Pictures with puzzle elements: Mitsumasa Anno

I guess most readers of this blog are puzzle lovers who live outside of Japan. So, I have chosen a famous Japanese illustrator "Mitsumasa Anno" for today's topic, just in case you don't know him.
 

wikipedia - Mitsumasa Anno

Mitsumasa Anno is an illustrator and children's book writer. His children's books are published worldwide, and he has won many awards. I don't pay much attention to children's book writers, but he is exceptional because his illustrations have a sense of puzzle.

I have several of Anno's books. Here is a book " ANNO'S ALPHABET," the Japanese version. If you like impossible objects, you may love this book even it's published for children. I'm amazed at his idea of design and of course, his technique of drawing.

There is also a Japanese alphabet book of Anno's. When I bought these books, I practiced drawing pictures and tried to draw impossible objects but couldn't draw well.

I found Anno's illustrations on the page of Impossible World. 

Impossible World - Mitsumasa Anno
http://im-possible.info/english/art/various/anno.html

As you can see in the middle of the above page, there is a puzzle like a six-piece burr, and please have a look at it carefully. It's something strange isn't it?
Anno drew impossible objects and stairs that remind me of Escher's works in children's picture books. I don't know much about him, but it seems like he has a puzzle sense and is interested in mathematics.

There are several books of conversations with Anno and some mathematicians; Tsuyoshi Mori, Gisaku Nakamura and Koji Fushimi, that have been published. 

Any of those books are fun to read. I looked for their English version books, but unfortunately, I couldn't find any. So, I pick up some contents randomly here.

• Why is symmetry beautiful?
• What is the shape of the field of vision? A rectangle or circle?
• Rectangles make the world
• Image of 0
• Turning a polyhedron over
• Talking about Escher

I think these contents attract puzzle lovers.

Here are different types of his books. These are his series of picture books of journeys.

If you look at the pictures carefully, you will find something that makes you smile. I found Little Red Riding Hood somewhere. I heard that there is a person who posed the same as a famous picture or a trick art. I love his wit and sense of humor.

If you have a chance to visit a library or bookstore, please look for his books. It's worth taking a look, especially for puzzle lovers.