Miracles Never Cease

This art was done for an over-the-top fantasy/martial arts double feature entitled TWO TOAIST TALES, which includes the films TAOSIM DRUNKARD (1984) and THE YOUNG TAOISM FIGHTER (1986). These are "loose" sequels to THE MIRACLE FIGHTERS (1982) created, for the most part, by the same team of filmmakers. Because of that, and since they are also very similar in theme and tone to that first film, I continued in the same art style I used for that film's presentation previously. 

Artistic inspiration can come from anywhere. Usually it just comes from watching the film and mixing that with a general understanding of the previous marketing done for the film and what poster styles were in vogue at the time of production. I try not to design something misleading with incongruous visuals. As a designer, it's fun to attempt to work in different styles from various decades and genres. That being said, in this case I remember seeing THIS image of what I think are toys. They might be CG renders, I don't know. But something about the composition struck me. So months later, when this project came across my desk, I had to design a slipcover which included elements from both films, my memory went back to that image of the toys/CG figures. 

 

Below is the result of that inspiration. (Maybe you have to squint to see it.) But, the inspiration is in there somewhere. I promise.  

Inside the Blu-ray packaging is my art for each individual film. Here's my cover art for TAOISM DRUNKARD. Yep, this is THE ONE with that chomping "banana" eating monster. Not real bananas, but... well, you'll just have to watch it yourself. It's nuts. (I think he'd eat those too, if you're not careful.)

The kung fu shenanigans continue in THE YOUNG TAOISM FIGHTER. Is someone fighting against Taosim? Shouldn't it be The Young Taoist Fighter? I watched it and I still can't remember what the heck was happening. So, what do I know. Anyway. There was a jiāngshī hopping zombie vampire at one point. And disembodied arms and legs flying around fighting some dude with a fanatical love for black mascara, complete with cartoon sound effects. Or my meds were out of balance again. Half the time, with these flicks, I can't tell which.

For the included booklet cover, I did a simple rendering of the reflexology hand map seen on a wall in one of the films. A respite from the above scenes of colorful chaos.

Next time... we go to the FUTURE, to go to the past.