Atsushi Yasuoka Invades the World Today CGI is synonymous with TV and Cinema. The digital art form goes hand in hand with the big blockbusters of today, and you’d be hard-pressed to find even a small-scale series or film that does not feature it. As it becomes intrinsic in our entertainment, more and more creators are trying to truly bridge the gap between reality and fiction; a recent Japanese animator has made an additional step towards this with his work. His name is Atsushi Yasuoka. Yasuoka is a Japanese animator that provides us with nightmare fuel in his recent video, featuring some of his best work to date. Consisting of horrifically charming creatures and monstrosities, the CGI animator unleashes an invasion onto the streets of New York City, letting these hellish monsters walk among us. From a dragon flying through the sky to a gigantic skeleton-monster roaming the streets, each cast member in his short videos are always meticulously designed. Many of the creatures that are on show seem familiar in certain ways. There is a shark which bares an uncanny resemblance to the 90s nostalgia hit ‘Street Sharks’ and many of the more ominous creatures remind us of the ghastly incarnations in the Gantz live-action movie. Regardless, this isn’t a question of originality but rather a clear nod to popular pop culture inspirations. The digital creator not only blends his gruelling monsters with the backdrop of New York seamlessly but also features a certain camera and texture effects to further bring them to life. He mentions how he works primarily with 3D animation, texturing, and modelling programs such as Maya, Mudbox, ZBrush, and Ziva. With no information on Yasuoka creating a full film, we’d love to see how a full-fledged live-action picture could play out using his skills and otherworldly imaginative mind. His mix of From Software-esque aesthetics alongside the playfulness he provides would make for a complimentary mix of spine-curdling horror and charm. Only time will tell, but until then we can rewatch these clips over and over. #sabukaruonline