Being an illustrator is definitely one of the coolest jobs in the world. It requires a ton of work and dedication, but there’s something undeniably magical about the way artists create something out of nothing but ink and pencil. However, even the best artist sometimes needs a hand when it comes to anatomy, which would explain why poseable models are always popular. After all, the morgue would be packed if every artist had to cut open a corpse to learn how the body works!
So it’s little surprise that an app for the iPhone, called ArtPose, has recently been making waves on Twitter in Japan. But the reason for its popularity might not be what you expect!
Costing only 300 yen (US$2.99), ArtPose might just be the perfect iPhone app for a starving artist struggling with anatomy, perspective and shadows. According to its description, the app provides a model which can be manipulated and posed as necessary, as well as a movable light source. If you can’t quite figure out the placement of a particular body part or shadow for your 10-foot-tall mural of Mr. Sato in full glam mode, ArtPose will help by letting you set up the pose and a light source and giving you a movable, zoomable camera.
▼Basically like this.
ArtPose、男性と女性のモデルがあり、各300円。良い買い物をしました…… pic.twitter.com/kQ8R7DpOzz
— ゆきむら燎🐈⬛ (@ykmrkgr) August 21, 2014
“ArtPose has both male and female models, and each of them are 300 yen. It was a pretty good purchase!”
Which is all pretty damn nifty, if you ask us–but that’s not only reason why the app is getting tweeted and retweeted in Japan. It turns out that the models are a little too poseable! Just check out this image tweeted by @aza_me.
▼”Hellooo.” (Said in George Takei’s voice.)
Well, that’s certainly what nightmares are made of! Maybe it would help if we dialed things back a bit. Check out this attempt at the Mega Man pose. It almost worked!
https://twitter.com/komenuka2/status/501590561850028032/
“I tried to make a Mega Man pose with this app, but when I actually did it, I felt like the pose itself didn’t make sense…”
Now that we’re looking it, we have to wonder…just what the hell is Mega Man doing??
Here’s another example of the flexibility that ArtPose provides you with. Which might actually be pretty helpful if you’re trying to do a collage of hilarious ragdoll death scenes from Grand Theft Auto.
▼”Run over by ambulance. AGAIN!”
ArtPose can also help you relive the most heartbreaking scene in all of Western cinema…
▼If you’re not tearing up, you’re either a monster or you need to watch Terminator 2.
It looks like ArtPose might also be pretty useful for all of our doujinshi artists!
It’s also just a great way to kill time on the train…
▼”ArtPose is too much fun! LOL!”
https://twitter.com/shinta_cat/status/501713601862721537/
So, it turns out that playing with ArtPose itself is pretty entertaining! In fact, it looks like people are having so much fun playing with the app that we’re starting to wonder if anyone is doing any actual drawing…
▼It turns out that the answer is yes! Kind of…
ArtPoseっていうデッサン人形アプリ買った！これで絵がどんどこうまくなるどー！ pic.twitter.com/iqKAuenx7V
— 盛岡 (@kozzzo) August 21, 2014
“I bought the sketch doll app ArtPose! See how well I could draw just with this!”
Umm…well, we guess there’s no shortcut to becoming a good artist, is there?
Even so, we think ArtPose would definitely be a great addition to any artist’s toolbox. Especially if they’re sketching while out and about! Or if they need a good laugh while taking a break…
Sources: ITMedia, iTunes
Images: Twitter (1, 2, 3, 4), iTunes
Japanese Twitter artist gives hilarious suggestion for when you can’t draw a character’s body
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Nagasaki high school students collab with sweets veteran to release carrot nama dorayaki
Finnish design brand Iittala partners with Pokémon for a golden first collaborative tableware set
Buddhist priest arrested for using health insurance card he found on the street
A visit to Tokyo’s fanciest coffeehouse for a 16,200 yen (US$143) bottle of coffee【Pics】
Make-them-yourself Pokémon frappes arrive at Japanese convenience stores, can be mixed at home too
A century of love – How dating and marriage have evolved in Japan
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
Rumors say this is Japan’s very best McDonald’s branch, but what makes it special?[Taste test]
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home