The Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco is currently showing two exhibitions highlighting anime and manga.

The first exhibition, “Drawing the Sword: Samurai in Manga and Anime,” explores the “evolution of Japanese artistic traditions by demonstrating the ever-changing image of the iconic samurai.” The exhibit juxtaposes 19th-century woodblock prints with 21st-century animation production cels and drawings. Titles on display throughout the exhibit include Afro Samurai, Bleach, Evangelion, Gundam, Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai Champloo, Samurai Jack, Lone Wolf and Cub, Usagi Yojimbo, and Wolverine. This exhibition runs at the museum from January 16 to May 2, 2010.

The second exhibition, “Batman: Yesterday and Tomorrow,” is hosting a selection from the Batman manga adaptation which Jiro Kuwata wrote and illustrated from 1966 to 1967. Chip Kidd’s Bat-Manga: The Secret History of Batman in Japan translated and published some of Kuwata’s work in 2008. This exhibition runs at the museum from January 30 to June 6, 2010. Kidd will make an appearance during the exhibition, although the details of his visit are yet to be determined. The ICv2 reported last month that a second volume of Chip Kidd’s Bat-Manga: The Secret History of Batman in Japan is in the works after Kidd received “a verbal nod from everybody involved.”

In addition, the Japan Society Gallery in New York will host an exhibition titled “Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.” Utagawa is considered a forerunner to contemporary manga artists. More than 150 of Utagawa’s works will be on show during the exhibition. The exhibition will run from March 12 to June 13, 2010.

Started in San Francisco in July 1996, True ventured to fill a void: No stores on Haight Street were selling hip hop gear. In those days, hip hop clothing was Wu Wear, Phat Farm, and a bunch of labels that you probably never heard of and aren’t around anymore.

More than ten years later True is still on Haight Street selling hip hop gear. As the times have changed, so has “hip hop” gear. The lines between hip hop, street, skate, punk are blurring. Currently, the cool guy movement is an example of that blurring.

True has always been a big believer in not stereotyping people and that carries over into how they merchandise their stores.

True Mens
1415 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 626-2882

True Womens
1427 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 626-2331

True Sole
1429 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 626-2600

True East
1335 S. Main Street
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 280-6747

Located in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, Villains is one of the most popular boutiques for men and women. It’s large hipster inventory provides a nice selection of the freshest names in fashion — Villains carries Diesel, Ben Sherman, Paul Frank, Stussy, Fresh Jive and a number of other large and small brands.

Villains always has the latest garb that young people love and also offers the bags, shoes, underwear and accessories to complete the look. Across the street you will find its sister store, Villains Vault, which carries a fancier brand of urban chic.

Villains San Francisco
1672 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 626-5939