Takashi Murakami presents, Kaikai & Kiki Episode 1: “Planting The Seeds” for VOGUE Nippon issue No. 402 [2007]

Close observers of TOKYOMILKSHOP can recall that I’ve shared a very rare TAKASHI MURAKAMI Documentary that gave us insight into a solo exhibition, “summon monsters? open the door? heal? or die?” that took place at the MOCA-Tokyo in 2001.

Today I have a treat for you, If you adore Murakami as I do, this is KAIKAI&KIKI Episode 1: “Planting The Seeds”.

Kaikai & Kiki isn't just Takashi Murakami's art trading company or a radical group of artists. At one point Murakami-san planned to release a four-part episode miniseries surrounding the characters Kaikai and Kiki. The story of Kaikai & Kiki animations all began with a pilot film trailer launched originally in Daikanyama in 2006. The full-length movie was scheduled to be released in 2010 but it never came to fruition.

“Planting the Seeds” released in 2007 centers around Kaikai & Kiki planting watermelon seeds. During the nighttime, Kiki needs to use the bathroom and decides to defecate on top of the watermelon seeds. This angers Kaikai until the "fertilizer" makes watermelons rapidly grow.[5] The fruits are moved by the ship to the nearby farm, where a festival then begins. The locals, Kaikai & Kiki, and their ship enjoy the giant watermelons.

This DVD came with VOGUE Nippon Issue No. 402 as a bonus gift. The follow-up episodes unfortunately may never been seen in totality although, the 2nd & 3rd episodes were screened in 2009 & 2012 at Takashi Murakami’s “MURAKAMI EGO” events.

Lastly something takeaway from this animation, this was the same year Murakami directed Kanye West’s “Good Morning” Video in addition to doing the cover art for the 2007 “Graduation” album. This episode also was released post “SUPERFLAT MONOGRAM” for Louis Vuitton.

If only we could see all the episodes smh, oh well we will all enjoy this for now!

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