Nazca Preservation Project

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Nazca Preservation Project The Nazca Preservation Project is dedicated to the preservation, documentation, and public appreciation of original production materials from the anime Nazca.

Preserving the forgotten legacy of the 1998 anime Nazca through curated original production materials.

10/18/2026

🎬 The art survived. Now its story is being told.

Behind the scenes at Rogue’s Gallery Memphis! Join Nazca Preservation Project™ as we bring 5,000+ original pieces of Japanese animation history into the spotlight.

Special thanks to Katie Jones and Tree of DDT Productions for helping bring this story to life!

What survives when somebody decides it matters? ❤️



An exciting moment for Nazca Preservation Project™ at Rogues Gallery Memphis! Yesterday marked another milestone for Naz...
10/12/2026

An exciting moment for Nazca Preservation Project™ at Rogues Gallery Memphis!

Yesterday marked another milestone for Nazca Preservation Project™ as we participated in Rogues Gallery Memphis in Millington, Tennessee!

We showcased a selection of original production artwork from the 1998 Japanese anime Nazca, including hand-painted animation cels, original backgrounds, and production sketches, along with vintage promotional materials, manga, and media releases.

It was a wonderful opportunity to bring these surviving pieces of animation history out of the archive and share them with the public.

But it brought another exciting development!

We were joined by Tree and his team from DDT Productions, who spent the afternoon professionally filming the exhibition, original artwork, and interactions with visitors for our developing documentary proof-of-concept.

Their genuine interest in the artwork, enthusiasm for the preservation mission, and creative approach to filming made this much more than a typical video shoot.

A special thank you to Katie Jones, organizer of Rogues Gallery Memphis, for welcoming the project and continuing to support our educational and preservation efforts.

And thank you to Tree and the entire DDT Productions team for bringing such wonderful energy and creativity to todays production!

Nazca Preservation Project™ preserves more than 5,000 original production materials from a single Japanese anime series. Our mission is not simply to protect these surviving artifacts, but to document their history, share their significance, and help future generations understand the artistry behind traditional hand-drawn animation.

This was another meaningful step toward that goal. The archive has a story to tell, and were finding the people who want to help tell it.

Jonathan Walker
Founder/Director
Nazca Preservation Project™

10/07/2026

Nazca Preservation Project™ is coming to Rogue’s Gallery Memphis! 🎉

I'm excited to share that I'll have a booth at Rogue’s Gallery Memphis this Sunday, October 11, in Millington, Tennessee!

I'll be showcasing selected pieces from the Nazca Preservation Project™ archive, which contains more than 5,000 original production materials from the 1998 Japanese anime Nazca.

Visitors will have the opportunity to see original hand-painted animation cels, production sketches, and other artwork that offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how traditional Japanese animation was created.

I'll also be bringing vintage promotional materials, manga, original media releases, and a large Japanese promotional poster from the series!

Whether you're a longtime anime fan, collector, artist, or simply curious about animation history, I'd love for you to stop by, explore the collection, and say hello!

📍 Abandoned Antiques
8323 US Highway 51 N
Millington, TN 38053

📅 Sunday, October 11, 2026
🕐 1:00–5:00 PM

Hope to see you there!

Jonathan Walker
Founder/Director, Nazca Preservation Project™

Big milestone today for Nazca Preservation Project™.Our first public library exhibit is now installed at the Cordova Lib...
10/02/2026

Big milestone today for Nazca Preservation Project™.

Our first public library exhibit is now installed at the Cordova Library in Memphis.

For years, so much of this work has happened quietly behind the scenes, finding, organizing, documenting and preserving original production material from the 1998 anime Nazca. Seeing some of that material finally out in a public space where anyone can walk in and experience it is honestly a pretty great feeling.

The display includes original hand-painted cels, production sketches and backgrounds, along with information about how these pieces were actually used in the traditional animation process.

A library really feels like a perfect fit for this. Libraries preserve knowledge, make it accessible, and help people discover things they may never have seen before. That lines up so closely with what I want Nazca Preservation Project™ to become.

We also captured some footage of the installation and exhibit today as documentary development around the project begins. There is a much bigger story here about what survives from animation production, what gets lost, and why preserving the physical evidence of creative work matters.

For today though, I’m just happy to see these pieces out of storage and in front of people.

