Director / Designer Shimon Tanaka on immersing himself in BABYMETAL’s music and using Red Giant tools for design and live visuals.

The Japanese band BABYMETAL is a presence that transcends the boundaries of heavy metal. The members, SU-METAL, MOAMETAL, and MOMOMETAL, deliver grand live performances filled with wild, cinematic visuals, a massive stage, and, above all, their heavy music, which is enveloped in enthusiastic cheers.

BABYMETAL is a group born in Japan, whose unique presence has garnered support, leading them to perform worldwide through tours and festivals. CG Director Shimon Tanaka has contributed significantly to the creative aspects of BABYMETAL's world.

We talked with Tanaka about his background, work with BABYMETAL, and his role as a participating artist in the Intel® Blue Carpet Project, an initiative designed to support creators who produce outstanding work elevate the entire creative scene.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

Tanaka: I am an animator, designer, illustrator, and director from Yokohama, Japan. Currently, I am involved in various projects, including commercials and promotional videos. My career began with a stop-motion animation I created as a university project, which led to a news program producer requesting me to create the show's opening sequence. That animation project marked the beginning of my freelance career, which has now spanned about 20 years.

Tell us about the Blue Carpet Project?

Tanaka: The Intel® Blue Carpet Project is a project by the semiconductor manufacturer Intel that supports creators who produce outstanding works across various platforms and creative genres while continuing to take on new challenges. Through the Blue Carpet Project, we receive assistance with organizing lectures, as well as technical and equipment support. Above all, the project provides numerous opportunities to connect with others through lectures and meetings. I feel that one of the greatest benefits of participating in this project is the opportunity to meet creators from genres I had never encountered before.

Talk about your work with BABYMETAL.

Tanaka: At the beginning of BABYMETAL's formation, I directed the music video for their debut song, "Doki Doki☆Morning." Following that, I became involved in designing the covers for their singles and albums. Once BABYMETAL began performing live, I also started creating the visuals and designs used in their live shows.

What are some of your go-to tools during production?

Tanaka: I use Red Giant Looks for color grading in nearly all of my projects. I love how it allows me to adjust a vast array of color parameters and effects within a single interface. The Looks presets often provide instant enhancement, which also helps reduce my work time. Additionally, I use Primatte Keyer for keying and create visuals from scratch using tools like Particular, Form, and Mir. I frequently use effects like Shine and Universe as well. The tools in Universe simplify effects that would normally require complex processes, often producing unexpected results that surpass my initial expectations, which is why I enjoy using them.

The Red Giant tools are essential for After Effects users, and the Red Giant effects have become an integral part of my work. I select and use Red Giant tools just like choosing paints and brushes when creating a painting. However, even after years of use, I still discover features and parameters that I had no idea existed, which brings new discoveries every day. It's both enjoyable and refreshing to find something new, and while it sometimes makes me realize my own inexperience, it also excites me to think that there are still possibilities for my expression.

Describe your creative process for staging, videos, and visuals.

Tanaka: When preparing for a new project, I create rough concepts in both video and still images for various aspects of the project. For example, in live performances, the section responsible for stage design builds their designs based on these visuals. For BABYMETAL's Okinawa performance, I incorporated Shisa, the traditional protective deity of Okinawa, into the design. The Shisa was created large enough for the members to make their entrance through its mouth on stage. I was truly moved to see how the Shisa I designed was brought to life in a three-dimensional form, as I wasn't sure how it would turn out.

For music videos or concert visuals, I typically spend all my time listening exclusively to that song. I immerse myself in it until I can play it back in my mind at any moment, and then I start working. While I do pay attention to the lyrics and themes, I don’t focus too much on them. Instead, I aim to capture the overall vibe of the song and visually express the emotions it evokes in me.

Besides BABYMETAL, what other projects are you working on?

Tanaka: Due to my connection with BABYMETAL, I'm often asked to produce music-related videos, visuals, and album covers. I also work on visuals for television programs. Each project has different creative demands, and I enjoy embracing those differences. It’s incredibly satisfying when I can create something new that perfectly fits the project. Additionally, I collaborate with a college friend to create retro-style animations.

Do you have any advice for aspiring design students?

Tanaka: Though this may seem obvious, I think it is important to always finish your projects. As students, it's easy to get caught up in the act of creating and feel satisfied with just doing the work, even if it remains unfinished. However, an incomplete project cannot be shared with others. In the professional world, a lot of effort goes into improving something after it has been completed. I believe that when something is finished, it's only 1% done in my mind. Then, through multiple rounds of refinement with myself and others, it eventually reaches 100%. It's through this process of a finished product facing myself and society that it truly becomes part of my experience. Once you start working, you need completed projects to showcase yourself. In a professional environment, only completed works are evaluated, so it's important to have the mindset of finishing what you start.