Meet Kotaro | Manga Artist & Commercial Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kotaro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kotaro, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Pursuing an artistic career has always felt like a given since I was a kid. Even before I really understood what having a “career” meant, I could feel that art would be at the creative forefront of my life. From the earliest time I could hold a pencil, painting what I see around me and from imagination feels as natural as breathing. Illustrating stories is my forte, so if I don’t paint them out, life would quickly lose its color.
Growing up surrounded by manga and old-school anime also left me floored with how much creative energy artists could have. The vivid worldbuilding and page-turning plots within their works remain an incredible motivation for doing what I do every day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m proud to say I’m a storyteller and illustrator to my core. My work repeatedly slides across a spectrum: from supernatural and moody, to the comedic and adventurous. It’s within this sphere where I believe that my style and multi-faceted approach sets me apart from others. For instance, I’m often involved in various aspects of the pipeline such as manga, key art, and book design. Another example is in my character designs, where I often pull from various Asian and European cultures to compose a look. Amazingly, there is narrative power in a character styled tastefully; it can grace them with a unique presence that captivates your audience.

I also attribute where I am today in having pursued an art education through high school and at Otis College of Art & Design. The amazing professors and students I met revolutionized my perspective and showed me just how much creative freedom I could have. As a result, I remained convinced that by soaking up knowledge through school, I’d adapt faster to life in a real world studio. Time would eventually prove that hunch right. Now working as a sketch artist in the film and television industry, I’m constantly using what I learnt to design in a fast paced environment. Being a chameleon is certainly the name of the game.

Achieving a place in this industry has by no means been easy, however. Rather, it’s taken massive willpower, fortitude, and long hours of practice; but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Like other professions, I’ve learned that art is a calling and you have to love being creative, otherwise you won’t last a day in this industry. I certainly couldn’t have done it alone: it’s taken a village to lift me up: specifically my mom, friends, professors, and kind folks whose influence remains. I hope that by sharing my story, I can help empower others to follow their most treasured dreams.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s so many things to do in LA! That’s one of the coolest things I love about this city. If you look close enough you’ll spot hidden gems where you didn’t know something could possibly exist. Given the chance, I’d take my friend to a museum like the Norton Simon or the Getty Center. For lunch, we’d get some ramen in Sawtelle and round out the day with some ice cream from the local Japanese super market.
Some Indian food in Culver City would be great on another day too. It really depends how we’d come to a consensus, but what I do know for sure is that there’s definitely something for everyone.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I’m dedicating this shoutout to my mom. As the matriarch of the family, my mom is an incredibly brilliant, strong, and savvy woman who’s been my greatest supporter since day one. Her listening skills are formidable, too. She’s all ears if I start to randomly blurt out an essay-long talk about design, Japanese culture, cryptids, and how it’s going to make sense in my newest piece. In a humorous way, I often feel like her alien child and sometimes think she wonders: “Where on earth did this kid come from?.” Even if she doesn’t have an inkling of what I’m cooking up next, she’ll tell me “I may not get what you mean right now, but I trust your vision and can’t wait to see how it comes out.” I’m so grateful to her.
My friends and professors also deserve a huge spotlight too – you know who you are! They’re a resilient, extremely talented group of people with a strong sense of style. I look up to them immensely. Over the years, they’ve become my found family and have seen me through many trying moments.

Website: https://boarandcrane.weebly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boarandcrane/

Other: Bento Link: https://bento.me/boarandcrane

Webtoon: https://www.webtoons.com/p/community/en/u/kotaro