Shigeto Koyama

Shigeto Koyama (コヤマ シゲト, Koyama Shigeto) is a Japanese illustrator who best known for his work on popular anime shows such as Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Kill la Kill, and Ghost in the Shell. He has also designed for Disney's Big Hero 6.
In Shigeto Koyama's admission, he began working in animation since he joined the development of Diebuster in hopes of learning something new as per Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's request. While he initially didn't know where to start, Koyama nevertheless learned everything he needed from Sadamoto starting from the basics in first four months as he designed one character for the series. At that time, he's already good at drawing manga and illustrations yet lacked any interest in storytelling.https://www.easternkicks.com/features/shigeto-koyama-interview/
In terms of his part in key animation such as ending animation of Kill la Kill, Koyama admitted that he didn't do much in animation proper because he wasn't very good in such field, seeing it as an extension of drawing illustrations. Koyama saw character designs and mechanical designs in general not too different with one another, citing Baymax being both character and machine, and Star Driver from Captain Earth being extension of the pilot who drive it just like Steve Rogers becomes Captain America.
Back during his involvement in Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Shigeto and his fellow showrunners deliberately made it as silly as possible, being completely bonkers so that people would think we were completely mad. The show was of course, contrasted Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann which admittedly serious yet enjoyable. He also mentioned Studio Trigger staff's tendency to make something a bit daft being in response of something else, citing Hiroyuki Imaishi conceived Sex & Violence with Machspeed with no human characters because he drew human characters most of the time during the development of Kill la Kill prior.
Shigeto Koyama finds Animator Expo to be a very interesting project he wanted to participate it like he did with his short animation called Obake-chan, being an attempt to find another way of distributing animation.
==Trivia==
*Koyama has collaborated with Tsuyoshi Kusano and Ai Nonaka as part of the doujinshi group CCMS. Said group's mascot is a sheet-wearing ghost girl called Obake-chan, the subject of picture books, a short from 2014's Japan Animator's Exhibition, and lots of merchandise up for purchase or auction. He and Kusano explained they were inspired by Dutch artist Dick Bruna and his Miffy children's book character: "[We] were influenced by the fact Duck Bruna's main job was doing graphic design, the cover designs for books, and then on the side he created Miffy, so for [us], it's kind of the same thing where during the day, [we] can be an illustrator or character designer for animation, and then we can make a children's book."Studio Trigger's Shigeto Koyama Design Work on Display in Manhattan
**When asked about the most significant differences between doing design work for a Disney film versus his anime projects, Koyama answered, "When working with an American studio, there is no base or something to draw from; it was more just kind of like a prompt of, like, 'It's a kid that rides a robot, and the robot is a partner and a friend.' And so from there, [I have to] come up with something… [I] worked with the director and was hired to do a specific job, whereas for [an anime like] Promare, for example, [I] was responsible for doing the concept up to the final [appearance]."
*In an interview, Shigeto mentioned instances where some of productions he involved in left some brands dissatisfied due to their potentially scandalous and controversial premises where among them implied to be Panty and Stocking series: "Sometimes some brands are dissatisfied with our productions. With Yoshinari, we worked on a show whose title is based on underwear. We did encounter some trouble as some episodes were problematic and scandalous and caused controversies. Director Imaishi came to see the staff who worked on the show, patted our backs, and said, “You did a good job!”."https://fullfrontal.moe/manga-tokyo-exhibition-panel/
*Shigeto admitted in an interview that between Studio Trigger and Disney, both had similar creative side despite different framework and budget which should be expected considering the latter being a film company as much as animation company.
*Shigeto Koyama's main influences for his animation style are Kazuya Tusurmaki and Yoshiyuki Sadamoto.https://web.archive.org/web/20140619175122/http://www.japanator.com/anime-next-14-studio-trigger-32705.phtml
==Gallery==
Shigeto Koyama's autograph on Eureka Seven product with a little Nirvash sketch.jpg|Shigeto Koyama's autograph on Eureka Seven product with a little Nirvash sketch
Eureka Seven and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt merchandises signed by Studio Trigger staff.jpg|Eureka Seven and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt merchandises signed by Studio Trigger staff
Commemorative illustration for Promare's 5th anniversary by Shigeto Koyama.jpg|Commemorative illustration for Promare's 5th anniversary by Shigeto Koyama
Shigeto Koyama's doodle of Mako on page of Kill La Kill official guidebook during 2024 Jonetsu 666 event.jpg|Shigeto Koyama's doodle of Mako on page of Kill La Kill official guidebook during 2024 Jonetsu 666 event
Hiromi Wakabayashi & Koyama Shigeto posing alongside Kill la Kill cosplayers during AnimeNEXT 2014.jpg|Hiromi Wakabayashi & Koyama Shigeto posing alongside Kill la Kill cosplayers during AnimeNEXT 2014
Shigeto Koyama during MCM London Comic Con 2015 1.jpg|Shigeto Koyama during MCM London Comic Con 2015
Shigeto Koyama during MCM London Comic Con 2015 2.jpg|Ditto
Shigeto Koyama during MCM London Comic Con 2015 3.jpg|Ditto
Wakabayashi and Koyoma during AnimeExpo 2018 alongside Over Justice cosplayer.jpg|Wakabayashi and Koyoma during AnimeExpo 2018 alongside Over Justice cosplayer
TRIGGER Panel Sakuracon 2024 Announcement.jpg|TRIGGER Panel Sakuracon 2024 Announcement
Shigeto Koyama and Hiromi Wakabayashi announced to participate as guests of TRIGGER Panel in Sakuracon 2024.jpg|Shigeto Koyama and Hiromi Wakabayashi announced to participate as guests of TRIGGER Panel in Sakuracon 2024
Sketches of Ursula, Luluco, and Ryuko sketch drawn by Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Yō Yoshinari during AnimeExpo 2022.jpg|Sketches of Ursula, Luluco, and Ryuko sketch drawn by Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Yō Yoshinari during AnimeExpo 2022
==References==
==External Links==
:Shigeto Koyama at Anime Matsuri site (archived in April 9, 2015)
=== News ===
* Anime News Network
** Studio Trigger's Shigeto Koyama Design Work on Display in Manhattan by Reuben Baron November 14, 2023
=== Interviews ===
* Ani-gamers
**Interview: Studio Trigger on Inferno Cop, Turning Girls, and Kill la Kill by David Estrella and Evan Minto July 9, 2015
* easternKicks 
** Shigeto Koyama Interview: “I can’t do much, and I’m not very good at actually animating characters” by Roxy Simons October 29, 2015
* Full Frontal
** MangaTokyo Exhibition Panel – Shigeto Koyama, Yoh Yoshinari & Tsuyoshi Kusano (December 9th 2018) by Dimitri Seraki April 11, 2021
*Japanator
**Anime Next '14: Studio Trigger by Jeff Chuang July 16, 2014 (Archived on June 19, 2014)
*old.gainax.fr
**Shigeto Koyama - Paris Manga 2012 by Otaking September 16, 2012 (Archived on April 27, 2015)
*Otaku Blend
** Exclusive: Studio TRIGGER Interview by Sean Cruz May 2, 2024 / Twitter link
*superadrianme
**INTERVIEW: SHIGETO KOYAMA TALKS ABOUT BAYMAX, GAINAX AND KILL LA KILL by Jessica Chan September 17, 2015
Category:Studio Trigger Staff