Many may think that the term “manufacturing” is something that cannot be used to describe the process of creating an animation. Shuzo John Shiota begs to disagree. After spending six years within the Japanese steel industry, the world's third largest and one of the most technologically advanced, Shuzo stepped into the wonderful world of animation, quickly becoming one of its lead figures.
Today, he is the President/CEO of Polygon Pictures, a Tokyo based digital animation studio which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
Shuzo joined Polygon in 1999 and, by using the different processes he learned whilst working steel to create efficient and innovative animation, he spearheaded the company's transition from a boutique studio to its current stature as the most renowned full service digital animation studio in Asia.
In fact, Polygon now boasts over 300 artists in its studio in Tokyo and its subsidiary in Malaysia, who produce ground-breaking visuals to international acclaim.
Shuzo strongly believes that the only challenges to what can be created are the limits of our own imagination.
He is an Emmy Award winning producer and was appointed as one of the "25 Toon Titans of Asia" by Animation Magazine in 2008. He has also served as a jury in many prestigious international competitions, including SIGGRAPH, Prix Ars Electronica, and DIGICON6, among others.
But the truth is, Shuzo is much more than an ex-steel manufacturer turned award-winning animation producer: he is the frontman of a classic rock band named Summer of Love. Because one passion just wasn't enough.
