The experienced character concept artist rarely does interviews, especially outside of Japan, so we’re honored he’s chosen ImagineFX to reflect on his art, process, and career in the video games industry.
Tsukamoto-san was inspired by the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story to begin his art journey and has spent over 24 years inspiring us with his whimsical designs for the iconic Final Fantasy VII onwards. His creatures – some of the most inspired and creative in video games – have dominated our imaginations and influenced many.
FINDING A FANTASY
Tsukamoto-san tells us that remaining constant, as well as inventive, requires an understanding of the rules and characteristics of each new Final Fantasy release in the long-running franchise. Each has a unique feel, “where the atmosphere and vibe changes with every installment,” says the artist while needing to remain visually a part of the Final Fantasy brand. In this regard Final Fantasy, and its newest release, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, is a distinct conundrum.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
TETSU TSUKAMOTO
The character concept artist on how to get ahead
Do you have advice for artists wanting to work in video games?
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Jan Wessbecher
Dominic Carter talks to the visual artist about creating his own comic and why sketchbooks are great for creative experiments
Kyounghwan Kim
The Korean character concept artist speaks to Dominic Carter about staying open to ideas and the value of drawing regularly
Slawek Fedorczuk
Dominic Carter talks to the concept artist about what keeps him motivated and the advantages of using physical sketchbooks.
Raquel M. Varela
Raquel is inspired by magic, fantasy and fairy tales. She loves designing female characters from distant worlds. \"My greatest reference is Loish's art, thanks to her I learned to draw the movement and fluidity I like to convey.\"
Estrela Lourenço
Estrela is a children's book author and illustrator. Her work is influenced by her background in character animation and storyboards for clients such as Cartoon Network, and she channels comic strips like Calvin and Hobbes.
Daria Widermanska
Daria, also known as Anako, has been drawing for as long as she can remember. Inspired by Disney and classic anime, she loves creating new characters and often finds that a single sketch can spark a unique story.
Allen Douglas
Allen has been painting professionally since 1994 for the publishing and gaming industries. Inspired by folklore, he distorts the size, relationships and environments of animals, and calls his paintings 'unusual wildlife'.
Thaddeus Robeck
Thaddeus has been drawing from the moment he could hold a pencil, but it was the 2020 lockdowns that gave him the time to focus on honing his skills.
DRAW FASCINATING SYMBOLIC ARTWORK
Learn how JULIÁN DE LA MOTA creates a composition from his imagination with a focus on crafting figures, volumetric modelling, and light and shadow
First Impressions
The artist talks about his journey into the mythological world
