Isamu Kamikokuryo
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese art director
that has been working for Square Enix
since 1999. He is mostly known for his work on the role-playing video game
series Final Fantasy
.
of Final Fantasy XII
and the art director of Final Fantasy XIII
. He originally had the ambition to become a painter, but also liked and played video games. Any occupation could have bee fine as a painter, but when the PlayStation was released, 3D graphics and movies were beginning to be used in games. Kamikokuryo thought, "this is the beginning of a great era" and his interest changed towards the creation of games. This was exactly the time when Final Fantasy VII
was released in Japan
. However, he had always done fine arts, but no design related to video games. He studied graphics design by himself for about three years and then joined Square Enix
in 1999. He applied by submitting a resume with a photograph of one of his oil paintings. Since joining, he has worked on major titles such as Final Fantasy X
, Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII.
Isamu Kamikokuryo is currently serving as art director for Final Fantasy XIII-2
and is also the costume designer for Lightning
in the game.
. He has taken trips to New York City
to observe architecture
both new and old, visited the Grand Canyon
for its evocative scenery and ventured to Italy
to view ancient ruins. All these elements have been put to use on future Final Fantasy projects, such as Fabula Nova Crystallis, which he is currently working on. Kamikokuryo says there is no “Final Fantasy look”, as each installment receives many changes in terms of the art direction
taken.
He believes past Final Fantasy games had limitations in expression due to the hardware, so the development staff had to let the player expand their imagination for the costumes of the characters. With the games on more powerful hardware, the development staff take in some trends from fashion
to make it more entertaining for the player; people who like games enjoy the gameplay and people who also like fashion enjoy the costumes. With regards to the bishonen
main characters in Final Fantasy, Kamikokuryo states that it has become a tradition in Japanese story-telling that whenever a “good-looking” individual is featured, they are typically depicted as the main character.
When asked how the development team copes with the uncanny valley
, Kamikokuryo noted that it's something everyone on the team is constantly thinking about and they always have to fight against. They deliberately don't go there. For all the things they create, many of the section creators get together and make adjustments so the uncanny valley problem doesn't happen. He adds that they need to pursue something not too realistic. They want to keep the uniqueness of the character designs by Tetsuya Nomura
but also want to draw upon real-life inspirations. He's pointed out the series' inspirations from contemporary design and fashion, and how they make playing the game more engrossing and more entertaining. Stylization is also important to Kamikokuryo, and he wants to emphasize coolness and cuteness through stylization. The development team is constantly struggling between realism and a more stylized look and trying to create something at the edge of the uncanny valley.
Kamikokuryo notes that the CGI
and in-game development teams are separate, but in a natural way they work together and be in harmony with another. The CG team also works on the high-end visuals and visual expressions and there are no limitations with what can be expressed. He believes Square Enix
have a very high quality visual execution. Therefore, they have to have a good program to train their staff at all times. They want the best people to work together and enhance their capabilities. When he first started at Square Enix, nobody guided him, he just had to watch and learn back in those days. He believes photorealism
is fundamentally an attractive proposition as it will be quite valuable in Final Fantasy since there has to be a real expression.
was a long period of time. However, because he could paint the art for the game in extraordinary fine details, he's thankful for having been given such an opportunity. If he had been given two years less to develop the art for the game, the world for Final Fantasy XII would have looked totally different. It's because he took so long to make art for the game that resulted in the look of the final game. He believes he was able to create the art for the game in an elaborate way and that it felt like creating an actual living world.
solely on art for Final Fantasy XIII
. He says the world in the game is set in a more futuristic time than any Final Fantasy game in the past. He took that very futurist framework, but incorporated some great elements of fantasy into it. He asked himself, "How can I put them together?" and "How can I combine them?" This is what he set out to realize with the game and he used nothing from past Final Fantasy worlds for reference. The idea for Lightning
to have a sword that can transform into a gun relates to the Eidolon summons in the game. One of the gameplay themes they chose for Final Fantasy XIII was transformation, and the Eidolons can turn into vehicles. So if summons could transform themselves, they thought that weapons should be able to as well. Kamikokuryo says that he wanted anyone who stepped into the world of Final Fantasy XIII to get hooked on the extraordinary visuals, and that he believes the blend of futuristic technology with the wild nature and ecosystem
is unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. He also believes that each location and scene has a detailed vision and beauty that brings his art direction
to life.
philosophy difference between Yoshinori Kitase
and Yasumi Matsuno
. For the Final Fantasy games developed by Kitase, usually catchy and original designs are requested from Kamikokuryo. For the ones by Matsuno, a design faithful to its sound foundation and things highly artistic in nature are demanded. He thinks these differences in the stance towards art design are based on the difference in writing style between Kitase and Matsuno. Also, because many staff members have worked together for a long period of time in each production team, the methods and philosophy behind the creation of games differ significantly from each other. He feels that, because he has experienced working with both teams when making Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII, it was very interesting to realize these many differences.
as a hobby. He likes turn-based strategy games and real-time strategy games, as they give the player the task of making considerate decisions. He is also a huge fan of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
.
