AWN reports that Takashi Murakami, the Japanese pop artist that is touted as “Japan’s Andy Warhol”, is opening up a new animation studio in Los Angeles.  This new studio will be operated under Murakami’s production company Kaikai Kiki, after the cartoon characters of the same name. 

“Animation and film have always been among my greatest influences, ever since I first saw ‘Star Wars’ and Hayao Miyazaki’s films,” Murakami said in a statement. “This studio represents a great step in the evolution of Kaikai Kiki and gives me a closer proximity to the community of artists with whom I hope to collaborate as I continue my explorations of animated and live-action film.”

The new studio plans to open the doors next summer, yet they already have projects in the works; a feature based on Murakami’s shorts PLANTING THE SEEDS, and they have already finished work on ”Good Morning,” the music video by Kanye West.