The Promised Neverland Exhibiton Booklet: Tracks to the Neverland (Dec. 2020)
The Promised Neverland Chronology
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| The revised storyboard written by Kaiu Shirai for the serialization conference. |
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| "Thank you for your support" illustration (see Aug. '17) |
| Story Arc | Date and Event |
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| Pre- serialization | ~Dec 2013: Kaiu Shirai submits a 15-chapter manuscript (original title: The Way We Survive in This World) at Weekly Shonen Jump's editorial dept. |
| ~July 2014: The revised storyboards for the first 3 chapters (which will be almost the same as the published version) are completed. | |
| ~Sep 2014: Kaiu Shirai sensei completes the primary structure of the one shot “Poppy’s Wish.” | |
| ~Dec 2015: Kaiu Shirai and editor-in-charge Sugita propose Posuka Demizu to draw “The Promised Neverland”, and the proposal is kindly accepted. | |
| Feb 2016: Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu’s one shot “Poppy’s Wish” is published in Shonen Jump+. | |
| ~Feb 2016: Posuka Demizu sensei starts designing the characters for “The Promised Neverland”. | |
| Farm escape | May 2016: “The Promised Neverland” is accepted to be serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. |
| Aug 2016: The Promised Neverland serialization begins in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 35. | |
| Dec 2016: Winner of the Highly Anticipated New Serialization Award at Mando kobayashi Manzai Picture Awards 2016. | |
| Mar 2017: 6th place in Manga Award 2017. | |
| Search for W.M. | Jul 2017: JC “The Promised Neverland” has exceeded 1.1 million copies in 4 volumes. |
| Aug 2017: 2nd place in the comic category of the 3rd Next Manga Awards. | |
| Goldy Pond | Dec 2017: Receives the Grand Prize at the Manga Newspaper Award 2017. -Winner of the 1st place in the Shonen Category of “Kono Manga ga Sugoi!” |
| Jan 2018: Awarded Grand Prix at the Mango Kobayashi Award 2017. -Wins the Best Shonen Manga category at the 63rd Shogakukan Manga Award. |
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| Mar 2018: 11th place at Manga Award 2018. | |
| May 2018: TV animation decision announced in Shonen Jump issue 16. -Anime announcement commemorative character popularity poll to be held. |
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| Jun 2018: Release of The Promised Neverland novel, Letter from Norman (original: Kaiu Shirai/Demizu Posuka, Novel: Nanao). -JC “The Promised Neverland” has exceeded over 5 million copies in 9 volumes. |
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| The Seven Walls | Jul 2018: 3rd place in All Time Best Category of TSUTAYA Comic award 2018. |
| Dec 2018: Winner of the 2018 RIDIBOOKS Comic Award for the next breakthrough manga of 2018. -Jump Super Stage Panel in Jump Festa 2019. |
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| Jan 2019: Release of The Promised Neverland novel, Mom’s song of Remembrance (original: Kaiu Shirai/Demizu Posuka, Novel: Nanao). -The Promised Neverland Web Radio starts broadcasting. -The Promised Neverland anime starts airing for the first time in Noitamina. -The Promised Neverland Parody Spinoff Oyakusoku no Neverland (Original: Kaiu Shirai/Demizu Posuka, author: Shuuhei Miyazaki) begins serializing in Jump+. |
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| Mar 2019: JC “The Promised Neverland” has exceeded 10 million copies in 13 volumes. -Winner of Best New Work Award and Best Scenario Award at France Japan Expo Awards. |
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| Jun 2019: Receives Babelio Award (Manga category) at the French book site Babelio. | |
| Royal Capital decisive battle | Sep 2019: Live Action movie of The Promised Neverland is announced. |
| Oct 2019: JC “The Promised Neverland” has exceeded 16 million copies in 16 volumes. | |
| Dec 2019: The Promised Neverland receives panel in Jump Super stage for the second consecutive year. | |
| Jun 2020: Serialization ends in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 28. -Announcement of the decision to make an overseas live-action drama project by Hollywood. |
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| Post-serialization | Jul 2020: JC “The Promised Neverland” has exceeded 21 million copies in 19 volumes. |
| Oct 2020: JC “The Promised Neverland” has exceeded 25 million copies in 20 volumes. | |
| Nov 2020: Release of the illustration book The Promised Neverland: Artbook WORLD. | |
| Dec 2020: Release of The Promised Neverland Fanbook: Mystic Code. -The Promised Neverland Exhibition (Tokyo venue) to be held. -Theatre release of the Live Action film of The Promised Neverland. |
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| Jan 2021: The Promised Neverland season 2 broadcast in the schedule. |
Character Group Chart
Short QnA (Highlights)
|| What is your secret?
