[Theory] Ayu and her art director...

truehappiness · #1 8th April 2010, 02:53 AM

It's been something that I've wondered about since she mentioned it...

Some time in November/December, Ayu mentioned during rehearsals that she had to make a big decision about her staff, and that she and this person/group of people have separated ways.

Initially, people thought that it was a dancer or a band member that was "fired" or "let go" since it sounded like that, however....

I've come to sort of realize that it might've been Shinichi Hara and RICE MOMOYA that got the axe from Ayu. The very people who designed the Ayu A and have designed her every work since poker face[?] / ASFXX up until Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (more on this later.) got axed it seems!

I'm not sure of the details, but after 3 releases without Shinichi Hara or anyone from MOMOYA, I'm fairly certain that they were let go from working with Ayu.

Perhaps it was Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~'s design and such that made Ayu do this?

First bit of evidence: You were... / BALLAD being designed by a group of people from "amanainteractive" ..

Second bit of evidence: TeamAyu vol.34 being done by someone from the group 'superb' instead of MOMOYA.

Third bit of evidence: Rock'n'Roll Circus' "ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN" section lists some Takasomethingsomething from (afourlettername) instead of the usual MOMOYA.

Spoiler:

What do you think? It's just a crazy theory but... I guess it depends on whether or not MOMOYA does work after Rock'n'Roll Circus...

AyuGAME · #2 8th April 2010, 03:34 AM

hmm...good theory...
and i think its true...i think she fired her creative team...to make up something new from her....and i think its working...her booklet design and creative direction is so interesting and different..very fresh...

and the next thing that she need to do is to axe kazuyoshi...LOL

truehappiness · #3 8th April 2010, 03:40 AM

The thing is that I think Sunrise/Sunset's covers might have been the reason for their firing, haha.

jbrat2219 · #4 8th April 2010, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truehappiness

The thing is that I think Sunrise/Sunset's covers might have been the reason for their firing, haha.

But wait a second, didn't Kazuyoshi take the pictures? What exactly do these people do? They choose the images that are used for covers and booklets?

truehappiness · #5 8th April 2010, 04:11 AM

Quote:

But wait a second, didn't Kazuyoshi take the pictures? What exactly do these people do? They choose the images that are used for covers and booklets?

They design the covers/packaging and retouch[?] the images, I believe.

Ayu chooses the images in the end, but the ones who are in control of art direction/design are the ones in charge of the final product, I guess.

**zoomzoom** · #6 8th April 2010, 04:15 AM

It sounds plausible since they seemed to have disappeard. Sunrise/Sunet was a post-production disaster flat out and I guess it's possible time issues kept her from changing the covers or have someone else retouch them.

The future will show if they will remain absent, I really hope so. Her physical products have improved quite a lot from it.

jbrat2219 · #7 8th April 2010, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truehappiness

They design the covers/packaging and retouch[?] the images, I believe.

Ayu chooses the images in the end, but the ones who are in control of art direction/design are the ones in charge of the final product, I guess.

Isn't she firing the wrong person then? I mean it's not THEIR fault if Kazuyoshi didn't give them much to work with in the first place lol.

truehappiness · #8 8th April 2010, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Isn't she firing the wrong person then? I mean it's not THEIR fault if Kazuyoshi didn't give them much to work with in the first place lol.

Hahah, well, she's working with ND CHOW now, so that should say something...

-whistle-

(My imagination basically has Ayu ripping up the [supposed] contract she had signed with Shimoko into millions of pieces... why else would she work with JUST Shimoko for 2 years? HAHAHA)

jbrat2219 · #9 8th April 2010, 04:21 AM

Let's hope that continues...

Andrenekoi · #10 8th April 2010, 05:22 AM

Isn't she using a different drummer? ¬¬

truehappiness · #11 8th April 2010, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Isn't she using a different drummer? ¬¬

I thought Erorin was replaced, but he came back for CDL09-10.

Right now she's using Kaoru Abe again, but that usually means that Eguchi has another job he's doing. (I think she only uses him for the TV lives at the moment...)

It's not a big deal with the drummer thing, haha. Erorin is a hot commodity, I guess.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/k-abe_0111

He doesn't post anything about tour rehearsals so...

The band getting drinks a few weeks ago.

asmAyumi1992 · #12 8th April 2010, 08:04 AM

Ayu is the boss. She can do anything to the stuff. Firing the MOMOYA team I think, it's great coz, they usually did something similar to Ayu's product.

Working up with newer team is fresh and lovely.

freedreamer · #13 8th April 2010, 08:25 AM

Once she put her face on CDL0910's shirt, I knew something was changed. Then came This AT10's shirt...even for You were.../BALLAD..Ayu did say the covers are gonna be different. I really really Dont mind the change AT ALL...yes, now she needs to axe Kazu..lol

but I hope it was a happy ending..I mean, I dont want it to be looked upon as if Ayu is being an ingrate for letting go someone who has created her A and stuff...and she HAS done incredible stuff before too (no one can deny hah)

terra · #14 8th April 2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedreamer

but I hope it was a happy ending..I mean, I dont want it to be looked upon as if Ayu is being an ingrate for letting go someone who has created her A and stuff...and she HAS done incredible stuff before too (no one can deny hah)

Yes, I agree. If she fired them I hope it was in a friendly conversation

It's great working with new team, though I admit the way she puts her face on Merchandise kinda surprised me,,

Now, like everyone else has said, Kazu should take the same pill as MOMOYA and Shinichi Hara, and begone for good from Ayu's History XD

truehappiness · #15 8th April 2010, 09:01 AM

We don't know for sure if they were fired or if they left of their own accord, but it looks like anything's possible.

If they randomly come back in the future, then it was just a temporary thing, but to do so many albums/singles/TeamAyu magazines and then... -poof!- disappear on us... hm...

gallowsCalibrator · #16 8th April 2010, 11:12 AM

Oh my, this really sounds like it happened... Well...hopefully everything turned out okay!

Heavenly · #17 8th April 2010, 01:08 PM

well, i think it's true, because Kazuyoshi doesn't actually make horrible photos:
he did amazing shoots with Kumi, Ayu, Anna Tsuchiya before... but when it comes to Ayu's musical material (CD covers/promotions, etc...) it becomes so ugly and bleh...
It's definitely this artistic team who turned his work bad. You were/BALLAD was shot by him too. He can make great shoots (look at these Scawaii scans of last year, when Ayu looks like a diva *.* they are the best scans ever, and made by Kazuyoshi Shimomura...).

But i've to admit that as PV director, Shimoko isn't that good
LMAO

ayu_ready? · #18 8th April 2010, 04:26 PM

that's too bad then
they made her "A" aaaand..all covers till somewhat 2007 were my fav

**Yoake** · #19 8th April 2010, 04:34 PM

It's possible. It'd explain why the RnRC's covers have another atmosphere than the previous ones.

Not~Yet · #20 8th April 2010, 04:46 PM

Yeah, it definitely could be so. The editing/designing of especially her pictures suddenly went downhill so much (remember the overflood of photoshop disasters?) it would be understandable for Ayu to be dissatisfied.

(Or then the team resigned.. But I'd like to think Ayu fired them if they're to blame for some horrible post-productions LOL.)

I'm really happy with the direction she's been going to lately, so whatever has happened, it was for the better.