About

Ryota Unzai

Technical Artist | 10+ Years in the Game Industry

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I am a Toronto-based freelance Technical Artist with over 10 years of experience in the game industry. I work fully remotely with clients in Japan and internationally, supporting game development teams across different regions and production environments. Over the past decade, I have primarily contributed to AAA console game development, while also gaining experience in PC and mobile titles. My work focuses on tool and pipeline development, alongside background asset modeling, UX/UI design, and integration between DCC tools and game engines, including proprietary engines and Unreal Engine 5. I have also supported production teams by improving task management and workflow organization using tools such as JIRA, helping teams maintain clarity and efficiency throughout development.

My Approach

Rather than simply building tools, I focus on understanding where and why production slows down, and how workflows can be improved without increasing the burden on artists or developers. I specialize in designing systems and pipelines that are practical, scalable, and proven in real production environments, even on large-scale AAA projects.

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Core Principles

As a Technical Artist, I work with the following principles in mind:

• Creating the right environment
• Keeping solutions simple
• Identifying the core problem
• Finding joy in the process

While these principles may sound abstract, they serve as concrete guidelines in how I break down problems, support teams, and design pipelines intended for long-term use. They help me stay focused on what truly needs to be solved, and on finding solutions that are realistic and sustainable for production teams working under high quality standards and complex requirements.

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Working Together

Depending on the project scope and development phase, I work closely with teams to identify the most effective approach to problem-solving and provide hands-on support through implementation. My goal is to deliver solutions that fit naturally into existing workflows while improving both efficiency and overall production quality.

TOOLS・SOFTWATES・FRAMEWORKS

Skills & Areas of Expertise

Tool Development & Automation

I develop tools and scripts primarily using Python, targeting real-world production environments such as Maya, Substance, and Unreal Engine (UE5).

My strength lies in designing and implementing tools that reduce artists’ workload and friction in day-to-day production, rather than creating one-off utility scripts.

In particular, I place strong emphasis on:

• Alignment with existing workflows
• Clear operational rules and ownership
• Long-term maintainability and handover within teams

My goal is to build tools that continue to be used reliably in production environments, not just technically “working” solutions.

Pipeline Design & Workflow Optimization

I have extensive experience designing and improving pipelines, mainly for environment and background asset production.

By organizing the data flow from DCC tools to the game engine, I focus on questions such as:

• Where errors are most likely to occur
• Which steps should be automated
• Which decisions should remain manual and artist-driven

This approach allows me to balance production efficiency and asset quality, even in AAA-scale development environments, with an emphasis on stable, long-term operation.

DCC & Engine Integration

I design robust integration between Maya, Substance, and Unreal Engine, including:

• Import rules and asset validation
• Naming conventions and structural standards
• Low-level processing using Python and OpenMaya (C++)

All integration work is done with the goal of allowing artists to focus on creation, without being constrained or disrupted by tools or technical specifications.

Procedural Modeling & Texturing

I also support procedural approaches to modeling and texturing, focusing on rule-based design and reusability.

By systematizing workflows that normally require repeated trial and error, I help teams iterate more efficiently and consistently.

Houdini is an area I am continuously developing, transitioning from foundational knowledge toward full production-level application.

Development Process & Project Support

In addition to technical work, I actively support development processes and project execution, including:

• Agile development (Scrum / Kanban)
• Task tracking and production support using JIRA

I hold the following certifications from Scrum Inc.:

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

Rather than applying Scrum frameworks rigidly, I focus on practical adaptation based on:

• Team size and project phase
• How far sprints and reviews should realistically be applied
• Sustainable processes for both artists and engineers
• Continuous improvement without disrupting active production

As a Technical Artist, I value identifying blockers from both technical and process perspectives, creating an environment where teams can stay focused on making great content.

Additional Experience

Refactoring and reorganization of existing tools and pipelines

Development of Adobe extensions (After Effects, Premiere Pro)