Shirai: Can't say it.
Posuka: Pretending to be a different person when asked by a stranger: "Your art is like TPN's!", and saying "Really??"
|| What is your regret?
Shirai: Won't say it.
Posuka: I was supposed to hide my identity for the rest of my life!
|| What do you think your previous life was like?
Shirai: Do you think previous life exists?
Posuka: I don't quite remember, but I think I had a long tail!
|| Favorite Number?
|| Morning person or Night person?
Shirai: Originally, morning.
Posuka: Morning.
|| What apps do you use often?
Shirai: Notepad.
Posuka: Twitter, Jump+, Discord, Kindle, mikan.
|| Favorite color?
Shirai: A color that suits me.
Posuka: Green.
|| Indoor person or outdoor person?
Shirai: Indoor.
Posuka: Outdoor-loving indoor person!!!
|| Which character would you be if you appeared in TPN?
Shirai: Yverk's waiter?
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|| What was your greatest joy during the serialization?
Shirai: When all readers enjoyed it.
Posuka: Meeting Shirai sensei.
|| What words are you happy to hear?
Shirai: "I love it", "It's interesting", "It was fun."
Posuka: "Amazing."
|| What do you keep at your bedside?
Shirai: Yogibo's cushion.
Posuka: Bundle of manuscripts, smartphone, TPN plush.
|| Favorite animation?
Shirai: Porco Rosso.
Posuka: Penguins.
|| Favorite Movie?
Shirai: Yojimbo, The Quiet Duel.
Posuka: Jurassic World.
|| What was the toughest time during serialization?
Shirai: When I can't write the storyboard.
Posuka: When my computer broke.
|| Which TPN character do you want to have as your sibling?
Shirai: Phil.
Posuka: Lannion.
|| Which TPN character do you want to travel with?
Shirai: Ray.
Posuka: I always travel alone~!
|| Which TPN place do you want to visit?
Shirai: Underground pit from V. 5 (but in any season other than winter).
Posuka: Norman's shelter.
|| Which TPN character would become a YouTuber?
|| Which TPN character is likely a future celebrity?
Posuka: Nat.
|| Which TPN character is likely to be able to get in NASA?
Shirai: Emma (Runner up: Ray).
Posuka: Smee.
|| What superpower do you want?
Posuka: Teleportation.
Shirai-Posuka's Cross Talk (Summary)
- Even though TPN's meal scenes are often highlighted, Shirai himself has an unbalanced diet and often fell ill during work. He ordered his disliked healthy foods from good restaurants (so it'd taste better). He has remained a picky eater, but there are some foods he periodically and indescribably likes a lot (current obsession: natto with celery and wasabi). He likes barley tea, pickled vegetables, and rice during summer. He doesn't like shellfish, crab and pork cutlets.
- Shirai's favorite school subject was the Japanese language. He was good at social studies (esp. Japanese history). Politics interested him only after he grew up.
- When asked who's a real villain in TPN, Shirai says "isn't it Andrew?" But Andrew, too, was affected by his upbringing and environment. Shirai thinks TPN's worldview is gentle to its characters because they're drawn by Posuka. Had it been drawn by him, Gilda would've been a traitor/spy. But Posuka's Gilda looks honest, lively, and a cute girl, so it's convincing that her inner side comes out through the pictures. Posuka thinks none of the characters are evil.
