Saddled bichir Soft Model

Interview with Kazuyuki Moria

The Ancient Fish series is a new category that has been added to the Favorite lineup. First of all, what kind of creature is an ""ancient fish""?

The term ""ancient fish"" can be interpreted in several ways, but I think the simplest way to describe them is to say that they are ""living fish that have survived to the present day with their old traits. In this series, the coelacanth is the oldest, and the silver arowana is a relatively new ancient fish.

What are the characteristics, ecology, and appeal of these ancient fishes that have lived on the earth from ancient times to the present?

It's hard to single out just one thing that makes Polypterus so fascinating, but its most striking feature is its array of dorsal fins. The dorsal fins, which are lined up one by one, are a unique feature of Polypterus that is not found in other fishes. Among them, the Endrykery has a large size, a stern face called the mandible protrusion type, a long and slender body shape with a raised back, a sharp banded pattern, and its most distinctive feature, the dorsal fin, which is lined up in tens of pieces starting right after the head, giving it a unique silhouette not seen in other species. The dorsal fin is the most popular among the 12 species of Polypterus because of its unique silhouette. Although it is not as well known as the other three species we produced this time, its unique reddish-brown body color reminiscent of the ancient land and its unusual body shape are so unforgettable that people who are not familiar with this fish cannot help but wonder, ""Is this kind of fish still alive today? The more people who don't know about this fish, the more they can't help but think, ""Such a fish is still alive!

This time, you were in charge of the prototype production including painting. What kind of concept did you have for each of them? Also, were there any particular points you paid attention to when creating them?

I tried to pack in every single aspect of this fascinating fish. Therefore, I paid attention to everything and made sure everything was attractive. The patterns on the whole body are the embodiment of the ideal individual by the supervisor, Mr. Igarashi. The skull pattern carved into the head is reproduced, and is accurate enough to identify Polypterus endrykeri as a species by itself. One row of scales, neatly arranged in a tile-like pattern, has been carved with enough lateral lines to be noticed if you look closely. I think we've created something that people will keep and enjoy for a long time.

You asked fish researcher Toshiaki Igarashi to supervise the project. What kind of discussions did you have?

We proceeded with the production work carefully, receiving pointers on both the big picture perspective and the accuracy of details. One of the biggest challenges in creating a three-dimensional object is to convey a sense of presence and volume, which cannot be conveyed by images alone. So we met in person to discuss proportions, the overall atmosphere, and even the state of the fish. We also pointed out the details of the shape and numbers. In other words, the number of scales and fin rays, the shape of the lateral line, and the pattern. In addition, the original form of the fish is that of a mature fish in the wild, and individuals kept in aquariums have a slightly different body shape and details compared to those in the wild. However, the environment in the wild is harsh, and during the maturation process, the fins may be torn, and the body may be slightly damaged. In this sense, the main concept of this series was to create an ideal figure that is a perfect copy of its original form in the wild, and in a sense, impossible to grow up without a scratch.

Finally, please give us some comments about the Ancient Fish series.

Our main concept was to capture the fish as it is alive and swimming. We want you to feel the scene as if it were taken straight from the fish's lively body. On the other hand, once you hold the fish in your hand, the details of the fish will come to life. Look at the carved head and scales. Feel the volume of the fish in your hands. We hope you enjoy both displaying and playing with it.

Supervisor profile

Kazuyuki Moria

Natural history plastic artist.
His concept is ""private tropical world"". He has held many solo and group exhibitions, and his work has been widely exhibited in both two-dimensional and figurative media.
He is in charge of the modeling and supervision of the Aqua Fish mini-models.