Nazca Preservation Project™

09/24/2026

I’ve taken a bit of a break from posting here while I’ve been focused on expanding Nazca Preservation Project™ locally in the Memphis area.

I’m excited to share that our first public exhibit is planned to open at a local library on October 1 and will remain on display throughout the month.

The exhibit will feature original production materials from the 1998 anime Nazca and introduce visitors to the artwork and traditional animation process behind the series.

This is an exciting first step in bringing the archive out of private preservation and into public spaces for education, appreciation, and preservation awareness.

I’ll share more details and photos as we get closer to opening day.
Stay tuned!

Production Cel with BackgroundThis production cel of Tatsuko Yanagihara is shown together with a matching background.Whi...
06/28/2026

Production Cel with Background

This production cel of Tatsuko Yanagihara is shown together with a matching background.

While the background is an excellent match for the scene, it does not contain identifying studio markings. Because of that, I cannot confirm whether it is the original production background or a later background prepared by Team's Art.

Regardless of its origin, seeing the cel composited over the background provides a wonderful glimpse of how this scene would have appeared on screen.

After a short break, I'm excited to share another piece from the Nazca production archive.This is Tatsuko Yanagihara, a ...
06/27/2026

After a short break, I'm excited to share another piece from the Nazca production archive.

This is Tatsuko Yanagihara, a supporting character from Nazca.

On the left is the finished production cel.

On the right is the original production sketch (douga) used during animation.

The production sketch contains original handwritten studio notes and color instructions used during the animation process. These annotations guided the paint and checking departments, ensuring the finished cel matched the intended colors, highlights, and line details. It's fascinating to see how much information was required to bring a single frame to life.

📜 Nazca Episode 8 – Original Production StoryboardsCuts 237–240These storyboard pages capture a rapid, brutal exchange—w...
05/01/2026

📜 Nazca Episode 8 – Original Production Storyboards

Cuts 237–240

These storyboard pages capture a rapid, brutal exchange—where tension breaks into decisive violence. The pacing is tight, with minimal dialogue and heavy reliance on motion and impact.

🎬 Cut 237A–C

Action (translated):

“Grip tight. Electricity crackles.”
“Pull back.”
“He is blown away.”

Dialogue (translated):

“Damn…!”

Summary:
The moment begins in restraint—energy building in the weapon. A surge of force is released, sending the opponent backward. The character’s expression tightens, absorbing the impact of both attack and resistance.

🎬 Cut 237D–E

Action (translated):

“Piercing strike.”
“The body collapses to the ground, momentum carrying through.”

Sound Effects / Dialogue:

“Slash!”
“Thud!”

Summary:
The attack lands cleanly. The blade cuts through with precision, and the body falls heavily. The choreography emphasizes follow-through—the motion does not stop at impact.

🎬 Cut 238–239

Action (translated):

“He looks up at the sword embedded in the body.”
“Sudden, forceful thrust to the abdomen.”
“The body convulses as the strike drives in.”

Dialogue / SFX:

“Guh…!”
“Whsh!” / “Thrust!”
Labored breathing: “...hhh… hhh…”

Summary:
There is a brief pause—recognition—before the violence resumes. The second strike is more intimate and brutal, focused on the body. Breath replaces speech, signaling the weakening state of the victim.

🎬 Cut 240

Action (translated):

“Blood spills.”
“The victor stands over the fallen body.”

Dialogue (translated):

“Finish him… finish him…”

Summary:
The scene resolves in dominance. The attacker stands above, expression shifting into something more unsettling—confidence, perhaps even satisfaction. The repeated line reinforces finality.

🧠 Curatorial Note

This sequence is a clear example of storyboard-driven pacing:

Dialogue is minimal and fragmented
Motion and impact carry the narrative
The escalation is structured:
charge → release → strike → collapse → confirmation → domination

The repetition of physical actions—gripping, striking, falling—anchors the viewer in the immediacy of the conflict.

🌎 Versión en Español
📜 Nazca Episodio 8 – Storyboards de Producción Originales

Cortes 237–240

Estas páginas muestran un enfrentamiento rápido y brutal, donde la tensión se transforma en violencia decisiva.

🎬 Corte 237A–C

Acción (traducida):

“Sujeta con fuerza. La electricidad chisporrotea.”
“Retrocede.”
“Es lanzado hacia atrás.”