- Shirai doesn't play music during writing the storyboard because he doesn't understand whether he's getting excited by the music or by the story events. He works in silence, but music sometimes helps him to understand a character's emotions. He played P!nk and Lady Gaga's songs during writing the scene where Isabella betrayed Peter (songs that express female rebellion). He liked to play "Wild Challenger" from the anime bobobo-bo bo-bobo when he wanted to cheer himself up.
- Posuka likes environmental sounds during work. In the past, she used to go to a coffee shop while working on manuscripts. Shirai, too, played films such as "BaahuBali" or "Umbrella Academy" to raise his spirits and set a time limit to complete his work before the film's ending.
- Shirai asks Posuka if Gillian has front bangs and if they're the same length as her side bangs. Posuka thinks she doesn't have front bangs. She drew Gillian once with her knit hat off, and she didn't draw her bangs then.
- Posuka tends to draw the soles of the feet when the characters are moving. When many characters are present, she draws the image in a fisheye perspective so that the characters in the back can be seen clearly.
- Shirai asks Posuka to list the top 3 crazy art requests he'd made to Posuka that she had trouble with. Posuka says she doesn't remember (but Shirai keeps insisting). Posuka then says she had trouble with Theo and Jake. In the sketch, she drew Theo scared and hiding. But in the end, Jake was the one to hide. Posuka was afraid that she might not make it before the submission deadline, but it worked out fine. At first, Shirai wanted to kill off Theo, but the decision was changed later. Posuka is glad it turned out that way as she came to like Theo.
- Posuka imagined Bayon's older child to be a daughter and so she gave them an androgynous design. But later she learned they were supposed to be a son. At first, she expected Bayon Jr's children to survive the slaughter (as children in fiction usually survive) and become friends with Emma. She was shocked to see them die so soon.
- Around the beginning when Shirai was late to submit his storyboard, Posuka was excited thinking her deadline would also be delayed. But that wasn't the case. Editor Sugita helped her to make it in time (hearing this, Shirai apologizes). But Posuka affirms that every time Shirai corrects a storyboard, the result improves the quality.
- The windmill in Goldy Pond was supposed to be a Ferris wheel. While drawing chapter 64, Posuka was short in time. So, she requested it to be changed into a windmill to reduce complexity. Shirai thought a windmill would be appropriate for GP's environment, so he approved the idea. It was the only time Posuka asked Shirai to change something, otherwise, she's persistent to follow all of Shirai's drawing requests.
- When asked which scenes were easy for Posuka to draw, she mentions the conversation-heavy scenes with less movements. The easiest was Leuvis' monologue scene from ch. 93.
- On the other hand, the hardest was the Seven walls before reaching the demon god. Even when a chapter had few pages, adding the noise effects and image distortions made it equally time-consuming as a full-length chapter.
- The most shocking story event for Posuka was chapter 1. Other than that, a recent case was Peter breaking Nat's finger while smiling. Posuka kept thinking the whole week, "Shirai sensei is scary!" Shirai informs that Sugita asked him to break Nat's finger two times, to maximize the "devilish" effect.
Tell us More! The Secret Stories of TPN series
|| Please tell us how you felt when you first saw each other's storyboard!
Posuka: What happens next??? (I hadn't been so curious about a continuation since I was in middle school..!)
|| How did the two of you communicate with the editor in charge?
Shirai: Basically, Sugita san (the editor in charge) and I discussed the plot over the phone; and the completed storyboard, rough sketches, and manuscripts were exchanged via e-mail between Demizu sensei and Sugita san.
|| Did the frequency and method of contact change as the story progressed?
