Can you believe that this…
turns into this?!
And that it’s all made from cardboard??
This is truly all due to the talent of Akitaya (@Ram_akita) on Twitter.
ダンボールドラゴン 📦🐲 完成!
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) March 10, 2023
新技法で、新作風✂️#最後のページはbefore
#龍作品集まれー#ダンボールアート pic.twitter.com/YGQtEWXBKc
Akitaya is actually not a full-time artist, but rather makes these things - sometimes requested by his own son - as a hobby! He simply creates things that bring him joy and excitement - but out of cardboard and Starbucks cup sleeves!
Despite being a hobby, he’s continued to improve his skills and completes new projects every year. He even recently showed a comparison of his work from 2018 and 2023. The 2018 one is already impressive but the 2023 one is levels beyond!!
#三億アカウントの中から私を発掘してください
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) March 15, 2023
⬅️2018年作>>>>>>>>>2023年作➡️
ダンボールアートの技術、作風を地道ですが、アップデートしてます✂️#ダンボールアート #ダンボール工作#cardboard
#papercraft pic.twitter.com/Se9LuH6WI9
These are just some of his amazing creations, some of them featuring the very familiar Starbucks cup sleeves!
#芸術の秋だし貴方の自創作を紹介してみませんか
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) October 18, 2018
ダンボールで、こんなの欲しいなって思えるもの自作してます😊
スタバのスリーブなんかも大切な素材なんですよ☕️ pic.twitter.com/ZFOBd8A7fE
Let’s take a look at these in a little more detail!
Horsefly
#これでフォロワーさん増えました
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) February 7, 2021
スタバのスリーブで作った
ウシヤブ#風の谷のナウシカ
この作品がきっかけですね😋 pic.twitter.com/GwOefRmcxq
This is a horsefly, inspired by…can you guess?
Yes, it’s from Studio Ghibli’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
Source
The fact that it’s made from Starbucks cup sleeves, which can be seen more clearly on the fly’s backside, is incredibly impressive. The green logo really complements and elevates the design.
Here’s an image of it “flying” which looks really cool!
Au-09
ダンボール AU-09アナライザー完成
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) September 3, 2018
腕-足-胴体も一応動かせます!
全高23㎝
シンプルな機体なだけに、曲面、細部にオリジナル解釈を入れてますが、結構気に入ってます。 pic.twitter.com/z2Uw0pv3vL
Au-09 (also known as Analyzer) is a robot character from Space Battleship Yamato. It is speculated to have served as inspiration for the character design of R2-D2 in Star Wars. And it’s easy to see why!
Akitaya even captured the dome aspect of its “head”. The level of detailing all over the work is incredible. And what makes it even more impressive is that the limbs can move!!
Clay Figurine from the Jomon Period
This depicts a dogu, a clay figurine made during the Jomon Period (prehistoric Japan).
Akitaya expertly depicts the fine details using the green Starbucks logo in the perfect spots. Anyone who sees this who has studied Japanese history will be able to recognize it as a dogu immediately.
3 years after making the Starbucks dogu, Akitaya also made this one without the Starbucks logo, but still just as impressive. This is a replica of pretty much exactly what you find when you google dogu.
3年ぶにり、ダンボール土偶
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) May 9, 2021
3年前のスタバな土偶もお気に入りやけど、今回のは更に好きなヤツに仕上がったね、足は飾りなんで今回は省略😙モノクロ写真も土器感マシマシでイイね!#ダンボールアート#遮光式土偶 #3年ぶりにリニューアル pic.twitter.com/LkejPJZHHt
Howl’s Moving Castle
#過去の作品を撮り直す#ダンボールアート
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) September 25, 2018
ハウルの動く城
自分の過去作でも、TOP3に入る作品です。積み上げ、ディテール追加、様々なパーツ作ったり、思い出深い😌 pic.twitter.com/wt24r3VHT0
And of course, Ghibli fans will know this one right away. Howl’s Moving Castle is iconic and incredibly complex. Yet somehow, Akitaya carved out and pieced together the fine details - from cardboard!
It really does look like it’ll begin moving anytime!
Here it is from various angles. I personally really like the shot from the back.
#いくらで買いますか選手権
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) February 25, 2018
ダンボール ハウルの動く城
全高50センチ pic.twitter.com/gOF63AKbru
A Few Favorites
Looking through Akitaya’s work, there’s so many good ones I want to introduce, but here’s just a few that are personally really neat.
Starbucks Samurai
マキアートさん@craftsman_0818
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) January 24, 2019
ダンボール武将兜を使用した作品
「スタバ侍 ダンボールで候う」
戦国武将の兜をダンボールで再現して作られたダンボールクラフト、立体紙組絵シリーズの商品化プロジェクトです!皆さんの支援心よりお待ちしています!
サイトはこちら💁♂️https://t.co/4aPSi879wy… pic.twitter.com/NZPwF6D20s
The black samurai helmet was made by another cardboard artist (@craftsman_0818) and the samurai was made to go with it! The Starbucks logo somehow goes perfectly with it as its armor emblem.
Here is Starbucks Samurai riding a carp!
ダンボール鯉のぼり🎏
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) May 4, 2019
竜門と呼ばれる滝を多くの魚が登ろうと試みたが鯉のみが登り切り、竜になることができた伝説をモチーフに、尻尾から竜に変身していく鯉を鯉のぼりをベースに立体化してみました
スタバ侍とも共演してみた(^^) pic.twitter.com/wKMTl4XDRg
Dragon
Isn’t this cool?? This is a completely original design by Akitaya. The head being particularly big makes it look extra powerful.
Minatour
途中経過、半人半牛ミノタウロス
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) December 28, 2020
半年ぶりの制作、年末迄には間に合いそう😅 pic.twitter.com/iClsD5IdvU
Akitaya sometimes makes the zodiac animal for that year, and for the year of the cow, he made a minotaur! It’s a little rare to see so much black color in his work, so this really stands out! But don’t forget to looks at the details in the staff! It has motifs used for New Year’s in Japan.
Here’s the year of the mouse, boar, and dog!
And Some in Color!
Source
Crocodine from Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai
The red parts were made using cardboard from Honkirin beer boxes. You can see the label peeking out on the thighs.
対をなす悪の組織''アクタ屋"その地下実験施設で、ダンボールとG細胞の融合に成功、誕生したハイブリット生物その名は
— アキタ屋 #ダンボールアート✂︎ (@Ram_akita) December 26, 2019
『ビオダンテ』🥀📦
最終形態へと進化が始まっているようだ、、
なんちて🤪お〜いお茶のダンボールでビオランテ第一形態作ってみました
2枚目はDQのサブキャラ引き連れたラスボス感 pic.twitter.com/dn98VxmAN4
And what looks like a normal flower at first, but hardcore Godzilla fans will know that this is Biollante, a hybrid kaiju! And it’s made from cardboard from Oi Ocha, a popular tea brand.
Writer's Pick
To Close
Akitaya has plenty of niche works for fans of specific franchises! Make sure to check out his Twitter and Instagram to see what he’s made and what he’s working on now!
Photos provided courtesy of Akitaya (Twitter, Instagram).