Meet Tsuyoshi Kobayashi | VFX/CG/Compositing supervisor/lighting/compositing artist./Colorist

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

Hi Tsuyoshi, why did you pursue a creative career?
To be honest, I’m not entirely sure why I decided to pursue this career. However, one thing I can say is that I’ve always believed doing what I love is crucial in my life. It hasn’t been as easy as I might have thought. Choosing the path of art may not offer the stability of other professions, and it met with opposition from my parents as a result. Nevertheless, making my passion my profession is incredibly important to me. Because it’s something I love, I always have a sense of curiosity and pursuit, something I unconsciously engage in every day.
And it brings me great happiness to wholeheartedly enjoy my work. So, rather than explaining why I chose this job, it feels more like if I were doing what I love, this job would naturally follow.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My job involves creating visuals using CG. I started with music videos, commercials, and TV shows, then transitioned to live-action films, and later to video game cinematics. Now, I work on animated films. I’m originally from Japan, where I worked as a hairdresser. My initial dream was to work as a hair and makeup artist on Hollywood films. This dream led me to travel to the US multiple times, where I met producers and CG artists. They showed me their studios and schools, sparking my decision to switch careers. In 2003, I moved to the US, began with language school, graduated from university, and embarked on this journey.

Some of the people I met during this time worked at animation companies, and I wanted to join an animation film company from the start. However, due to my lack of experience and visa issues, I couldn’t. CG covers a vast range of categories. I began my career at a small company working on commercials, music videos, and TV shows. At a small company, you need to learn a wide array of skills. This allowed me to become a generalist with a broad skill set. Unlike smaller companies, large film companies often have specialist roles focused on mastering one category. Starting at a big film company can sometimes make it difficult to gain diverse knowledge.

In my case, my broad knowledge paid off. It enabled me to work not only as an artist but also in supervisory roles like VFX, CG, and compositing supervisor.

While many film roles are specialized, I started as a generalist and eventually specialized in lighting and compositing. My experience as a generalist is what sets me apart and has become my strength. By experiencing a wide range of tasks, including shooting, I naturally understand the connections and flow between departments and can foresee and solve potential issues effectively.

The journey wasn’t always easy, but I don’t remember the tough times much, probably because of my positive outlook. Doing what I love made it enjoyable, leaving me with many fond memories.

One thing I can say is that I’ve always believed in the importance of doing what you love in life. In fact, I can only do what I’m passionate about. However, making your passion your job is challenging and was probably my biggest challenge. Everyone wants to do what they love, so I worked very hard to make it possible.

Pursuing a career in art can be less stable than other paths and challenging because success often depends on a good artistic sense. However, making my passion my profession has been incredibly important to me. Because I love what I do, I’m always curious and eager to improve. This curiosity and drive come naturally because I enjoy my work so much. I’ve never regretted choosing to be an artist.

Switching majors and going back to school meant it took me nearly 15 years to get into the company of the people who inspired me to enter this industry. Now, I’m happily working at that company, which is truly a dream come true for me.

I hope everyone continues to enjoy animated films. We work hard every day to create great works, no matter how many years pass. Please go to the movie theater sometimes instead of just streaming at home. The experience is not the same.

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.
That’s a tough question. Los Angeles has so many interesting places to offer. Since I’m originally from Japan, I like to take my friends to uniquely American spots when they visit.

Catching an MLB or NBA game is a must. There’s also so much natural beauty here, so we’d hit the beach for some seafood or go hiking in the mountains. There’s really a lot to do.

Los Angeles is such a melting pot of cultures, so I’d definitely take them to try food from different countries. Chinese, Korean, Mexican, Italian, Ethiopian – and of course, some classic American steaks and burgers.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Undoubtedly, it’s my parents and family. They have always believed in me and supported me. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to have great friends. I’ve received a lot of support and good advice from many of them, and that’s why I am where I am today. Without their help, I wouldn’t be here now. And of course, I owe a lot to the great movies that have inspired me and pushed me to do even more.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsuyoshi-kobayashi-562bb411/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsuyoshi.kobayashi.1238/

Other: Imdb
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7039452/

Image Credits
Jimmy Valladao