Game art design
Game art design, a subset of game development, is a process of creating 2D and 3D game art for a video game. A game artist is a visual artist who creates video game art, such as concept art, item sprites, character models, etc.- History :...
that has been working for Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
since 1999. He is mostly known for his work on the role-playing video game
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
series Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
.
Biography
He is best known as the background art directorGame art design
Game art design, a subset of game development, is a process of creating 2D and 3D game art for a video game. A game artist is a visual artist who creates video game art, such as concept art, item sprites, character models, etc.- History :...
of Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
and the art director of Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
. He originally had the ambition to become a painter, but also liked and played video games. Any occupation could have bee fine as a painter, but when the PlayStation was released, 3D graphics and movies were beginning to be used in games. Kamikokuryo thought, "this is the beginning of a great era" and his interest changed towards the creation of games. This was exactly the time when Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII
is a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
was released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. However, he had always done fine arts, but no design related to video games. He studied graphics design by himself for about three years and then joined Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
in 1999. He applied by submitting a resume with a photograph of one of his oil paintings. Since joining, he has worked on major titles such as Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012...
, Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII.
Isamu Kamikokuryo is currently serving as art director for Final Fantasy XIII-2
Final Fantasy XIII-2
is an upcoming console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is being produced by Square Enix's 1st Production Department...
and is also the costume designer for Lightning
Lightning (Final Fantasy)
is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the video game Final Fantasy XIII developed and published by Square Enix. She was created by Motomu Toriyama, the game's director and scenario writer, and designed by Tetsuya Nomura...
in the game.
Game art design
Kamikokuryo has been strongly influenced by the works of various photographers, with his favorite photographer being Steve McCurrySteve McCurry
Steve McCurry is an American photojournalist best known for his photograph, "Afghan Girl" that originally appeared in National Geographic magazine.-Early life:...
. He has taken trips to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to observe architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
both new and old, visited the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
for its evocative scenery and ventured to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to view ancient ruins. All these elements have been put to use on future Final Fantasy projects, such as Fabula Nova Crystallis, which he is currently working on. Kamikokuryo says there is no “Final Fantasy look”, as each installment receives many changes in terms of the art direction
Game art design
Game art design, a subset of game development, is a process of creating 2D and 3D game art for a video game. A game artist is a visual artist who creates video game art, such as concept art, item sprites, character models, etc.- History :...
taken.
He believes past Final Fantasy games had limitations in expression due to the hardware, so the development staff had to let the player expand their imagination for the costumes of the characters. With the games on more powerful hardware, the development staff take in some trends from fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
to make it more entertaining for the player; people who like games enjoy the gameplay and people who also like fashion enjoy the costumes. With regards to the bishonen
Bishonen
is a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful youth ". The equivalent English concept is a "pretty boy".The term describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man whose beauty transcends the boundary of gender or sexual orientation...
main characters in Final Fantasy, Kamikokuryo states that it has become a tradition in Japanese story-telling that whenever a “good-looking” individual is featured, they are typically depicted as the main character.
When asked how the development team copes with the uncanny valley
Uncanny Valley
The uncanny valley is a hypothesis in the field of robotics and 3D computer animation, which holds that when human replicas look and act almost, but not perfectly, like actual human beings, it causes a response of revulsion among human observers...
, Kamikokuryo noted that it's something everyone on the team is constantly thinking about and they always have to fight against. They deliberately don't go there. For all the things they create, many of the section creators get together and make adjustments so the uncanny valley problem doesn't happen. He adds that they need to pursue something not too realistic. They want to keep the uniqueness of the character designs by Tetsuya Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura
is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix , best known for his work on both the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.-Time before Square:Nomura was born in Kōchi, Japan...
but also want to draw upon real-life inspirations. He's pointed out the series' inspirations from contemporary design and fashion, and how they make playing the game more engrossing and more entertaining. Stylization is also important to Kamikokuryo, and he wants to emphasize coolness and cuteness through stylization. The development team is constantly struggling between realism and a more stylized look and trying to create something at the edge of the uncanny valley.
Kamikokuryo notes that the CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
and in-game development teams are separate, but in a natural way they work together and be in harmony with another. The CG team also works on the high-end visuals and visual expressions and there are no limitations with what can be expressed. He believes Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
have a very high quality visual execution. Therefore, they have to have a good program to train their staff at all times. They want the best people to work together and enhance their capabilities. When he first started at Square Enix, nobody guided him, he just had to watch and learn back in those days. He believes photorealism
Photorealism
Photorealism is the genre of painting based on using the camera and photographs to gather information and then from this information creating a painting that appears photographic...
is fundamentally an attractive proposition as it will be quite valuable in Final Fantasy since there has to be a real expression.
