![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/8d6d91e7-4a99-4579-ae2e-aa293f7f5761_rw_1920.png?h=c4ba41981024b8fb9067dce9fc5f9cca)
The Man with the Iron Fists is a 2012 American martial arts film directed by RZA. This is a prelude to the much-anticipated motion picture, detailing the story of how Blacksmith, played by RZA, landed in China via a Dutch trading ship. Start with overall Art direction, and set tone and manner for movies first. Then, lead character artist, compositor, and editing team for production. I did shot numerous live effects with DSLR camera to add old scroll feeling. Brushstroke character by Chase Conley, Xiongliang Li, was done by digital paint.
Client: Universal Pictures, Machinima
Directed: RZA
Art Director/Composite director: Manabu Gaku Inada
Animation Director: Eric Calderon
Character design: Chase Conley
Illustration: Chase Conley, Xiongliang Li, Connie Wong
Compositors: Trevor Von Klueg
Assistant Compositor: Moises Jimenez
Audio mix: Rick Santizo
Year: 2012
Directed: RZA
Art Director/Composite director: Manabu Gaku Inada
Animation Director: Eric Calderon
Character design: Chase Conley
Illustration: Chase Conley, Xiongliang Li, Connie Wong
Compositors: Trevor Von Klueg
Assistant Compositor: Moises Jimenez
Audio mix: Rick Santizo
Year: 2012
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/90dce9aa-29ea-4871-9d06-1764eb6cf149_rw_1920.png?h=eb59bcdba0ff750dea85a0f51b7e9351)
The last sequence of the movie was composite and edited personally by Manabu Inada himself.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/187e000d-b334-45fb-b3da-60bf78513061_rw_1920.jpg?h=37a5dc4abd153e4043773d8ee75c631c)
fig.1 Liquid effects start from the right side of the frame.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/339633e5-f479-4e0a-ad5f-59c0789c8523_rw_1920.jpg?h=e9e14fa563259a53ef9cb20809fedd4d)
fig. 2 Tiger command blend in the screen on positive space.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/543a7cc7-24e8-4329-9301-9d8bbf79d531_rw_1920.jpg?h=7ba056f38ad18519f0e4db48b5a1192c)
fig. 3 Negative space appear on the left.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/64dc2e4b-4ab3-4d9b-8c1f-7f6e886092d3_rw_1920.jpg?h=7c083dcfb7709a3e264aa1f332ef80f6)
fig.4 Tiger Command morphs into Brass Body. Part of Blacksmith / The Man with the Iron Fists's face appears in negative space on the left.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/0280af39-a820-414c-afe2-ef55de882973_rw_1920.jpg?h=5d2626f8f160399fdd54c8f41af32605)
fig.5 Blacksmith / The Man with the Iron Fists's face appear in negative space on the left, and part of negative space portray the part of his head.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/df680edc-6284-49e0-9f65-5207b70627e3_rw_1920.jpg?h=cafc4421988e9df53d7d432b3cb92cde)
fig. 6 large liquid from right wiped out the screen, And reveal brush stroke black Sumi ink.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/df9bd62d-176d-4911-b23e-a54726151c96_rw_1920.jpg?h=ce897154fcfbf468ae8bb470f60fab72)
fig.7 Brush stroke becomes a landscape and sea horizon. A trading ship sails slowly in distance.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/16f03927-5e1e-44b9-944b-94fa1c394526_rw_1920.jpg?h=074a3cb47dc1d89170d030c0c6d1df58)
All of the effects were shot with a Canon DSLR camera. Sumi ink into the water. Photo by Manabu Inada.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/c388aced-8ed2-4bf3-abf1-9fd1072ca744_rw_1920.jpg?h=3d8bdfb989a292178badd507409ce524)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/30f2543d-efcb-488d-9ce6-72e3af972b1e_rw_1920.jpg?h=d5b9446c8ff99b9fd12d38534e3e84da)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/cf1a37f4-159e-4ba6-9e37-37d3f0b9b5fa_rw_1920.jpg?h=9d0f8e6f6c76bfb55d9c94e37b72959b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/91ee50ae-ef22-4ff4-bacc-c494fbe82f01_rw_1920.jpg?h=485d8d90ce4372217154bfd983d5c5b6)
All of the effects were shot with a Canon DSLR camera. A brush stroke of Sumi ink. Photo by Manabu Inada.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a4c7e650-7fa1-461d-97c3-d5430fb1a04d/c11a1758-3ad9-448e-ad90-45b7d16f4469_rw_1920.png?h=1e981b47588a9a3a4e9b35326ff91894)