WHO'S WHO Molly Barker

MIKE YAMADA
Mike Yamada is a production designer and concept artist with 13 years
in the field, he has a bachelor in Production Design at the Art Center
College of Design (2000-2003).
He has worked on various animated movies for companies such as Disney Fig1, picture of Mike Yamada

and DreamWorks. He worked on eight children's books, speaks and

teaches at the biggest art colleges, design firms and animation studios,
including art centre college of design, continuum Disney interactive and
many more.
He's currently based in Los Angeles and is still working on concept art for
film and creating personal art for his studio.
 Fig3, concept art for kung Fu panda 2
Fig2, concept art for kung Fu panda 2

Fig3, personal art Fig4, concept art for kung Fu panda 2

 PERSONAL PROJECTS
Alongside his wife, Victoria Ying, he started a design studio
called Extracurricular Activities. It has their products, such as
prints, apparel, art books and children's books.
They also hold lectures and workshops. Talking about their
art knowledge and great advice for any aspiring artist. A
couple years ago, the pair took to Kickstarter to fund their
ambitious children’s book an Illustrated History of Ancestral
Oddity.
Fig5, mike and Victoria at book sighing
FILMS HE'S WORKED ON
Art department-
▪Big hero 6 (visual development artist) (2014
▪The Croods (additional visual development) (2013)
▪Kung Fu panda: secrets of the masters (video short) (visual development) (2011)
▪Kung Fu panda 2 (visual development) (2011)
▪How to train your dragon (visual development) (2010)
▪Monster vs aliens (visual development) (2009)
▪Hotel for dogs (concept artist) (2009)
▪Bee movie (visual development) (2007)
▪Flushed away (visual development) (2006)
Animation department-
▪Kung fu panda: secrets of the scroll (short film) (visual development:2D background artist)
(2016)
 WORK ON KUNG FU PANDA
Mike worked on creating colour keys, environments, props and
tapestry designs for the film.
His use of colour is the most striking thing from his concept art for the
film and the use of traditional Chinese patterns he created. He made
many beautiful different scenes, he mostly focused on the interior shots Fig7, interior concept art by mike
for the film and created may shots for inside the temples that show
how the patterns and colours should be presented in the films.

Fig8, interior concept art by mike Fig9, interior concept art by mike
CONCEPT ART BY MIKE YAMADA
 Fig10, concept art for the croods
by mike

Fig11, concept art for the Croods

by mike
 Fig12, inner workings (short film)

Fig13, inner workings (short film)

 Fig14, Big Hero 6 backgrounds by
mike

Fig15, Big Hero 6 backgrounds by

mike
INSPIRATION
Mike Yamada’s art is a big inspiration to me as I love the way he uses colour in his
pieces and how simple and effective his art is.
Mike Yamada’s use of bright, saturated colour is a main factor of why I chose him to
research as he is not afraid to use them to convey the strong emotion in the pieces.
Another aspect I enjoy is his use of lighting as it is very effective in portraying the
depth and shadows in the art piece, thus, I have taken some of these elements and
tried to implement them into my finished paintings.

Fig16,concept for kung Fu panda

 BIBLIOGRAPHY
▪https://gumroad.com/michaelyamada
Mike yamada blog (accessed 18/10/19)
▪http://myamada.com/about-ba/
Mike yamada blog (accessed 18/10/19)
▪https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2336018/
▪Mike yamada IMDb (accessed 18/10/19)
▪https://illustratorslounge.com/animation/mike-yamada
Interview by Mr geo neo (16/10/14) (accessed 18/10/19)
▪https://pppnumbertwo.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/interview-with-married-couplerival-
animatorscollaborative-bookmakers-mike-yamada-and-victoria-ying/
Interview (14/03/13 (accessed 18/10/19)
BIBLIOGRAPHY (PHOTOS)
▪https://twitter.com/michaelyamada
(fig1) picture of mike (accessed 18/10/19)
▪http://mikeyamada.blogspot.com/2011/05/revenge-of-kung-fu-panda-2-art-part-2.html
(fig2) concept art from kung fu panda 2 (accessed 18/10/19)
▪http://conceptdesignacad.blogspot.com/2013/01/featured-instructor-mike-yamada.html
▪(fig4) personal art of mike (accessed 18/10/19)
▪http://conceptartworld.com/news/kung-fu-panda-2-concept-art-by-mike-yamada/
(fig3,5,7,8,9,12,13,14,15,16) concept art from kung fu panda 2 (accessed 18/10/19)
http://the-croods.wikia.com/wiki/File:Michael_Yamada_02.jpg
(fig10,11) concept of the croods (accessed 18/10/19)