WS. I think people grow up in Japan with a greater appreciation for comics, fantasy, escapism and general weirdness…what I do is fairly obscure to many people in the west. Japanese people sometimes seem to click with it better. I guess I share a fascination with certain themes which recur in Japanese fiction – post apocalyptic visions, psychedelia, science fiction, weird latex monsters….Also since visiting Japan for the first time I’ve been tremendously inspired, so it’s kind of a circular thing – I keep absorbing their strange culture, filtering it and selling it back to them.

What makes Japan/Tokyo different than any other city/country in the world?

WS. Raw chicken, sea cucumbers, deep fried angler fish guts, Shinjuku host bar 1990’s David Bowie automatons..Tokyo Tower Kosmiche wax museum, Asakusa’s dilapidated amusement park, Pink Dragon Rockabilly dudes twistin’ in Yoyogi park….The ‘NO SMORKING’ sign in Harajuku.

If you have to name one, what is the most defining project you’ve done in your career?

WS: I think it would have to be Tales From Greenfuzz, it seems to have captured people’s imaginations more than other things that I’ve done. Everybody can relate to the whole vegetables versus meat thing, it’s a universe that sort of works and has it’s own logic.

WS: Traveling with my mind…I submerge myself in stories, real and fictional. I have a big collection of National Geographic magazines – from the 1940’s to the present day, I can pick one at random and find something fascinating and inspiring. Regarding science fiction, I grew up on comics and shows such as 2000AD, Dan Dare and Dr Who – I couldn’t, and still can’t see how one couldn’t find those things amazing.

Do you have any favorites amongst the character you’ve drawn?

WS: I’m quite fond of the vegetable freaks from Tales From Greenfuzz 3, most of my characters are pretty 2 dimensional, so it’s difficult to pick one, a lot of my friends seem to really like Rhonda Broccoli from Greenfuzz…she’s based on Angela Davis (black feminist activist) so maybe thats why.

What kind of essentials must you have when you are working with your drawings?

WS: PEACE AND QUIET! Good light, something interesting to listen to on the radio or some strange music to inspire. Like many illustrators and nerdy artists I like to work late at night, when no one else is around.

Could you give us a little background information about the brand new Fabrick (Medicom) Tales From Greenfuzz range?

WS: It’s called Deathtrap Dungeon, and it’s based around Helmut The Hot Dog Man’s secret base in Nutwood where he has created a dastardly maze, full of deadly spiky traps – a bit like the 36 chambers of the Shaolin temple. Ideally, I’d like to make a platform video game of it, that would be amazing, but for now a textile range wil have to do. We’re making bags, fanny packs, wallets, book covers and babywear, all the best dressed babies will be wearing it.

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http://alakazamlabel.com/

Special Thanks: Mahesa Almeida (Namicho)

Interview by: Max Suriaganda & Taufan Irawan