TAKUYA SUZUKI

Author, Writer, Director

Takuya graduated from the University of Melbourne (Victorian College of the Arts) in 2013 with a PhD in Film and Television (Animation).

From 2004 to 2008, he worked as a designer and animator for Stargate Systems Co., a Japanese company based in Osaka. During this time, he produced and developed several websites for their clients, incorporating Flash animation and sound design. Since 2009, he has been freelancing in the fields of web design and music videos. His projects include the official website for a Japanese rock band (2010–2011) and their music videos Phoenix (2010) and Castle in the Sky (2010), among others.

While studying animation at the Victorian College of the Arts in Australia, he received the Best Postgraduate Diploma Animation Award from Film Victoria and the Best Script Award from Animal Logic for his short animated film Winter Peony (2007). The following year, his film Shizuku (2008) was nominated for Kodak’s Best Cinematography Award. Upon completing his studies in Australia, he was awarded a PhD in Film and Television (Animation) from the University of Melbourne.

Takuya’s recent work includes independent animation production for collaborative art projects initiated after the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan. He has worked with various creative professionals, including Japanese calligrapher Shingo Nozao and contemporary artist Hiroko Saigusa. These collaborations have included projection mapping performances held at Saitama Hall (2018) in Japan and ARTIFACT Gallery in New York (2019).

He has participated in all stages of animated film production, including scriptwriting, production research, animation, cinematography, and sound design. He has also collaborated with fellow artists from the Victorian College of the Arts to create experimental animations, some of which have been exhibited at MIAF, ACMI, NGV, Federation Square, the State Library of Victoria, and Tokyo University of the Arts.

www.takuyas.com (Concept Artist）/ www.takuya-suzuki.com（Videographer）
www.imaginary-time.com (Production Diary）

SHO SAKAI

Composer, Recording and Mix Engineer

Sho is a composer, vocalist, recording and mastering engineer, sound editor, visual merchandiser, and tea advisor.

At the age of 15, he left his parents' home with only a guitar, after his father refused to support his dream of becoming a musician. As a result, he became homeless.

For an entire year, he performed music and sang on the streets to earn enough for a day’s meal. During this period, passersby began calling him “God,” a label he found deeply uncomfortable and shameful.

After this period of hardship, opportunities began to arise. He was asked to fill in as a vocalist for bands that had last-minute cancellations before performances. While also working as a recording assistant, he gradually rebuilt his life and was able to leave homelessness behind after a year and a half. He later became a student of a professional Japanese vocalist, where he studied vocal performance, bass guitar, piano, music theory, acoustics, and music therapy.

At 20, he returned to his family home for the first time in five years due to illness, which forced him to temporarily pause his musical activities. During his recovery, he conducted personal research into the effects and potential of sound—its influence on the human body, sense of time, emotions, and environment—eventually leading him to pursue a new musical direction.

He developed a rhythm-adjustment methodology by reinterpreting dodecaphonism (twelve-tone technique) as a concept of time, and from this, established a musical theory based on “homogenized time.”

His passion for music has extended beyond composition. Today, he continues to explore a wide range of disciplines within the field of sound and music, seeking new intersections and forms of expression.

ex001 (work sample from ex series）

Our vision is to create a unique coworking space that blends the atmosphere of a café with the lush serenity of a botanical garden. Inspired by the world of our animated series, the space will seamlessly integrate virtual elements to immerse visitors in a creative, story-driven environment.

This space will serve as a hub for creators to engage in a variety of artistic pursuits—ranging from personal projects and small business activities to broadcasting, exhibitions, installations, and performances.

One of the key features will be access to high-quality coffee sourced from Melbourne, Australia. The facility will also offer a fully equipped gallery, a creative laboratory, and professional tools including video cameras, a render farm, 3D printers, and high-performance computers. Additionally, a live show will take place throughout the café and garden once a week, transforming the entire space into an interactive experience.

A portion of the budget to establish this café and garden will be funded through sales of character merchandise from our animation series.