Chizuru Iwasaki -
One of Iwasaki's most famous collaborations was her illustrations for Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved children's book, . Published in 1947, Iwasaki's illustrations brought the timeless story to life in a way that was both authentic and innovative. Her delicate, dreamlike drawings captured the essence of Saint-Exupéry's poignant tale, conveying the themes of friendship, love, and the importance of human connection.
For example, the 2020 film Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle pays direct homage to Iwasaki’s style, particularly in the relationship between the human protagonist Koko and the mythical Pokémon Zarude. The director, Tetsuo Yajima, explicitly noted in interviews that the crew re-watched the 1998 film’s climax to study Iwasaki’s original key frames. chizuru iwasaki