This article presents an exclusive interview with Masahiro Emoto, a veteran Japanese animation artist with decades of experience in the industry. Emoto has worked in multiple roles, from in-betweener and key animator to character designer, animation director, and director, across renowned studios such as Madhouse, Production I.G, WIT Studio, Studio Pierrot, and Bones. He has contributed to iconic works including Ghost in the Shell (1995), Shingeki no Kyojin, Tokyo Revengers, Bleach, Samurai Champloo, and the current adaptation of Rurōni Kenshin (2023). In the interview, Emoto shares insights into his career trajectory, experiences in adapting both Japanese and Western franchises, the transition from traditional to digital animation, and his work on projects integrating artificial intelligence, such as the LOVOT robot. He also reflects on his artistic philosophy, his approach to teaching and advising younger professionals, and his passion for exploring Japan and other countries while maintaining an active creative practice. Additionally, the article documents Emoto’s participation in FicZone 2024, where he held live drawing sessions and delivered a talk on artificial intelligence applications in business. The piece includes photographs and promotional material from these events.Originally published in Spanish on Cooljapan.es
Andrés Domenech Alcaide (Thu,) studied this question.