Japanese Artist Creates Moving Illustrations That Come to Life With Cleverly Placed Pull Tabs

Do you remember the pull tab books from your childhood? It was a basic but clever concept. A strategically placed paper strip attached to a character or element allowed you to move it up and down or side to side in a picture book. Now, an artist known as shinrashinge has taken this technique to the next level, creating moving illustrations that come alive by pulling and lifting some tabs. The result is a unique mix of art and engineering on paper.

One of shinrashinge's most striking works presents a summer night scene. A young woman is seen from the back as she enjoys a snack. But with the help of a brilliant system of pull tabs and hidden bits, the artist offers the viewer a fully animated scene. The girl's profile is revealed before we can see her whole face. Shinrashinge even makes her blink and move her arm. If it wasn’t for the fact that we can see the artist moving the paper strips around the frame, you could easily mistake it for an anime scene on a screen.

A behind-the-scenes look at this project shows shinrashinge cutting the individual pieces that make up each of the motions. As if the mechanics of it weren't impressive enough, the drawings are filled with details, from the pattern on the character's kimono to the lively night market where the scene takes place.

Building from the creative possibilities of this medium, shinrashinge has also used it as a storytelling tool. By designing multiple pull tab illustrations in one sketchbook, we're presented something that looks like a comic book coming to life right before our eyes. While shinrashinge has worked in color, the fact that most of these elaborate pieces are in black and white speaks to the potential of this analogue technique. Can you believe it's all made of paper?

To stay up to date with these pull tab art creations, you can follow shinrashinge on Instagram.

An artist known as shinrashinge creates moving illustrations with the help of pull tabs.

The result is a unique mix of art and engineering on paper.

Building from the creative possibilities of this medium, shinrashinge has also used it as a storytelling tool.

By designing multiple pull tab illustrations in one sketchbook, we're presented with something that looks like a comic book coming to life right before our eyes.

Can you believe it's all made of paper?

shinrashinge: Instagram | Twitter

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Regina Sienra

Regina Sienra is a Staff Writer at My Modern Met. Based in Mexico City, Mexico, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications with specialization in Journalism from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has 10+ years’ experience in Digital Media, writing for outlets in both English and Spanish. Her love for the creative arts—especially music and film—drives her forward every day.
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