Unboxing Luisa Guimarães - Interview

Influenced by animation movies, she chose her academia accordingly. With a Bachelor's in Multimedia Art and embarking on her Master's venture in Animation, Luísa Guimarães is feeling the challenges of the pixel art aesthetic at Cereal Games. The Sims? Inevitable, she says, all the while declaring her deep admiration for the artists Hayao Miyazaki and Michael Dudok.

A Bachelor’s in Multimedia Art and now you’re fixing to finish your Master's in Animation. Did video games influence, in any way, your academic choices?

To be honest, no. I’ve always been fascinated by some games like Ori and the Blind Forest, but it was animation movies that really influenced my academic choices.

Who are your favorite artists?

My favourite artists are Hayao Miyazaki and Michael Dudok de Wit. Hayao Miyazaki is, in my opinion, the best animator of today's age. The first movie of his I saw was Princess Mononoke, when I was 8 years old, and since then I was fascinated by his art and stories. He's my biggest inspiration without a doubt and one of the incentives that made me undertake my Master's in Animation...

...What about Michael Dudok?

I've discovered Michael Dudok de Wit recently, while attending a Master's class. We saw a short of his titled "Father and Daughter" that quickly moved the entire class. Even more recently I had the chance to wathc "The Red Turtle", his movie done in partnership with Studio Ghibli. Mickael has a very characteristic style, but it is his storytelling ability that fascinates me the msot about his work.

"Pixel Art is, in fact, a style that at first sight seems simple, but has a lot of science behind it. Every pixel counts and you just need one of them in the wrong place to see a character or prop in a completely different light"

Pixel Art was the challenge that was thrown at you by Cereal Games. How have you been handling the aesthetic? Do you feel comfortable?

Pixel Art is, in fact, a style that at first sight seems simple, but has a lot of science behind it. Every pixel counts and you just need one of them in the wrong place to see a character or prop in a completely different light. I’m really enjoying my time learning and I feel that over time I get more and more comfortable with this style.

We can’t talk about the projects you’ve been involved in, due to their super-hyper- mega confidential nature. Let’s talk about the future instead: what different kind of art would you like to work on?

I’ve worked with 2D but I haven’t had the chance to work in 3D animation, and that is a style I’m very much curious about developing.

"The videogame industry has always been seen as an area more directed to men (...) but I believe we are headed in a good path so that more women leave their mark on this industry"

For several times, it is the masculine environment that reigns at the studio (we’re still more men than women at Cereal). I’m interested to know how do you secretly see and interpret that reality… Is it like going to the zoo to admire the primates?

The videogame industry has always been seen as an area more directed to men, be it to those who play, or those that work on the field, but I believe we are headed in a good path so that more women leave their mark on this industry.

Ooga-booga… Here’s a classic question: what game are you playing right now? That game that will affect all your set schedule towards completing your Master’s calmly and with no stress?

When it comes to games I usually stick to the classics. The Sims is a timeless game that helps me relax during the more stressful periods.

...And what’s the game you can’t resist to come back to? The Sims still?

The Sims is definitely the game I always come back to. I never tire of it and I really lose the perception of time when I play it.

Sul Sul! If you were your own Sims character, how would you develop? Like, what area would you pursue?

Whenever I play The Sims, I always choose areas I can see myself in, in real life. I always start from scratch and try that my Sim always achieves his goals through effort and no cheats. When the time comes to choose a profession, I usually choose the artistic path, entertainment or something in the area of conservation.

Game art is your present. How much do you want it to be your future too?

Right now I’m really enjoying learning things in this area. I can see myself in the future working on the animation aspect in the same way, and who know, learn a new style. It will always depend of the opportunities that come up in the meantime ? .