The finished photo.
© K. Horikoshi / Shueisha, My Hero Academia Project
Mitchel Wu carving and painting the backdrop.
COURTESY OF MITCHEL WU TOY PHOTOGRAPHY
Positioning the figures and other elements.
COURTESY OF MITCHEL WU TOY PHOTOGRAPHY
Toy story
Costco member Mitchel Wu (mitchelwutoyphotography.com), a photographer and illustrator by trade, takes the joy and imagination of toys to a whole new level.
“I create and craft stories through toy photography, by creating the illusion of motion and emotion,” he explains from his home in Los Angeles.
Whether working for clients in the toy and entertainment industry or just for himself, Wu puts the “action” into action toys by making you believe toys can fly, survive winds and explosions, and more.
“While digital technology allows the creation of mind-blowing visuals and effects, I prefer using practical, hands-on effects whenever possible,” he explains. “The liquid splashes, explosions, dirt and debris you see in my images were created by me blasting the liquid, dirt and debris with compressed air or by splashing liquid into the scene and with fireworks. Creating practical effects [is] way more fun than creating them in front of a computer. It’s like being a kid again!”—Steve Fisher
Heroic journey
Photographer Mitchel Wu created an action-packed image for his client, Crunchyroll, an anime streaming service. “I really wanted to feature the two main characters from the action anime series My Hero Academia as they journey to become superheroes,” he says. “My daughter is a huge My Hero Academia fan, so working on this holds a lot of meaning for me.”—SF
