GILLGILL GK

-This "Don Drago" is the first digital prototype of the Monthly Garage Kit. Do you always use digital modeling?

Sagata: Yes. Basically, I'm doing it digitally using ZBrush.
But when I was a student, I originally made things out of clay, and it wasn't until I became a working adult that I started using digital in a serious way.
When I was a student, I used to imitate Ryu Oyama and make them.
Mr. Oyama's reptilian expression is very cool.
Even though the motifs of his works are fictional characters, the shape of the carapace and the elaboration of the scales make them look like real creatures.
The feeling I had when I was sculpting with clay is very useful even digitally, like how to make the character realistic, how to assume the presence when the data is output, etc.
I'm glad I'm doing clay.

-The expression of this work is also great. I feel that you are observing your reptiles well. Are you a reptile lover after all?

Sagata: I like it. Reptiles don't have an even array of scales, which is fun to make.
I'd like to keep a turtle or a lizard in the future, though I can't do that now because I can't have pets in my apartment.
But I like crocodiles the best... I like that they seem bigger and stronger than any other reptile. It seems like a lot of work to keep them, though.
Don Drago was also modeled after a crocodile.

-The little lizard next to Drago, who looks so big and strong, is so cute! As is the case with Don Drago, your work often has two characters, one large and one small, in a single work. Why is that?

Sagata: I wonder why? (laughs)
That's what happens naturally when I'm making .
It may have something to do with the movies I've seen so far.
I like movies with a duo in action.
It's fun to see they complement each other's charms and the relationship between them.
I guess I'm tempted to do that with my own work.

-Even though your work is very real, when I look at the "relationships" in your work, there is also a sense of comedy in there somewhere. This atmosphere is so lovely.

Sagata: My love of comical things is influenced by Spawn.
I also love McFarlane Toys figures, and I used to collect them when I was a student.
Come to think of it, there are two popular characters in Spawn called Sam & Twitch.
Of course I like it too. And they are a duo of uneven detectives.
Sam Burke, the big, physical guy, and Twitch Williams, the small, brainy guy.
I guess I have a fundamental love for the combination of large and small characters.

SPAWN: The names of multiple comic book titles and the superheroes in them written by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics of America in 1992. The action figures released by McFarlane Toys, the author's own company, are extremely well-made, and the series has been out for a long time from 1994 to 2008, and at one point it became a big boom in Japan.
(excerpted from Wikipedia)

-Don Drago is a work full of Mr.SagataKick's "love", isn't it? Can you give us some specific images of the settings and colors?

Sagata: I made it in the image of the Godfather in the movie.
The bigger one is the mafia boss "Don Drago", but this stern boss has a small lizard on his shoulder with great care...I want the viewer to feel free to imagine it.
Regarding the color, the boss is an overall orthodox crocodile image. A dark-colored pattern stretched across his back. The pattern makes it look like he's wearing a suit. That's how I envisioned it.
But I don't think there's any color or setting that says it's the only right answer. I'm rather excited to see what color the person who bought it will paint it in!

-What's the last thing you'd like to say?

Sagata: I thought Don Drago would never be able to re-release it myself, so I'm happy to be featured in a monthly garage kit like this.
I improved the details of the scales and the shape of the base.
I hope that more people will take this opportunity to see Don Drago.

SagataKick
Born in Fukui Prefecture in 1995.
Twitter：https://twitter.com/avenger_ken