Shirai: I don't think there'd been a significant change in the degree of request or method. But in the early days, it was as follows: (1) Demizu sensei asks for the draft, (2) Shirai's approval and consultation for adjustments, (3) getting a revised draft from Demizu sensei, (4) Shirai's approval and reply, (5) Demizu sensei's original composition work begins.
|| Tell me your current feeling after TPN's completion!
Posuka: I'm glad to have received various works even though the series is over. I have many things to do, so it doesn't really feel like it's over. Rather, I must've suddenly loosened up after the serialization; because my stomach somehow got upset, or I fell and chipped my tooth...I was healthier during the serialization (laughs). Why~??
|| Did you notice any changes to yourself as you neared the end of the story?
Posuka: I became more careful with finishing touches. Maybe because there were many vacations around this time. I'm sure the staff involved with finishing touches was inconvenienced by the increased number of working days.
|| Now that it's completed, please let us know if there were some chapters or story events that were unfortunately discarded.
Posuka: When Phil reappeared, I was thinking of making his hair black and white (half-white mesh) if he had a change in his personality or position in the story. Similar to Norman, I wanted to change his visuals, in case he had a big mental change at the time of the reunion.
|| Looking back on the serialization period, when was the hardest time for you, when you were "baptized by the weekly magazine"?
Posuka: The first six months were tough, but the editor kindly gave me a hand so I didn't have to be baptized. It's all thanks to the people who were by my side.
|| If you want to encourage the 'you' from the time of serialization, what do you want to say?
Posuka: Since I'm satisfied with my work and I don't want the history to change, I don't want to say anything. I'll just watch. But I'd like her to get some more nutrition, so maybe I'll send her some milk.
|| Reflecting on the time of serialization, what were your supports that you wouldn't have been able to continue the serialization without?
Posuka: Probably a neat workplace. I don't mind cleaning after work, especially since I was able to move into a remodeled room with a beautiful bathroom.
|| Please tell us about your favorite scenes and chapters.
Posuka: When Emma and Ray visited [][][]'s place and got lost, the chapters took a lot of time. There were many digital processes, so it was difficult. As for the story, there are too many favorite scenes to decide the best one.
|| Looking back on the period of serialization, what do you think was the turning point that led to its development in a wide range of media?
Posuka: !? A turning point? Getting to meet Shirai sensei, I suppose.
|| Is there anything that you were not able to do during the serialization that you have done or would like to do now that it's completed?
Posuka: I'd been saving tickets for a trip/diving...for the time after the series ends, but I don't think I'll be able to go out, so I'll probably have to wait until next year.
|| Whose your favorite character in The Promised Neverland?
Posuka: Lanni and Marvine. Little Bunny is the honorable mention.
|| Is there a chapter you return to and reread?
Posuka: I read the scene in volume 5 where Isabella bids farewell in Vol. 5 over and over again. Maybe because this volume just happens to be sitting in a convenient position on my desk bookshelf...
|| Are there some characters/story events/chapters you wish you could write more about?
Posuka: The eating scenes. Not limited to "Itadakimasu", I wanted to draw more scenes that would make the readers hungry. Lots of munching and biting on bread, for example.
|| How did you come up with the blank page in Chapter 93, "The End"?
Posuka: As per the instructions in Shirai sensei's storyboard! But I also prepared an alternate version. Once the script was completed, I asked others to choose one, and they said, "let's go with total white!" I'm glad it passed the editorial check without a hitch.
|| Is there a scene where you were shocked by the other's work or were left with a strong impression?
Posuka: I'm always amazed... about the fact that he completed a 19-page storyboard 181 times! And that he was able to outline a story using the same characters 181 times, and still be able to draw the next developments!
|| If you two had to choose from Emma, Norman, and Ray to compare the other, who would it be?
Posuka: Shirai sensei's 'brain' is like Norman's! But I think he has all the elements of each of the three!
|| Please tell us if there was any "Shonen Jump"- like moment between the two of you throughout the serialization.
