Difference between revisions of "Yuji Uekawa"

Latest revision as of 14:08, 2 June 2024

Yuji Uekawa

Employment history: Sega Enterprises (1992^[1] – ) Divisions: Sega CS1 Sega CS3 Sega Software R&D Dept. 8 Sonic Team Sega Divisions: Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 1 Sega CS2 Sega Games Sega
Role(s): Artist, Designer

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Yuji Uekawa's (上川祐司) first major project was cult favorite Ristar, a character of his own design. His first Sonic title was the Saturn version of Sonic 3D Blast, where he was a Special Stage artist. Since Sonic R, he's been the main series character designer. His hip, stylized drawings gave Sonic an entirely new visual personality in Sonic Adventure, and he's since loaned his talents to a number of Sonic Team titles, including Samba de Amigo and Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg.

Production history

Games

(; 1992) — Also Thanks to^[3] (as Kamikawa)
(; 1995) — Character Designer^[4]
(; 1995) — キャラクター制作^[5] (as 上川祐司)
(; 1995) — Character Production^[6]
(; 1995) — Character Design (as Uekawa Yuji)
(; 1996) — グラフィックデザイナー^[7] (as 上川祐司)
(; 1997) — Artists^[8]
(; 1997) — Character Designer^[9]
(; 1998) — Character designer
(; 1998) — Character designers
(; 1998) — Character designer
(; 1998) — Character motion designers
(; 1996) — Artists (SOJ)^[10]
(; 1999) — Art Director
(; 1999) — Character Designer
(; 2000) — Character Designer
(; 2000) — Character Designer
(; 2000) — Character Designer
(; 2001) — Art Director^[11]
(; 2001) — Player Character Designers
(; 2001) — Product Support
(; 2001) — Art Director
(; 2001) — Art Director^[12]
(; 2002) — Illustration^[13]
(; 2002) — Art Director^[14]
(; 2003) — Art Director
(; 2003) — Lead Character Designer
(; 2003) — Lead Visual Artist
(; 2003) — Art Director
(; 2003) — Art Director
(; 2003) — Character Coordinator
(; 2003) — Art Director
(; 2003) — Design Coordinator^[15]
(; 2004) — Art Director
(; 2004) — Art Director
(; 2004) — Art Director
(; 2004) — Art Director^[16]
(; 2004) — Art Director^[17]
(; 2004) — Art Director
(; 2004) — Special Thanks
(; 2004) — Illustrator
(; 2004) — Illustrator
(; 2004) — Manager
(; 2004) — Art Director
(; 2005) — Illustrator
(; 2005) — Illustrator
(; 2005) — Art Director
(; 2005) — Artwork Section Manager
(; 2005) — Special Thanks
(; 2005) — Special Thanks
(; 2005) — Special Thanks
(; 2006) — Character Art Director
(; 2006) — Character Art Director
(; 2006) — Character Art Director
(; 2006) — Character Art Director
(; 2006) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2006) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2006) — Illustrator
(; 2007) — Promotional Visuals
(; 2007) — Art Director
(; 2007) — Sonic Family Character Supervisors
(; 2008) — Sonic Family Character Supervisors
(; 2008) — Supervisors (Original Games)
(; 2008) —
(; 2008) —
(; 2008) — GE1
(; 2008) — Promotional Visuals
(; 2008) — ミスティッカー制作協力 (as 上川祐司)
(; 2009) — Cut Scene Artists
(; 2009) — Promotional Visuals
(; 2009) — Sonic Family Character Supervisors
(; 2009) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2010) — CS2 R&D
(; 2010) — CS2 R&D
(; 2010) — CS2 R&D
(; 2010) — Artists
(; 2010) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2010) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2011) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2011) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2011) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2011) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2011) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2011) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2012) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2012) — Character Artist
(; 2013) — Special Thanks
(; 2013) — Sonic Character Supervisor
(; 2013) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2014) — スペシャルサンクス (as 上川祐司)
(; 2014) — Supervisors (Original Games)
(; 2014) — スペシャルサンクス (as 上川祐司)
(; 2014) — Supervisors (Original Games)
(; 2014) — Character Supervisors
(; 2014) — Character Supervisors
(; 2015) — Special Thanks
(; 2016) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2016) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2016) — Character Supervisors
(; 2018) — Special Thanks
(; 2018) — Special Thanks
(; 2018) — Special Thanks
(; 2018) — ChuChu Rocket
(; 2018) — Sonic the Hedgehog
(; 2018) —
(; 2019) — Sonic Character Supervisor
(; 2019) — Character Supervision
(; 2019) — Development Support
(; 2020) — Special Thanks
(; 2020) — Character Supervisors
(; 2020) — Character Supervisors
(; 2021) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2021) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2021) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2021) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2021) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2021) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2021) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2021) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2022) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2022) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2022) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2022) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2023) — Publicity Artwork
(; 2023) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2023) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2023) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2023) — Sonic Characters Supervisors
(; 2023) — Sonic Characters Supervisors
(; 2023) — Sonic Characters Supervisors
(; 2023) — Sonic Characters Supervisors
(; 2024) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2024) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2024) — Sonic Character Supervisors
(; 2024) — Sonic Character Supervisors

