I Like Characters.com by Steve Rack

Good friend and fellow Boys Who Draw member Simon Corry has a passion for imagination, and beyond his award winning typography, graphic design credentials and super-detailed illustrations, there lies a land of intrigue, magic and adventure just waiting to be discovered. Enter: My Last Star.

Steve Rack (SR):
When was My Last Star born?

Simon Corry (SC):

My Last Star was born in 1985 around the same time that I was, but it wasn’t until around 2004 that the work began to bare the name.

SR:
What is My Last Star?

SC:
a long time ago, in a remote system far beyond the simple imagination…

…stood a planet of such great magnitude and beauty; the likes of which is seldom seen for light years around, even by the most weathered of travelers.

The planet’s name was “Vet-tu”, translated this reads: “Chasing the Sun”. Vet-tu is for the most part made up of “Hungaria”, these creatures nest on the planets service slowly absorbing its natural life source. The Hungaria spawn their offspring as a result of the energy obtained from the planet’s resources.

Baby Hungaria are born a lot smaller then their respective parens, but are packed with just as much energy, due to this fact the babies will tend to float into the sky propelled by the massive life source contained within. As time goes by, the baby Hungaria begins to grow, and it starts to use up more energy. Eventually the energy contained inside depletes and it is unable to sustain the Hungaria’s new dimensions. The Hungaria then begins to float back to the planets surface where it will start to absorb the life source energy and grow into an adult.

Perhaps the most curious inhabitant of all Vet-tu’s creatures is “The Trog”.

The Trog is a short yet extremely intellectual being and is from far more humble beginnings then might have been expected. The Trog race have co-existed with the Hungaria for thousands of years even using the babies as giant floating forms of transport. The level of technology reached is almost unsurpassed throughout the galaxy. Energy is gathered through a process of extraction from the great adult Hungaria. The great adults can be identified by their more varied outer colour shells. The Trogs choose to live in modest homesteads that are built on and around the Hungaria.

Once every 10,000 years a great adult Hungaria will pass away leaving a giant empty shell in its wake, these shells are used by the Trog’s to form massive housing and storage facilities. But do not be fooled by their rather simple and cute appearance. The Trogs have managed to develop a vast and deadly arsenal of weaponry and they boast a very large military presence.

Despite this rather impressive show of force, the Trogs themselves have managed to enjoy thousands of years of peace and prosperity.

They have been unchallenged and unscathed despite the series of intergalactic wars that have raged around them for many years.

Things are, however, about to change…

SR:
So where do you find inspiration?

SC:
I tend to gather ideas for my work from just about every conceivable place. I suppose looking back; the things that stick out are: computer consoles/games (Never underestimate the power of a good computer game. I’m 24 years old now and still swear by them. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that if your an illustrator their a must have.), and animation/cartoons. This probably stems back to my childhood and being sat every Saturday morning on the floor of my best mate’s house watching cartoon’s like Double Dragon and Sonic the Hedgehog. Later in my life I became a big fan of Japanese anime such as the ‘Studio Ghibli’ collection: Metropolis, Ghost in a Shell, Akira and Appleseed. TV, Films, books, magazines, internet. They all have their influential place. Currently, I recommend Mattias Adolfsson and Ingunn Dybendal if you haven’t already seen their work then prepare to be blown away.

SR:
So, as an artist, what would you say is your most memorable achievement so far?

SC:
I think so far winning the Type Directors Club Award this year has been the real highlight. Having achieved such critical acclaim has been a real milestone, and I’m looking forward to what happens next.

SR:
So what’s in the future for My Last Star and/or yourself as an artist/designer?

SC:
I’m looking at the possibility of working in the US. Specifically, New York.  So if your an agency from the US and your interested in my work or believe you might know someone who would be interested, please get in touch. I would also love to work for in no particular order: Lego, Sony, Nintendo, Orange, Studio Ghibli, The New Yorker, The Guardian, Green Peace, Innocent Smoothies. I’d also really love to do collaborations with Mattias Adolfsson, Jon Burgerman, Rex Crowle and Jermeyville. So if your reading this, pretty please!

SR:
What do YOU think makes a great character design?

SC:
Imagination.

SR:
And the last question: Pluto or Goofy?

SC:
Neither. To be truthful I have never really been a fan of any traditional Disney or contemporary for that matter I think the characters are uninspired and dry. But, hey, thats just my opinion.

SR:
Thanks Simon for taking time out to do this!

Links:
www.SimonCorry.com
www.MyLastStar.com
www.BoysWhoDraw.com