Work on Final Fantasy XII
He has stated that he has thought the development of Final Fantasy XIIFinal Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
was a long period of time. However, because he could paint the art for the game in extraordinary fine details, he's thankful for having been given such an opportunity. If he had been given two years less to develop the art for the game, the world for Final Fantasy XII would have looked totally different. It's because he took so long to make art for the game that resulted in the look of the final game. He believes he was able to create the art for the game in an elaborate way and that it felt like creating an actual living world.
Work on Final Fantasy XIII
He has spent nearly a year of pre-productionPre-production
Pre-production or In Production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance.- In film :...
solely on art for Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
. He says the world in the game is set in a more futuristic time than any Final Fantasy game in the past. He took that very futurist framework, but incorporated some great elements of fantasy into it. He asked himself, "How can I put them together?" and "How can I combine them?" This is what he set out to realize with the game and he used nothing from past Final Fantasy worlds for reference. The idea for Lightning
Lightning (Final Fantasy)
is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the video game Final Fantasy XIII developed and published by Square Enix. She was created by Motomu Toriyama, the game's director and scenario writer, and designed by Tetsuya Nomura...
to have a sword that can transform into a gun relates to the Eidolon summons in the game. One of the gameplay themes they chose for Final Fantasy XIII was transformation, and the Eidolons can turn into vehicles. So if summons could transform themselves, they thought that weapons should be able to as well. Kamikokuryo says that he wanted anyone who stepped into the world of Final Fantasy XIII to get hooked on the extraordinary visuals, and that he believes the blend of futuristic technology with the wild nature and ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
is unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. He also believes that each location and scene has a detailed vision and beauty that brings his art direction
Game art design
Game art design, a subset of game development, is a process of creating 2D and 3D game art for a video game. A game artist is a visual artist who creates video game art, such as concept art, item sprites, character models, etc.- History :...
to life.
Difference in game design between production teams
Kamikokuryo has also noted the game designGame design
Game design, a subset of game development, is the process of designing the content and rules of a game in the pre-production stage and design of gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters during production stage. The term is also used to describe both the game design embodied in a game as...
philosophy difference between Yoshinori Kitase
Yoshinori Kitase
is a Japanese game producer and former game director that has been working for Square Enix since April 1, 1990. He is mostly known for his work on the role-playing video game series Final Fantasy and is currently the manager of 1st Production Department....
and Yasumi Matsuno
Yasumi Matsuno
is a video game designer. He is one of a few designers to have two games receive a perfect score by Famitsu magazine. Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII were critically acclaimed by the magazine with a 40/40 score.-Early projects:...
. For the Final Fantasy games developed by Kitase, usually catchy and original designs are requested from Kamikokuryo. For the ones by Matsuno, a design faithful to its sound foundation and things highly artistic in nature are demanded. He thinks these differences in the stance towards art design are based on the difference in writing style between Kitase and Matsuno. Also, because many staff members have worked together for a long period of time in each production team, the methods and philosophy behind the creation of games differ significantly from each other. He feels that, because he has experienced working with both teams when making Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII, it was very interesting to realize these many differences.
Personal life
Isamu Kamikokuryo does photographyPhotography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
as a hobby. He likes turn-based strategy games and real-time strategy games, as they give the player the task of making considerate decisions. He is also a huge fan of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single-player action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive subsidiary 2K Games...
.
Works
| Game | Released | System(s) | Credit(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012... |
2001 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
Gadget art designer |
| Final Fantasy XII Final Fantasy XII is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform... |
2006 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
Art director (background) |
| Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is a real-time strategy RPG developed by Think & Feel and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS. It is a sequel to the best-selling 2006 PlayStation 2 role-playing game Final Fantasy XII.... |
2007 | Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
Art supervisor, title logo designer |
| Final Fantasy XIII Final Fantasy XIII is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series... |
2009 | PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... , Xbox 360 Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |
Art director |
| The 3rd Birthday The 3rd Birthday is an action role-playing game develpoed HexaDrive and published by Square Enix. The game was made for the PlayStation Portable and marks the third entry in the Parasite Eve series... |
2010 | PlayStation Portable PlayStation Portable The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004... |
Art director |
| Final Fantasy XIII-2 Final Fantasy XIII-2 is an upcoming console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is being produced by Square Enix's 1st Production Department... |
2011 | PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... , Xbox 360 Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |
Art director, costume designer (Lightning Lightning (Final Fantasy) is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the video game Final Fantasy XIII developed and published by Square Enix. She was created by Motomu Toriyama, the game's director and scenario writer, and designed by Tetsuya Nomura... ) |