Posuka: Even if there's one, I was never clearly aware of it. But maybe there were, of you see it from an indirect perspective? I think there are "Shonen Jump"-like moments everywhere; club activities, school, friends, etc. We can all relate to them because we all have them. That's why I think such moments happened every day with Shirai sensei.
|| Would you like to leave a message to the fans who came to visit The Promised Neverland Exhibition?
Posuka: Thanks for visitng! Please enjoy yourself!
Rough Flowchart for the Making of "TPN"
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| [Right to left]: Plot created by Shirai sensei based on intricately crafted details > storyboard creation > Storyboard completion > draft manuscript (by Demizu sensei) > Shirai sensei's checking > inking and finishing touches. After this, the work is completed by typesetting the speeches in specific font types and sizes. |
Rough Process:
1. Meeting with the Editor: Discuss larger plot points and the flow of the story in each chapter. (etc).
2. Creating the Storyboard: If Shirai is stuck somewhere, he can call a meeting with the editor.
3. Storyboard completion: The storyboard is completed after confirmation and correction.
4. Delivering to Posuka for drawing: Detailed instruction notes are prepared before sending them to Posuka.
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| Drawing instructions to Demizu sensei: In addition to the storyboard, there is clearly written information that supplements each panel. Information about the camera angle, the surrounding characters, and even the characters' emotions are carefully considered so that they can be "better conveyed" to Demizu sensei. |
5. Draft manuscript: After Posuka receives the complete storyboard from the editor, a draft is prepared and polished.
6. Shirai’s checking: The draft manuscript is sent to Shirai and the editor for checking.
7. Lineart process: Manuscript is drawn with a dip pen. Assistants are given instructions.
8. Manuscript finishing/completion: Digital works, correcting tones and lines, drawing background characters, finishing (etc). The manuscript is sent to Shirai and the editor for the final checking; then it is submitted.
9. Preparing color page drafts: Color pages (spreads, volume and magazine covers, online illustrations) are prepared separately from the black & white manga manuscripts.
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| Several rough sketches were submitted for the production of the color pages. On the right is one of the rough sketches used for the first volume of the manga. Comparing it to the manga version, you can find minor differences in expressions and changes in the angles of the characters' faces. |
Front Pieces Ranking
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| [Shirai's ranking] 5th (Color): 153 "Coward" Spread. God. Representing Norman’s mental landscape like this..? I want to take a peek inside Demizu sensei’s brain! The expression on Norman’s face, a burnt land's grief, frailty; Emma and Ray appearing there. It hit me so hard that I used the metaphor for the main story as well. I love it! 5th (B&W): Volume 3 intro page. Rooftops are exciting, right? The thrill of young boys and girls executing a secret plan. It's that type of coolness, I love it! |
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| [Shirai's ranking] 4th (Color): Volume 18 Cover. God. I'm so moved just by this single art piece. The epitome of emotions. It was once about to be archived, I strongly requested: "Make it Vol.18 cover, please!!" Everyone, praise Shirai. (Actually, Demizu sensei is the amazing one. The state and relationship of the three at that time is outstandingly expressed, it's the best.) 4th (B&W): Volume 2 intro page. Everyone is Mama's puppet. The heap of stuffed animals and dolls you can faintly see in the background is so disturbing, it thrills me. "I want it to be a picture which will make one wonder if Ray is the headless doll, or the black-haired doll." (Demizu sensei's note) - I loved it so much! The more you look at it, the deeper it becomes! 3rd (B&W):85 "What do I do?" front page. Father and son! The two's bonding, love, and care for each other are transmitted so well, I adore it. The jacket Lucas is wearing is also good! [Posuka's ranking] 5th (B&W):85 "What do I do?" front page. Oliver didn't have many smiling scenes when he first appeared due to his situation, but I'm glad to see a big smile on his face in this cut. Good luck to him with his life...! |
