Neil Yamamoto

Computer Graphic Artist, Visual FX Technical Director

Resume / CV

Work Experience

July 2014 – Present
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Vancouver, BC
Computer Graphic Artist, Cloth/Hair TD, (some FX TD work as well on Meg)
Responsibilities include: Hair Setup/Grooming, Hair and Cloth simulation of multiple characters, muscle simulation (Ziva). Maya/Houdini/Katana/Nuke
Shows: Hotel Transylvania 2, Storks, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Kingsmen 2, Meg

January 2014 – April 2014
Double Negative Visual Effects - London, UK
Computer Graphic Artist, FX Technical Director
Responsibilites included: Simulation, rendering, compositing of various visual effects. Smoke, dust, debris etc., using Houdini, Nuke, Maya.
Show: Jupiter Ascending

July 2009 – April 2013
DreamWorks Animation, Glendale, California
Computer Graphic Artist, Character FX Artist
Responsibilities include cloth, feather and hair simulation on multiple characters using proprietary tools.
Syflex, Maya Cloth, Maya Hair, Qualoth, Houdini
Shows: Shrek Forever After, Puss In Boots, Turbo

Jan. 2009 – June 2009
Sony Pictures Imageworks, Los Angeles, California
Computer Graphic Artist, Cloth/Hair Technical Director
Responsibilities included cloth and hair simulation on multiple characters using proprietary tools
Show: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

2004 – 2008
DKP Studios / IDT Entertainment / Starz Animation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Computer Graphic Artist, Visual Effects Technical Director; Cloth Lead on 9 (animated feature)
Responsibilities included: mel scripting, python scripting. Development of visual fx pipeline. Development of studio pipeline as part of a team. Development of various tools for the vfx department, including ballistic particle splash rig, syflex cloth rig and interface, maya ncloth pipeline. Fx department support, studio support.
Also responsible for various fx shots. (maya – fluids, particles, syflex cloth; fusion, shake, particle illusion)
Shows included:
Shoebox Zoo (live action/cg television series)
Everyone’s Hero (cg animated feature)
Veggie Tales - The Pirates That Don't Do Anything (cg animated feature)
9 (cg animated feature)


2002 – 2003 (finish of 1-year contract)
Volt Technical Services/Microsoft Games, Salt Lake City, UT
Computer Graphic Artist / Technical Artist
Responsibilities included: mel scripting, ik-rigs, point-weighting, particle effects, crowd placement
Mel scripts include: shader interface (proprietary shader setup), particle interface (proprietary particle setup), batch scripts, point weighting scripts, modeling tools (edge splitting, intersections, snapping)
Game title: Microsoft Inside Pitch 2003 (XBOX Baseball)

2002 (start of 1-year contract)
Volt Technical Services/Microsoft Games, Salt Lake City, UT
Computer Graphic Artist, Motion Capture / Technical Artist
Responsibilities included: mel scripting, motion capture, motion capture retargeting, some tracking and solving, use of several different software packages including: Kaydara Filmbox, 3DS Max
Mel scripts include: FBX importer interface (including batch processing), HTR importer interface (including batch processing)
Various Game titles (uncredited): Links, Top Spin, NHL Rivals

1999 – 2001
Kodiak Interactive, Salt Lake City, UT
Computer Graphic Artist / Technical Artist
Responsibilities included: mel scripting, ik-rigs, point-weighting, particle effects, crowd placement,
animation retargeting
Game titles include: Microsoft Inside Pitch 2002 (XBOX Baseball, unreleased), WCW Backstage Assault (N64/Playstation), WCW Mayhem (PC)

June 1999 – August 1999
AXYZ Animation, Toronto, Ont.
Computer Graphic Artist (contract work)
Worked on modeling, animation and 2D effects for a commercial, using Houdini

March 1999
2 week work placement at C.O.R.E Digital Pictures, Toronto, Ont.
Computer Graphic Artist, Compositing Intern
Participated in compositing and effect work in Flint/Efffect

January 1999 – March 1999
Calibre Digital Pictures, Toronto, Ont.
Computer Graphic Artist, Compositing Intern (part-time evenings)
Responsibilities included: Flint/Flame/Inferno archiving, clip input, some rotoscoping and compositing


Computer Knowledge

Strongest in: Maya, Mel scripting
Working knowledge of: Tango (cloth sim), Katana (3d lighting/rendering), Shake, Fusion, Python, Photoshop, mentalray
Minor knowledge of: Katana (2d compositing), particle illusion, Filmbox, Houdini , Softimage3D, Flint/Effect, Renderman.
Platforms include WINDOWS, UNIX/IRIX, C-shell, SGI, Mac


Other Skills

Drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpting, graphic design, photography, and playing music
(saxophone, guitar, piano).

 
Education

Sheridan College – Computer Animation Technical Director Program – Graduated April 1999 (1 year course)
Curriculum included Houdini, Flint/Effect, Renderman, IRIX, C-shell scripting

Sheridan College – Computer Animation Program – Graduated August 1998 (1 year course)
Curriculum included Softimage|3D, Softimage|Eddie, and Softimage|Particle

Sheridan College – Interpretive Illustration Program – Graduated April 1995 (3 year course)
Major – Editorial Illustration
Minor – Advertising Illustration

University Of Guelph – Transferred after 3 years of a 4 year course to Sheridan (no degree)
Major – Fine Arts
Minor – Biology