Wataru Ikeda

About Wataru Ikeda

https://youtu.be/sDMGg03rrWkI have over 20 years of working experience as a VFX artist also in creating the shader FX as a technical VFX artist. In addition, I have worked for 5 years as an environment artist. I am one of a member of VES and have a green card (EB2-National Interest Waiver).I can only work remotely for various reasons.(Except within walking or biking distance)Skillset:* Creating high-quality particles VFX and dynamics for any platform.(Niagara and VFX Graph are the main FX tools I use.)* Development experience on PC, Playstation5, PlayStation 4, Switch, Mobile, XboxOne, Xbox 360, Playstation3, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 1.* Making skill of photo-realistic VFX, stylized FX and shaders(writing HLSL and node based).* Optimizing FX and environment assets (console memory limitations, CPU & GPU performance).* Creating special shaders for VFX, environment, GUI, and characters.* Solving technical problems of VFX and environment. Scripting skills at a practical level in Unity3D(C#) and MAYA MEL script or expression, and Python a little. Being able to learn any tool quickly.Tools: Unreal Engine 5, Houdini, Frostbite, Maya, EmberGen, Unity3D, FumeFX (3ds Max), Photoshop, After Effects, Zbrush, Substance Designer, Substance Painter, PS4 Razor GPU/CPU, PS3 GPADMy Presentations: CEDEC 2024‘Practical optimization in UE5 Niagara Part 2023‘Practical optimization and scalability in UE5 Niagara’https://youtu.be/YcS9CsIvOp0GDC 2021\'Creative and Experimental VFX in \'The Last of Us Part Art Dive Online, Epic Games Japan (July 2020)https://youtu.be/bkZkW-HbligUNREAL FEST EAST 2018https://cedil.cesa.or.jp/cedil_sessions/view/1832CEDEC 2015 https://cedil.cesa.or.jp/cedil_sessions/view/1421

Experience

1. Senior Vfx Technical Artist

   Epic Games

   Aug 2021 — Present

   VFX for Fortnite since Chapter 3.Delivering lectures and on-site hands-on training on UE5 Niagara for Japanese licensees.TalkCEDEC 2023Practical Scalability and Optimization for UE5

Education

• Osaka University of Arts

  Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), 視覚情報デザイン

  1995 — 1999