Kayode Onimole: The ‘Kokoro’ Master…
I found Kayode Onimole’s work randomly on the web. I visited his website (www.crashercomics.com) and I was immediately blown away. The very first person that came to my mind was another dude (Ibrahim Ganiyu) whose work I first witnessed like some 7 years ago while visiting a friend at the Fine Arts Department in Yaba. I made a mental note to drag the dude to werunthings.com, set up correspondence, e-mails back and forth (since we both hold day jobs) and voila ! May I formally introduce you to the ‘Kokoro’ master…(you know, like the Koko master, you dig? you get?. Sighs*). Enjoy
Kayode Onimole surrounded by crashercomics.com’ cartoon characters
WRT: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you were born, your childhood, education etc?
KRO: My name’s Kayode Onimole, most people call me KRO…no, not that type of crow…they’re my initials, the R is for Richard. I was born in Jos Plateau state, One of the most Awesome states in Nigeria! I went to school there till the end of my junior secondary years, and then I moved to Lagos, I completed my secondary school and got admission to probably the greatest University in Naija. The Obafemi Awolowo University. I have a Masters and a bachelor’s degree in architecture and I’m currently working as a full time architect and part time cartoonist/writer in Lagos.
WRT: Is the lead character of your web comic ‘Kokoro’ modelled after you?
KRO: Actually all the characters in the crasher universe are modelled after at least one aspect of me. The part of me that just wants to sit in front of a TV, playing video games forever is Kokoro. The part that can’t cook is Risi, the voice of reason is Benedict etc etc
WRT: And the professor….?
KRO: Apart from me I modelled the looks of the Professor on a couple of teachers, a friend of mine and one of the Muppets from sesames street. But for his personality, I just made up the most sadistic yet friendly figure of authority I could think of.
WRT: Digital art has evolved much over the last few years but I don’t think it has caught on that much in Nigeria. Do you see it growing in the future? Or what should be done to improve on the situation?
KRO: Actually I think digital art has caught on a lot in Nigeria. Ask any artist looking for a job out there he would tell you that he keeps being asked the same question:” what computer software are you proficient in?” If you’re talking about comic books and animation they are a whole lot of talented guys out there. Within the next four to six years the flood of animation and comic works would be insane!
WRT: What are your long term artistic plans? I know at present you are working as an architect in a studio – what’s next for you? Is there any reason you haven’t attempted to pursue a more commercial avenue for your art?
KRO: Well I hope that one day crasher gets popular enough to generate enough income and I would do it full time seven days a week rather than as a part-time thing where I update it twice a week, as I’m doing now. Pursuing a more commercial avenue? I’ll say this; there’s nothing like doing something you love doing, getting paid to do that will be the ultimate high!
WRT: Where do you plan to take your art? Are there any areas (either conceptual or commercial) that you are especially keen to explore? Tee shirt prints maybe?
KRO: Well, right now I’m focusing on the web comic in a few months or years I’ll move to print and maybe even animation.
WRT: Who or what inspires you?
KRO: My favorite artist is God. His works are always perfect. I also like Bill Watterson’s, Dave Kellet, Jim Lee, Kaycee, Jide Yussuf, Bolaji Alausa, Ibrahim Ganiyu of the Dark Edge fame and a whole bunch of artist works out there.
WRT: Where exactly did crashercomics.com come from?
KRO: The name crasher is a slang a lot of people use to mean to sleep or to pull all nighters for an exam or something. The characters in the strip radiate this idea especially since the background is a university. I added comics to it because, hey…it’s a comic!
WRT: If you won the lottery, say ‘Baba Ijebu’, what would you do with it?
KRO: I’ll probably do the exact same thing I did the last time I won the lottery…I’ll build a suit made from alloys of titanium and paint it gold and probably throw in some hot-rod red and use it to protect the people I put in harm’s way or maybe this time I’ll commit most of it to research on mutation on cockroaches and one day by accident the roach bites me and I have the proportionate strength of a grasshopper just like in that popular movie eh… Lion king?
WRT: Thank you, Kayode.
KRO: My pleasure, man.
Love this. I was a complete comic nut when i was in school. Marvel Universe mainly (although i did flirt with D.C.) and it’s so cool to see that homegrown comics are finally on the come up. I like Kayode’s graphic style and the writing’s good as well. If it’s being done in Illustrator, then it’s really good work.
Anyway, thanks for bringing him to the attention of your users. I’m going to blaze through the archive now, looking for hidden nuggets. Peace
K16
http://www.k16online.com
Kro is truly a master of his art ! its been along time coming dude, finally getting some of the attention you deserve.
I’ve been a loyal follower of Crasher since uni & all i can say is that it gets better & better!
lets give it up for naija artists-may they get more publicity
nice art! Always in love with the scenes and the characters.
…he is sure doing a good one and l do hope the commercials go ballistic soon.
Way to go dude. Always knew u had the stuff (really hope ur head ain’t swelling?). Great graphics, right choice of words and such sarcasm. Keep it up bro.
Can’t really wait to see when you eventually summon the courage to delve into it full time. For all u care, the sky’ll be the limit.
hey KRO, this is great!! we all knew you’d get the props soon enof, but you aint seen nothing yet this is just the start of a world of creativity. i’d google the names you wrote and check ‘em out too. more ororo to ya elbow dude!!
KRO, You too mussssssshhh!
Weldone dude,
really impressed
Kro.. KRo..KRO..!! Really enjoyed ur stuff. Shared it with a few folk at my office…keep it real,
Hope to see a full length animation soonest…
you have innovation and i pray God reach you tru dis media and pls ur launch, i need to be there
u r gud
wassup, kro, im really impressed, keep up the good work and originality
wow…
hey…what’s up kro??? na wa o before we kow it now na CNN we go see you…
kro d pro. nice one man. u’re going places man. keep up d good stuff…
Kro’s totally off the hook!!!!!! i’m still trying to get over my 7yr- crush (blushing)
Simply amazing.
Kayode is one guy his simple but yet funny cartoony style has always intrigued me. His art style breed variety into our fledging comic industry and he ahs a plus alos for making it a weekly web comic. Hopefully he might win an award next year at the COMICPANEL AWARDS for comic minds. Keep it up KRO
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