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| [Posuka's ranking] 5th (Color): 75 "Unyielding Reed" color page: The theme was graduation, and I had a lot of trouble deciding the color of the clothes, which left a lasting impression on me. The color scheme is a bit mismatched thanks to the combination of bright colors like foreign uniforms and cherry blossoms, but I think I turned out beautifully. Honorable mention (Color):16 "Secret Room" front page: The glass illustration. This one has a narrow color range, and I thought the quality would be ruined in monochrome. But I'm glad to see it still looked good in the volume version. Thanks to the printer. 4th (Color): 172 "Free" color spread: It was drawn when I was sad thinking that the series was finally coming to an end. It's filled with various small items that had appeared so far. |
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| [Posuka's ranking] 3rd (Color):176 "I'm Home!" color page: I like this illustration because it's bright and refreshing, as it neared the ending. The sunny sky is pleasant and Emma's face is calm with a hint of happy days. 4th (B&W): 43 "81194" front page: The illustration conveys the horror of stray demons. I mean, it looks very creepy, so I think I did a pretty good job drawing it. Ch. 129 "My burden" intro page is the same, that one's good too. These are the illustrations I want to draw from time to time. [Shirai's ranking] 2nd (B&W): 43 "81194" front page: The size of the stray demon, the scariness (Ray was almost eaten by this guy just a while ago), its creepiness, and the awesomeness of someone who killed this demon - all of it presented in the most powerful way possible, I, the author, bow for this front piece, I love it! [Posuka's ranking] 3rd (B&W): "I'm Here!" front page: The eldest child of the Bayon family, the one with long hair, is a little girl, a little younger than Emma in human age, she'd be the next head of the family- I drew with these thoughts. I had no idea what I signed up for...! |
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| [Shirai's ranking] 3rd (Color):131 "Welcome to the Entrance" color spread: So colorful! So good! The bright color of the carp flags, the blue of the sky, Emma and friends... I love how refreshing it is. Like a breeze blowing through my heart. A nonchalant Little Bunny at a corner of the page is also funny! 1st (B&W): 12 "Insider" front page: Amazing creativity. Even if you could come up with a scene like this, the power of expression stunned me. It's like a nightmare, but also a reflection of Emma's current situation. It's the best. I love it!! Honorable mentions: Vol.9 cover, ch. 23 spread, ch. 25 color page, ch. 89 front page, 2016 issue #16 JUMP cover -I love all of them! |
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| [Posuka's ranking] 2nd (Color): 118 "Meeting" front page: It's from the time of the anime, so it left an impression. [Shirai's ranking] 2nd (Color): 118 "Meeting" front page: COOL! I love the scene and the lineart, but I love the colors even more! The color scheme, the lighting, the shading, the grim tones - I'm blown away! I'm also thrilled by the dub script (*Ray's two books) idea that I mentioned in Vol. 14 comments! I want to frame this piece and hang it on my wall! [Posuka's ranking] 2nd (B&W): 14 "Trump Card" front page: I think I could draw a cool bookshelf. The same goes for ch. 12, I had a hard time deciding which one to choose. I was trying to summarize the story on the front pages at that time, this illustration seemed to convey it well. 1st (B&W): 154 "A Breakthrough" front page: Vs Boss Norman in the royal capital decisive battle. It has a final showdown feel to it, which is nice. To think Norman cried...! |
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| [Posuka's ranking] 1st, Color (Chapter 10, "Control") Chapter 10. After the first few chapters were published, when the editor told me: "It's become popular, so we got a color page!", I was very happy and put a lot of effort into it. It's a memorable art piece. |
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| [Shirai's ranking] 1st, Color (Chapter 47, "An Old Tale") Amazingly drawn upper arms (and legs!) Everyone is drawn differently for their different ages! I adore the happy smiles of a mother and her daughters. It's a color page published on ONE PIECE's 20th anniversary, so let me applaud the use of the straw hats and ONE PIECE theme. I love it. Only Emma's hat is fringed and that's the best! |
EXHIBITION CHAPTER: DREAMS COME TRUE
EXHIBITION CHAPTER STORYBOARD
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