Music

(; 1998) — Special Thanks
(; 1999) — CG Illustration^[18]
(; 2000) — Art Direction/Character Design
(; 2003) — Cover Art
(; 2004) — キャラクター原案^[19] (as 上川祐司)
(; 2005) — Art Director
(; 2007) — Special Thanks to^[20]
(; 2007) — Cover Art^[21]
(; 2007) — Art Director^[22]
(; 2009) — Artworks^[23]
(; 2011) — Artworks^[24]
(; 2014) — Artworks
(; 2014) — Cover Art & Artworks
(; 2016) — Artwork^[25]
(; 2019) — Special Thanks^[26]
(; 2020) — Illustrator
(; 2021) — Character Supervisor
(; 2022) — Illustration
(; 2022) — Character Supervisor
(; 2023) — Character Supervisor

Sonic X (2003) — Original Character Design
Sonic Boom (2014) — Sonic Character & Universe Supervision

Magazine covers

Print advert in (JP) #1998-25: "1998-25 (1998-09-11,18)" (1998-08-28)

Print advert in (JP) #1998-01: "1998-01 (1998-11-20)" (1998-11-06)

Print advert in (JP) #1999-01: "1999-01 (1999-01-01)" (1998-12-18)

Interviews

Some or all of the following content should be mirrored on Sega Retro (or Retro CDN).

Yuji Uekawa interview by Sonic Channel (April 3, 2006) [Translated]

Photographs

Main article: Photos of Yuji Uekawa

References

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20230324000310.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fwww.ndw.jp.2Fsonic25th-interview01.2F-1] ttps://www.ndw.jp/sonic25th-interview01/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-03-24 00:03)

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F2.2Fhttps:.2F.2Ftwitter.com.2FSiFi_TZK.2Fstatus.2F1650138242291990529-2] @SiFi_TZK on Twitter (Wayback Machine: 2-- :)

[:File:Bio-Hazard_Battle_MD_credits.pdf_p-3] File:Bio-Hazard Battle MD credits.pdf

[:File:Ristar_MD_credits.pdf_p-4] File:Ristar MD credits.pdf

[:File:Kisuishou_Densetsu_Astal_Saturn_credits.pdf_p-5] File:Kisuishou Densetsu Astal Saturn credits.pdf

[:File:Astal_Saturn_US_credits.pdf_p-6] File:Astal Saturn US credits.pdf

[:File:Sakura_Taisen_Saturn_credits.pdf_p-7] File:Sakura Taisen Saturn credits.pdf

[:File:Sonic_Jam_Saturn_credits.pdf_p-8] File:Sonic Jam Saturn credits.pdf

[:File:Sonic_R_Saturn_credits.pdf_p-9] File:Sonic R Saturn credits.pdf

[:File:Sonic_3D_Blast_Saturn_credits.pdf_p-10] File:Sonic 3D Blast Saturn credits.pdf

[:File:ChuChu_Rocket.21_GBA_credits.pdf_p-11] File:ChuChu Rocket! GBA credits.pdf

