The shortest way from Köyceğiz to Hollywood
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 11, 2009 00:00
MUĞLA - An artist who gave life to many cartoon characters from Pokemons to 101 Dalmatians is now enjoying living in the small coastal town of Köyceğiz. French animator Philippe Harchy says he is fond of the architecture in the town, adding he wants to live in a Köyceğiz mansion
A well-known French comic book artist has found his inspiration far from France in his new home in the southwestern town of Köyceğiz.
Philippe Harchy, French comic book artist known for his work on "Pokemon", "101 Dalmatians", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Tarzan and Jane", "Hercules" and "Cinderella" said he is fascinated by Köyceğiz, where he has been living for three years.
Harchy, who employs 30 artists for Disney Company, said he wanted to draw Turkish motifs and has inspected historical Turkish buildings for inspiration. "I have done thousands of drawings and I’m still doing them but real Turkish motifs are really perfect," said Harchy.
Harchy, 54, has been living in Köyceğiz for three years, with his 43-year-old wife, Jacqueline, and 10-year-old son, Hugo. Harchy has been drawing the world-famous cartoon "Pokemon" from his home in Turkey. The couple was fascinated by the town of Akyaka in Muğla during a vacation they took to Turkey 15 years ago. Inspired, Harchy founded the company Aky-Aka, after returning to France.
Working at Walt Disney
Harchy started to work for Walt Disney and the couple moved to America where he worked on several classic Disney cartoons. But Philippe and Jacqueline Harchy could not forget Turkey and the tranquility they felt there, so the family moved to Köyceğiz. Hugo Harchy was seven years old at the time. Since then, he has been going to a Turkish primary school and can speak Turkish enough for him to handle his daily matters.
Philippe Harchy said he was extremely happy to be settled in this small but nice town.
"When I came to Turkey and saw the old mansions here I was fascinated," he said. "When we came to Akyaka 15 years ago, I had already planned to settle in this area. Living in Köyceğiz is very nice."
Harchy said they chose Köyceğiz for its central location and close proximity to the airport.
"The interior design and the pergola in the garden were done according to my drawings," he said. "My biggest dream was to buy an old mansion, restore it and live there."
Making his living through comic books
Harchy said he is carving wood to amuse himself but he is still earning his living through comic books.
"I’m drawing Pokemon with my wife," the Frenchman said about his working methods. "I do the sketching, my wife formats it on computer and then we send it to the company."
Jacqueline Harchy said Köyceğiz has beauty that is not seen anywhere else in the world.
"I have no free time. I do drawings in the house but I am dying to get out and wander around," she said. "We have really nice friends. We are very happy to be in Turkey and especially the town of Köyceğiz."
Hugo Harchy, now 10, seems to take after his parents and frequently draws pictures featuring war scenes, dragons, fish and people.
Philippe Harchy, French comic book artist known for his work on "Pokemon", "101 Dalmatians", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Tarzan and Jane", "Hercules" and "Cinderella" said he is fascinated by Köyceğiz, where he has been living for three years.
Harchy, who employs 30 artists for Disney Company, said he wanted to draw Turkish motifs and has inspected historical Turkish buildings for inspiration. "I have done thousands of drawings and I’m still doing them but real Turkish motifs are really perfect," said Harchy.
Harchy, 54, has been living in Köyceğiz for three years, with his 43-year-old wife, Jacqueline, and 10-year-old son, Hugo. Harchy has been drawing the world-famous cartoon "Pokemon" from his home in Turkey. The couple was fascinated by the town of Akyaka in Muğla during a vacation they took to Turkey 15 years ago. Inspired, Harchy founded the company Aky-Aka, after returning to France.
Working at Walt Disney
Harchy started to work for Walt Disney and the couple moved to America where he worked on several classic Disney cartoons. But Philippe and Jacqueline Harchy could not forget Turkey and the tranquility they felt there, so the family moved to Köyceğiz. Hugo Harchy was seven years old at the time. Since then, he has been going to a Turkish primary school and can speak Turkish enough for him to handle his daily matters.
Philippe Harchy said he was extremely happy to be settled in this small but nice town.
"When I came to Turkey and saw the old mansions here I was fascinated," he said. "When we came to Akyaka 15 years ago, I had already planned to settle in this area. Living in Köyceğiz is very nice."
Harchy said they chose Köyceğiz for its central location and close proximity to the airport.
"The interior design and the pergola in the garden were done according to my drawings," he said. "My biggest dream was to buy an old mansion, restore it and live there."
Making his living through comic books
Harchy said he is carving wood to amuse himself but he is still earning his living through comic books.
"I’m drawing Pokemon with my wife," the Frenchman said about his working methods. "I do the sketching, my wife formats it on computer and then we send it to the company."
Jacqueline Harchy said Köyceğiz has beauty that is not seen anywhere else in the world.
"I have no free time. I do drawings in the house but I am dying to get out and wander around," she said. "We have really nice friends. We are very happy to be in Turkey and especially the town of Köyceğiz."
Hugo Harchy, now 10, seems to take after his parents and frequently draws pictures featuring war scenes, dragons, fish and people.