建築現場編 (Tekkon Kinkreet Art Book: Background Paintings)

There are two art books for Tekkon Kinkreet, the anime movie. This is one with the white cover, Tekkon Kinkreet Art Book: Background Paintings, or in Japanese 鉄コン筋クリート ART BOOK シロside　建築現場編. The black cover edition is Tekkon Kinkreet Art Book: Background Sketches.

The illustrations in the book are grouped into the different areas where the stories take place. There's a map on the contents page highlighting the areas. Straightaway, I'm having that feeling on being a tourist in Japan, that heightened level of awareness all tourists have. Next page, I am floating in the air: it's a two page spread of the cityscape. And that's where the fun begins.

The book is filled will illustrations, painstakingly detailed background paintings, from start to end, 255 pages of them out of 260. Sometimes the images are enlarged so you can see the stains and cracks on the bathroom floor, sometimes multiple angles are included to look behind corners of the walls. The number of paintings collected in this book is unbelievable. There's just so much to see, so much to take in.

This is a spellbinding book.

It's highly recommended to get this together with the other one on background sketches, Tekkon Kinkreet Art Book: Background Sketches.

Links: Tekkon Kinkreet official site | Tekkon Kinkreet on Wikipedia

You can find this book available on Amazon.co.jp and YesAsia US. The checkout process is in English.

Here's amazon.co.jp shipping rates for your reference.

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Comments

I've been on the fence on

Otto (not verified)
March 31, 2009,
1 year 22 weeks ago
Comment id: 97

I've been on the fence on getting these two books. I don't know why I'm hesitating, but thanks to your reviews, I can finally purchase them with full confidence.

These two Tekkon Kinkreet

Conner (not verified)
June 6, 2009,
1 year 12 weeks ago
Comment id: 263

These two Tekkon Kinkreet books are amazing. How much are they in US dollars? I only see the Japanese currency and I don't want to jump in and buy them if they are expensive. Thanks much respect for these reviews!

The exchange rate is US$1 to

Parka
June 6, 2009,
1 year 12 weeks ago
Comment id: 265

The exchange rate is US$1 to ￥100 currently.

The white book is US$38 (￥3,800) and the black is US$24 (￥2,400).

The per shipment rate to North America is at US$27 (￥2,700) and per item handling charges at US$3 (￥300). You can check out the shipping rates at this page on amazon.co.jp. They ship by Fedex, which is pretty fast.

So the total is about US$95.

Ive got this one lately. Its

torturr (not verified)
September 22, 2009,
49 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 725

Ive got this one lately. Its simply fantastic. Both of them. White and black. Real treasure in my collection.

Hi, Your blogg is Amazing and

Jatinder Singh (not verified)
September 26, 2009,
48 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 736

Hi,

Your blogg is Amazing and very very Helpful. I have some of the books you have reviewed. I am also an Illustrator too. I have been after these Books for a very long time, i didn't even know they existed till i went onto you website. I am so greatful, keep up the work!

Peace and Love

Jatinder Singh

It was beautiful, thank for

Anonymous (not verified)
October 23, 2009,
44 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 813

It was beautiful, thank for sharing. Unfortunately it's quite expensive in my coversion rate I wonder is it only available in jp amazon only... Dun know can I order it at Kinokinuya... I'm staying in M'sia...

You should be able to get

Parka
October 23, 2009,
44 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 814

You should be able to get Kinokuniya to order for you. They do have ordering services. But the prices are not going to be too different, at least not that I see from the Kinokuniya in Singapore.

Hey Parka, Do you know if

cmgillett (not verified)
March 27, 2010,
22 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 1728

Hey Parka,

Do you know if these works are colored traditionally or digitally?

@cmgillett Looks like

Parka
March 27, 2010,
22 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 1729

@cmgillett
Looks like traditionally painted. Japanese anime backgrounds are usually hand painted, or at least those that I know of are all hand painted.