Day in the Life of a Japanese Game Illustrator

Summary

Ruby, a 30-year-old game illustrator in Tokyo, shares her daily life in this insightful video. From her spacious 1LDK apartment to the bustling Square Enix headquarters, Ruby's journey showcases her passion for character design, her creative process, and the vibrant world of video game development. With a blend of remote work and office meetings, Ruby's story offers a glimpse into the dynamic life of a Japanese artist, balancing work, creativity, and play.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ruby is a 30-year-old Japanese game illustrator living in Tokyo.
• 🏠 She lives in a 1LDK apartment with her pet, which is spacious for a single person in the city.
• 🎨 Ruby has been working as a video game illustrator for six years and has a passion for drawing since childhood.
• 🏫 She initially studied a different field in university but later pursued character design at a professional trading college.
• 🚄 Ruby's commute to work is 20-25 minutes by train, but she moved closer to the office to avoid a longer commute.
• 🏢 She works at the Square Enix headquarters, a top video game developer known for titles like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.
• 🔍 Ruby works on multiple projects concurrently, managing her time and collaborating with various team members.
• 📝 The process of creating an illustration involves concept sketching, feedback, and detailed adjustments to character design.
• 🍽 Ruby enjoys the company cafeteria benefits, which offer reduced-price set meals.
• 👥 She is part of the Chocobo GP team, attending meetings to discuss design and development tasks.
• 🎮 Ruby's job involves not only character illustration but also designing costumes, weapons, and items for game worlds.
• 🌙 She often works from home due to remote work options but visits the office for meetings and collaborative tasks.

Q & A

Who is the main character of the video?

The main character of the video is Ruby, a 30-year-old Japanese game illustrator living in Tokyo.

What does Ruby's living situation look like?

Ruby lives in a 1LDK apartment in the heart of Tokyo, which she finds spacious for a single person and suitable for housing all her work equipment during the pandemic.

What is Ruby's professional background?

Ruby has been working as a video game illustrator for six years. She initially pursued a different field in university but later studied character designs at a professional trading college, which led to her dream job.

How does Ruby's daily commute to work look like?

Ruby's commute to work by train takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Initially, she lived in Kanagawa with her parents and had a longer commute, but she moved closer to her office to reduce travel time.

Which company does Ruby work for and what is it known for?

Ruby works at Square Enix headquarters, one of the top video game developers in Japan, known for creating popular titles such as Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.

What is Ruby's typical work routine when she is not working remotely?

When not working remotely, Ruby checks her emails, replies as required, and then quickly gets to work on her current illustration projects. She also has meetings with her team and collaborates with various team members to complete projects.

What is the process for creating an illustration according to Ruby?

The process starts with a concept sketch that Ruby completes in one day. She then gets feedback, adjusts the characters' poses and facial expressions, and pays close attention to their unique personality and background.

What additional tasks does Ruby perform besides character illustration?

Besides character illustration, Ruby also designs costumes, weapons, and items found in each specific game world. She creates detailed spreadsheets of each design, including how it moves and functions.

What does Ruby's lunchtime routine look like at the company cafeteria?

Ruby eats with her co-workers at the company cafeteria, which is part of the staff benefits program offering set meals at reduced prices. In the video, she has a set meal with fried flounder.

How does Ruby handle creative slumps in her work?

When Ruby hits a creative slump, she continues to draw even more to further develop new ideas instead of stopping.

What does Ruby do after work to unwind?

After work, Ruby plans to play an online game with her friends, has a drink or two with a light meal, and chats with friends. She usually plays until around 10 PM, then takes a bath and goes to sleep around midnight.