Diálogo:

“¡Maldición…!”

Resumen:
La escena comienza con contención—energía acumulándose. Luego se libera, empujando al oponente violentamente hacia atrás.

🎬 Corte 237D–E

Acción:

“Golpe penetrante.”
“El cuerpo cae al suelo con el impulso.”

Efectos:

“¡Corte!”
“¡Golpe!”

Resumen:
El ataque conecta con precisión. El movimiento continúa incluso después del impacto.

🎬 Corte 238–239

Acción:

“Mira la espada incrustada en el cuerpo.”
“Empuje repentino al abdomen.”
“El cuerpo se contrae con el golpe.”

Diálogo / Efectos:

“¡Guh…!”
“¡Fsh!” / “¡Empuje!”
Respiración: “...hhh… hhh…”

Resumen:
Un breve momento de reconocimiento antes de otro ataque más cercano y brutal.

🎬 Corte 240

Acción:

“La sangre se derrama.”
“El vencedor permanece de pie sobre el cuerpo.”

Diálogo:

“Acábalo… acábalo…”

Resumen:
La escena termina con dominio absoluto, reforzado por la repetición del mandato final.

🧠 Nota Curatorial

La secuencia demuestra:

Uso mínimo de diálogo
Enfoque en movimiento e impacto
Progresión clara:
carga → liberación → impacto → caída → confirmación → dominio


Conclusion of the motorcycle sequence — A3, A4, A5This final set of sketches pulls the camera further back, reducing the...
04/29/2026

Conclusion of the motorcycle sequence — A3, A4, A5

This final set of sketches pulls the camera further back, reducing the rider to a small figure within the frame. The progression from A1 through A5 reveals how the scene was constructed step by step, not just in motion, but in spatial design.

At this stage, the focus shifts from mechanical detail to composition and movement. The small figure, the expanding negative space, and the curved guide marks indicate the intended path and pacing of the shot. These elements work together to establish distance, speed, and atmosphere.

What begins as a close, detailed study evolves into a wide, minimal composition. Each pass refines not only the drawing, but the viewer’s perspective.

This sequence offers a complete look at how a single shot is developed across multiple sketches, from concept to final framing.

Conclusión de la secuencia de la motocicleta — A3, A4, A5
Este conjunto final de bocetos aleja aún más la cámara, reduciendo al conductor a una pequeña figura dentro del encuadre. La progresión de A1 a A5 muestra cómo se construyó la escena paso a paso, no solo en movimiento, sino también en su diseño espacial.

En esta etapa, el enfoque cambia del detalle mecánico a la composición y el movimiento. La figura pequeña, el espacio negativo ampliado y las marcas de guía curvas indican la trayectoria y el ritmo previstos de la toma. Estos elementos trabajan en conjunto para transmitir distancia, velocidad y atmósfera.

Lo que comienza como un estudio cercano y detallado evoluciona hacia una composición amplia y minimalista. Cada paso refina no solo el dibujo, sino también la perspectiva del espectador.

Esta secuencia ofrece una visión completa de cómo se desarrolla una sola toma a través de múltiples bocetos, desde el concepto hasta el encuadre final.

04/29/2026

Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the Nazca Preservation Project™. What a year it has been.

What started as a personal page to celebrate the often-overlooked anime Nazca has grown far beyond what I ever expected. Thank you to each and every one of you who has supported the project along the way.

Here are a few highlights from the past year:

June 2025 – Featured in El Comercio (Peru) – Alfonso Rivadeneyra García
July 2025 – RetroCrush Podcast interview with Matt Kodner and Malcolm Crawford
March 2026 – Featured by Anime Corner – Luke So
March 2026 – Featured in The Daily Memphian – John Klyce

We would not be here today without two very important people.

Cole Chapman, the original curator of the collection, who dedicated 25 years of his life to preserving these materials.

José Antonio Vilca, my project advisor, whose guidance and insight have been invaluable as we shape the direction of this work.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and beyond, one of our primary goals is the publication of a Nazca artbook. This would tell the story of the project and showcase selections from the archive.

The process is complex and involves securing the appropriate rights for reproduction. We are actively working toward that goal.

Thank you again for being part of this journey.

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5900 Balcones Drive # 8624
Austin, TX
78731

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