Kata-type
Typography, Motion
Kata type is an animated type that explores the relationship between the form and movement of kata and the English alphabet. In this experiment, I researched kata from different styles and analyzed the movements and body positions that exist in each kata. Then I looked for similarity between specific characters and these movements, pairing each letterform with a specific kata. In order to reproduce the moving forms, I captured the movement and post from videos I found in my research, and then I drew the movement in simple outline from frame to frame. This precisely reconstructs the transformation of in-between actions. The letterform is generated from the figure’s gesture and revealed in the final composition.
This project allows viewers to understand the diversity and subtlety of kata, and the animated figures simultaneously embody the spirits of kata, which are: balance, strength and speed. This embodiment is then transferred to the letterform, creating layered meaning within the alphabet.
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A to Z
