The title “CG Director” is not very common in the United States, but in Japan it functions as a role that combines the responsibilities of a VFX Supervisor, a CG Supervisor, and even a Generalist Artist. A CG Director communicates directly with clients (directors and advertising agencies), and is responsible for a wide range of tasks—from determining the shooting approach for VFX plates to overseeing both the visual and technical direction of computer graphics throughout a project.

Since projects in Japan are generally smaller in budget and scale compared to those in the U.S., a CG Director often needs to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. In my case, I frequently received work directly from commercial directors, agencies, and production producers I had close relationships with. Naturally, this also led me to take on the responsibilities of a VFX Producer, including team building and budget management. Given the limited budgets of Japanese TV commercials, it was typical for only two to three generalists—including the CG Director—to cover all VFX needs. Each artist was expected to manage a wide range of tasks such as camera and object tracking, modeling, rigging, animation, as well as particle and dynamics effects.

Project schedules were also extremely tight. Most commercial jobs required delivery of all VFX within about one month. As a result, the workflow often began with tracking and matchmoving the live-action plates, while texturing, lookdev, and lighting were carried out in parallel with rigging and animation.

At Digital Domain, where I currently work, most of these tasks are handled by specialized departments. However, I feel that my prior experience—understanding the content, challenges, and schedules of each step firsthand—has been extremely valuable in supporting my current responsibilities as a supervisor.

On this page, I would like to share a selection of projects I worked on as a CG Director in Japan.

「CGディレクター」という肩書きは米国ではあまり一般的ではありませんが、日本においては VFX スーパーバイザー、CG スーパーバイザー、さらにゼネラリストアーティストの役割を兼ねるポジションとして機能しています。CGディレクターはクライアント（監督や広告代理店）と直接やり取りを行い、VFXパートの実写撮影方法の決定から、CG全般におけるビジュアル面および技術的ディレクションまで、幅広い責任を担います。 日本の案件は米国と比べて予算や制作規模が小さいため、CGディレクター自身が複数の工程を同時に遂行する必要があります。私は懇意にしていたコマーシャル・ディレクターや代理店、及び制作プロダクションのプロデューサーから直接仕事を受注することが多く、自然とVFXプロデューサーとしてチーム編成、予算管理もしていました。日本のテレビCMにおけるVFX予算では、CGディレクターを含め2〜3名程度のゼネラリストで対応するのが一般的であり、各アーティストがカメラトラッキングやオブジェクトトラッキング、モデリング、リギング、アニメーション、さらにはパーティクルやダイナミクス系エフェクトまで、幅広い作業を兼務するのが常でした。 さらに制作スケジュールも非常に短く、ほとんどの案件では全てのVFX工程を含め、平均１ヶ月程度で納品する必要がありました。そのため、まずは撮影プレートをトラッキング、マッチムーブするところから始め、テクスチャリングやルックデヴ、ライティングといった工程も、リギングやアニメーション作業と並行して進めるようにしていました。 現在勤務するデジタルドメインでは、その殆どを専門の部署が担当するのですが、それぞれの作業内容や難度、必要なスケジュールを経験として理解していることが、スーパーバイザーとしての業務にとても役立っていると感じます。 このページでは、日本時代にCGディレクターとしてあたったプロジェクトを中心に、いくつか紹介しています。

2008

Danon Water Japan / evian / TV commercial 30sec / 2008 / CG Director / CG producer / at Ludens Co.,ltd.

created: water dress in camera + body match move. cloth sim and particle with Realflow plus live action material footage shot in the studio. environment matte paint  

SUBARU / EXIGA / / TV commercial 30sec / 2008 / CG Director / CG producer / at Ludens Co.,ltd.

Created: Sand storm in Maya Fluidfx and 3dsmax FumeFx, Volume and Atmosphere for "Mars" is from Houdini. Mars Rover asset and anim.

Kao / Laurier / TV commercial 30sec / 2008 / CG Director / CG producer / at Ludens Co.,ltd.

Created: Water FX in ParticleFlow and RealFlow 

Kracie/ Naive / TV commercial 30sec / 2008 / CG Director / CG producer / at Ludens Co.,ltd.

Created: Characters

SONY / Walkman & Netjuke / TV commercial 30sec / 2008 / CG Director / CG producer / at Ludens Co.,ltd.

Created: Flying title plates. Environment projection, 

Paco and the magical book / Feature Film / 2008 / CG Chief Artist / at Ludens Co.,ltd. 映画「パコと魔法の絵本」

Created: Frog

HONDA / Pilot / TV commercial 30sec / 2008 / CG Director / CG producer / at Ludens Co.,ltd.

Created: Full CG airport environment

2007

Panasonic / Otax / TV commercial 30sec / 2007 / CG Director / CG producer / at Ludens Co.,ltd.

Created: Fax Machine destruction

2005

SONY / Cybershot T1 / TV commercial 30sec / 2005 / CG Director / at Taiyokikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: Cybershot product. set extension

Asahi / Super Dry Live 2005 / TV commercial 30sec / 2005 / CG Director / at Taiyo kikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: Guiter, helicopters, search lights and giant artist's plates

2004

SONY / Cybershot T11 / TV commercial 30sec / 2004 / CG Director / at Taiyo kikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: Set extension

Danon Water / Volvic / TV commercial 30sec / 2004 / CG Director / at Taiyo kikaku Co.,ltd. + Omnibus Japan

Created: Water Splash, set extension and matte paint

Taiwan TOYOTA / VIOS / TV commercial 30sec / 2004 / CG Generalist / at Taiyokikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: Flying Ship, water fx

2003

Asahi / Super Dry Live 2003/ TV commercial 30sec / 2004 / CG Generalist / at Taiyokikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: Guiter, helicopters

avex/ Ayumi Hamasaki / "forgiveness" music video / 2003 / CG Generalist / at Taiyokikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: CG enviro. animated flower and glass orchid chair

UNI / PowerTank Standard / TV commercial 30sec / 2003 / CG Generalist / at Taiyo kikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: Robot arms, water device, pen, set extension

SONY / Cybershot T1 / TV commercial 30sec / 2003 / CG Generalist / at Taiyo kikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: Set Extension

2002

TV Asahi / News Station / Opening movie / 2002 / CG Generalist / at Taiyo kikaku Co.,ltd.

Created: CG generated world

2001