The MET Opera Cinderella

Mei Kanamoto, an Art Director and Illustrator, was commissioned to illustrate key visuals for a campaign to remind New Yorkers 'there's a magic at the Met'. Unlike most Opera's at the MET Opera, this special edition of Cinderella was performed in English to offer wider inclusivity and accesibility for a younger audience.

A key character to incorporate was Cinderella, as this was a permanent show at the Met Opera since 2017 that was re-opening with new staging of Massenet's Cindrillon (Cinderella). Mei illustrated each character as ethnically ambiguous to make Cinderella more inclusive and in turn reflect the diverse people of New York. The visuals were used on billboards, posters and in an animated commercial around New York City leading up to the opening night. With a vision to bring the Opera to a younger audience, the visuals were even used in educational materials for children.

Known as a home for world-class operas since 1883, there is a wealth of magic, craft and production quality at the MET Opera. This craftsmanship is seen even in costumes and use of color, which were key inspiration for Mei's visual approach.

This project was an opportunity to play our part in the revival of theatre in a city home to some of the worlds most iconic establishments and talented artists who suffered deeply from the pandemic.