Bizarre, Brilliant, and Totally Addictive—Ryo Inoue’s World
Ryo Inoue’s art-meets-music series Bijutune! totally hooked me—quirky animation, clever lyrics, and pure joy. Art has never felt so fun!
Ryo Inoue is a multi-talented Japanese artist. He is best known as the creator of Bijutune!, a show aired on NHK Educational TV.
If I had to describe Bijutune!, I’d say it’s a series of music videos inspired by famous artworks, reimagined through Ryo Inoue’s quirky artistic lens. He not only illustrates and animates each video but also writes the hilariously oddlyrics and melodies—and even sings them himself in his slightly unpolished yet charming voice. The result? Completely addictive!
The first time I watched Bijutune!, I was instantly hooked. I remember thinking, "What is this?! This is insane!!Ryo Inoue is an absolute genius!!"—because suddenly, famous art pieces were transformed into goofy, animated characters, dancing and moving around in ways I had never imagined.
Some of my all-time favorites are "The Woman Who Pours Milk on Everything" and "Chōjū-giga Gym".
The Woman Who Pours Milk on Everything 🥛
This one is based on Johannes Vermeer’s "The Milkmaid", but with a completely bizarre twist.
In this version, the milkmaid is not just calmly pouring milk—she’s a cafeteria worker who dumps milk on literally everything she eats at the cafeteria. Naturally, this drives the head cook absolutely mad. The contrast between the quiet, serene atmosphere and the cook’s rising frustration is so ridiculous that I can’t stop laughing every time I watch it.
Chōjū-giga Gym 🏋️♀️
This one is inspired by "Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga" (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals), an ancient Japanese illustrated scroll often considered the first manga.
Inoue takes the rabbits and frogs from the scroll, which are originally seen wrestling, drawing bows, and engaging in various activities, and reinterprets them as gym exercises. The song follows three girls who slowly become obsessed with Chōjū-giga Gym, and honestly, their excitement is infectious!
Art often feels highbrow and intimidating, but Bijutune! completely changed my perspective. It showed me that art can be goofy, ridiculous, and FUN—and that’s okay! Now, whenever I visit a museum and see the real artworks, I enjoy them even more because I’ve seen them from a totally different angle.
Ryo Inoue, you’re the best—thanks for making art so much fun and accessible!