GODTAIL, who’s been drawing since he can remember, established GODTAIL Co., Ltd., and now his work spans design, direction, editing, advertising, and even arcade cabinet design, truly making his presence felt. We’re bringing you a two-part interview looking back at his journey and 20 years in the industry, including his work as an “Official Marvel/DC Artist.”
B – Please tell us what led you to decide to become independent from the company.
GODTAIL – I felt like I was already doing most of it myself, and I had the know-how, and I had a sense of wanting to try various things. I also had the relationships from my previous company, and I had confidence. So, I thought I’d just try going independent, and even if it didn’t work out, I’d probably be able to get into some company somewhere.
B – When you started drawing as a hobby, and it began to turn into work, was there a change in your boundary or awareness regarding that?
GODTAIL – Of course, I felt that hobby art and work art were different, and there’s what you might call a “structure for selling.” I think there’s certainly a handful of people who can sell purely based on their skill, but I believe there’s something more to it than that. For example, if you get hired by a large company, the point is that you need to become known to the public and become popular to make a living. Whether you’re skilled or not, you first need to establish that. On top of that, I aimed to create original works, or things that no one else was doing but that people had seen before. You can’t just suddenly release your original character and expect it to sell. No one knows it. Whether it’s a script or a commercial, ultimately, there’s a system or process for making things popular. Of course, I think there are times when something spontaneously becomes popular because it’s good. However, things that are selling now usually have some kind of mechanism behind them. There’s an absolute force from someone or the power of a large company. It’s not about whether that’s good or bad, but those aspects definitely exist.
B – So, to some extent, you’re taking into account the trends and the industry atmosphere.
GODTAIL – I believe I always have to produce results. Of course, there are people who don’t care about such trends and consistently pursue their own art style, but that wasn’t my way of life.
B – Conversely, in order to be able to draw in various ways, you need to have your own techniques, or you won’t be able to ride the wave effectively, right?
GODTAIL – I don’t know if I can draw, but it feels like I’m working hard to survive because I’m not a genius.
B – Not a genius?
GODTAIL – No, not at all. Precisely because I’m the type who has to work harder than others, I’m always thinking about how to survive. I still run a company now, so I have to feed my employees.
B – For example, when you’re drawing, don’t you have your own ego, or a desire for certain things to be recognized?
GODTAIL – Of course, I want my original works to sell, and naturally, I want them to be a hit. But recent artists are really skilled, and I sometimes think they’re really talented.
B – To reach that way of thinking, did you experience any major specific setbacks? In a sense, did you give up on being a genius?
GODTAIL – I haven’t given up, but it’s hard to explain. There’s a line, or a slightly different atmosphere. There’s just something different. It’s just a matter of feeling.
B – But for you to even be able to understand that, it feels like you’d have to be at a pretty similar level yourself, otherwise you couldn’t even grasp it.
GODTAIL – That’s why you have to keep going, you know? Times change, so you have to adapt to that. Talented young people are constantly emerging. But does that mean you give up? No, not really. You have to adapt and adjust in your own way.
B – So, how does one get better at drawing?
GODTAIL – Hmm, I wonder. I’m still nowhere near perfect, but with a desire to improve, there’s no end in sight. That’s the thing with creation; there’s no real “finished.” New, talented kids are always popping up, and that keeps things exciting. There are so many amazing artists, no matter how much younger they are than me. That’s why I’m always drawing. Unless I’m on a trip or something, I’m pretty much always drawing. I’m lucky enough to get a steady stream of work, and I also want to draw my own original characters and illustrations. There isn’t a day that goes by when I’m not drawing.
B – Do you ever feel stressed or hit a wall?
GODTAIL – It’s become so natural that drawing is actually easier. It’s like I’ve gotten used to it.
B – You update your Instagram with your work pretty frequently, don’t you? Are you conscious of speed?
GODTAIL – Rather than consciously thinking about speed, I’m just uploading what I draw. My senior, who’s around 54, also uploads every day, so it feels pretty normal to me.
B – Your standards are very high, I guess.
GODTAIL – Because I’m not a genius, after all.
B – Nevertheless, you’ve been able to make a living from drawing for such a long time. Is there anything you’re conscious of to maintain your career long-term?
GODTAIL – I guess it’s the spirit of challenge. I think it’s a job where you have to constantly try new things with a desire for improvement. It’s an industry that’s constantly evolving, and AI, for example, is part of that.
B – Are there any people you look up to or have been influenced by?
GODTAIL – There are tons. When I was a kid, I loved Dragon Ball, so Akira Toriyama was a constant influence. But as I’ve gotten older, that includes young illustrators today, and even illustrators close to me or unknown ones – if they’re good, they’re good. My perspective has broadened, you could say. Everyone has their strong points, so there are always things I can learn from them.
B – What is a good piece of art to you, GODTAIL?
GODTAIL – A good piece of art, huh? There are some people who say, “I can’t draw.” Honestly, art that is drawn sincerely without cutting corners, or art that is drawn with enjoyment, is good. They say, “I can’t draw,” but for example, if they draw a giraffe, and they spend 5 or 6 hours drawing that giraffe wholeheartedly, I think that’s very good. I think that’s the fundamental aspect of art.
B – That’s certainly true. Not just in art, but in craftsmanship in general, there are those aspects.
GODTAIL – Of course, there’s also high technical skill. But it’s not just that. The essence of art isn’t about being able to draw or not being able to draw. Of course, there’s selling or not selling, and cool or not cool, but art itself, at its core, is about the deeper part of the heart. Whether it becomes a business or is commercial is a different story, but the heart, or how much effort that person put into it, is important, I think.
B – Finally, please tell us about your future goals and current ambitions.
GODTAIL – I’m already 50 years old. So, I think I have about less than 10 years left to work intensely, and within that time, I want to create an IP character. I want to release my own original character through my own company.
B – So, you still want to keep drawing until your limits.
GODTAIL – That’s right. But I think any artist would say that. I’ll probably die while drawing.
