CASE STUDIES

Expelled from Paradise: Resonance from the Heart

Client: TOEI ANIMATION

Role: Visual Developer

Year: 2022

Challenge

The project began when the director approached our studio, following our producer's involvement with the original Expelled from Paradise. We were brought in during the early development stage to establish the visual direction for the new film.

• Developing the visual direction for characters and environments.
• Translating the director's vision into a coherent 3D visual language.
• Establishing the look before full production.
• Designing assets that could ultimately survive the transition from development into final production.
• Working across modeling, shaders, lighting and compositing rather than treating each discipline independently.

Strategy & Leadership

Rather than treating modeling, shading, lighting and compositing as separate stages, I approached them as a single visual-development process. The goal was to establish a look that could be carried consistently from concept development through final production.

• Designed and implemented the entire 3DCG production pipeline tailored for high-quality kaiju animation and efficient delivery.
• Built a full department of 80+ artists and developers, hiring predominantly talented rookies and recent graduates.
• Created and delivered intensive training programs, mentorship structures, and clear role definitions to rapidly bring the team up to professional standards.
• Established efficient cross-departmental collaboration processes between 2D and 3D teams, rigging, lighting, and effects.
• Worked closely with Director Seshita and the creative leadership to translate artistic vision into technically achievable and visually powerful sequences.

Results

Production circumstances later changed and our studio was no longer able to continue through the full production phase. However, much of the visual-development work was retained by the production, including character, environment and look-development material.

• Visual development for characters and environments.
• Main character 3D modeling.
• Shader and material development.
• Look development.

Gamera Rebirth

Client: Kadokawa / UNEND / Netflix

Role: Head of 3DCG Department & Production CG Supervisor

Year: 2020

Challenge

ENGI, a relatively new studio primarily focused on 2D animation, was tasked with producing a full 6-episode (approx. 45 minutes each) fully 3D CGI anime series for Netflix — the first major 3D project in the studio’s history. There was no existing 3DCG department, tight deadlines, and extremely high expectations from Director Hiroyuki Seshita (known for the Godzilla anime trilogy) and the executive producers.

Strategy & Leadership

I was brought in to build the 3DCG department from the ground up while simultaneously running production. My approach included:

• Designed and implemented the entire 3DCG production pipeline tailored for high-quality kaiju animation and efficient delivery.
• Built a full department of 80+ artists and developers, hiring predominantly talented rookies and recent graduates.
• Created and delivered intensive training programs, mentorship structures, and clear role definitions to rapidly bring the team up to professional standards.
• Established efficient cross-departmental collaboration processes between 2D and 3D teams, rigging, lighting, and effects.
• Worked closely with Director Seshita and the creative leadership to translate artistic vision into technically achievable and visually powerful sequences.

Results

• Successfully delivered all 6 episodes on schedule and to the director’s and producers’ full satisfaction.
• Built a fully functional, high-performing 3DCG department that became a lasting asset for the studio.
• Enabled ENGI to take on ambitious 3D projects and significantly raised the studio’s capabilities in hybrid 2D/3D production.
• Contributed to the global launch of Gamera Rebirth on Netflix (September 2023), marking a successful modern reboot of the iconic kaiju franchise.

PAC-MAN 256

Client: Bandai Namco Entertainment

Role: Manager & Creative Lead

Year: 2015

Challenge

Develop a fresh take on the iconic PAC-MAN franchise for mobile — a fast-paced endless runner with modern gameplay — under extreme time pressure while building a new studio in Vancouver.

Strategy & Leadership

• Designed core gameplay systems and art-directed the entire project from concept through to final delivery.
• Established creative direction and visual language that respected the classic PAC-MAN identity while making it appealing to modern mobile audiences.
• Led a small internal team and successfully managed outsourced production partners to maintain quality and speed.
• Delivered the complete game in a record 3 months.

Results

• Achieved approximately 1 million USD in monthly revenue shortly after launch.
• Received the President’s Award (CEO Award) from Bandai Namco in recognition of outstanding performance and business impact.
• Successfully helped establish the new Vancouver studio’s credibility through a high-performing flagship title.

Kantai Collection Season 2

Client: Kadokawa / C2機関

Role: 3DCG Department Manager & CG Supervisor

Year: 2022-2023

Challenge

ENGI had been attempting to secure and produce Season 2 of the popular Kantai Collection anime for several years with limited progress. The project required a strong 3D component in a studio environment that was still heavily 2D-focused.

Strategy & Leadership

• Assembled a small specialized team of 3D artists and personally led the creation of a high-quality demo sequence to present to the director.
• Successfully convinced the director and producers to greenlight Season 2 based on the strength of the 3D vision and execution.
• Maintained creative excellence and delivery standards despite significant inter-departmental challenges between 2D and 3D teams.
• Continued to deliver key 3D sequences as a direct request from the director, even when broader production faced difficulties.

Results

• Played a pivotal role in getting Kantai Collection Season 2 officially approved and launched into production.
• Earned personal recognition and trust from the director, who commissioned additional key 3D shots directly — acknowledging the quality of the work and contribution to the project.
• Demonstrated ability to drive complex creative initiatives and deliver results in challenging, high-stakes political environments.

Tap My Katamari

Client: Bandai Namco Entertainment

Role: Art Director

Year: 2016

Challenge

Create a simple idle clicker game using an established Bandai Namco IP, while giving newly hired artists their first opportunity to work on a game production under an aggressive deadline.

Strategy & Leadership

• Onboarded and coached new artists, enabling the team to produce all necessary visual assets in record time.
• Preserved the spirit and visual identity of the original IP while making it accessible and appealing to a new generation of casual players.
• Taught artists to work directly with developers, streamlining production while significantly improving their technical fluency.
• Established a highly efficient art-production workflow that allowed the complete game to be delivered in just three months, followed by continuous updates throughout its lifetime.

Results

• Generated enough monthly revenue to recoup development costs within the first two months.
• Built and solidified a new art team that had never previously worked within this production model.
• Demonstrated to Japanese management the commercial and creative potential of short, highly focused production cycles.