[:File:Sonic_Advance_GBA_credits.pdf_p-12] File:Sonic Advance GBA credits.pdf

[:File:SonicMegaCollection_GC_US_Credits.pdf_p-13] File:SonicMegaCollection GC US Credits.pdf

[:File:Sonic_Advance_2_GBA_credits.pdf_p-14] File:Sonic Advance 2 GBA credits.pdf

[:File:Sonic_Battle_GBA_credits.pdf_p-15] File:Sonic Battle GBA credits.pdf

[:File:Sonic_Advance_3_GBA_credits.pdf_p-16] File:Sonic Advance 3 GBA credits.pdf

[:File:Puyo_Puyo_Fever_GBA_credits.pdf_p-17] File:Puyo Puyo Fever GBA credits.pdf

[:File:SADLCOST_CD_JP_booklet1.pdf_p2-18] File:SADLCOST CD JP booklet1.pdf, page 2

[:File:SonicXOST_CD_JP_booklet.pdf_p3-19] File:SonicXOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 3

[:File:SeveralWIlls_CD_JP_booklet.pdf_p15-20] File:SeveralWIlls CD JP booklet.pdf, page 15

[:File:StHOST_CD_JP_booklet.pdf_p6-21] File:StHOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 6

[:File:SRAOST_CD_JP_booklet.pdf_p3-22] File:SRAOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 3

[:File:TrueColorsTray.jpg_p-23] File:TrueColorsTray.jpg

[:File:SonicCD_OST_Tray.jpg_p-24] File:SonicCD OST Tray.jpg

[:File:SonicAdventureMusicExperience_CD_JP_Box_Tokyo.jpg_p-25] File:SonicAdventureMusicExperience CD JP Box Tokyo.jpg

[:File:MaximumOverdrive_CD_JP_inlay_front.jpg_p-26] File:MaximumOverdrive CD JP inlay front.jpg

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{PersonBob
-| image=Uekawa.jpg
+| image=YujiUekawa.png
 | birthplace=
 | dob=
 | dod=
-| company=
+| employment={{Employment
+| company=[[Sega Enterprises, Ltd.|Sega Enterprises]]
+| start=1992{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230324000310/https://www.ndw.jp/sonic25th-interview01/}}
+| divisions=[[Sega CS1]],{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://twitter.com/SiFi_TZK/status/1650138242291990529}} [[Sega CS3 (1996-1999)|Sega CS3]], [[Sega Software R&D Dept. 8]]}}
+{{Employment
+| company=[[Sonic Team (company)|Sonic Team]]
+}}
+{{Employment
+| company=[[Sega Corporation (2000-2015)|Sega]]
+| divisions=[[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 1]], [[Sega CS2 (2008-current)|Sega CS2]]
+}}
+{{Employment
+| company=[[Sega Games]]
+| divisions=
+}}
+{{Employment
+| company=[[Sega Corporation (2020)|Sega]]
+| divisions=
+}}
 | role=Artist, Designer
 | education=
@@ Line 11: / Line 29: @@
 ==Production history==
-{{multicol|
+{{ProductionHistory|Yuji Uekawa|Uekawa Yuji|Kamikawa|上川 祐司}}
-* ''[[Ristar]]'' (1995) — Character Designer
-* ''[[Astal]]'' (1995) — Character Production
+[[Category:Use ProductionHistory template]]
-* ''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'' (1996) — Artist
+* ''[[Sonic X]]'' (2003) — Original Character Design
-* ''[[Sonic Jam]]'' (1997) — Artist
-* ''[[Sonic R]]'' (Saturn version) (1997) — Character Designer (Sega Enterprises Ltd.)
-* ''[[Sonic R]]'' (PC version) (1998) — Character designer (Sega Enterprises Ltd.) (Sega)
-* ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998) — Character designer, Character motion designer, "Chaos" character designer
-* ''[[ChuChu Rocket!]]'' (Dreamcast version) (1999) — Art Director
-* ''[[ChuChu Rocket!]]'' (GBA version) (2001) — Art Director (Design), Art Director (Design) (Original Staff)
-* ''[[Sonic Shuffle]]'' (2000) — Supervisor (Sonic Team)
-* ''[[Samba de Amigo]]'' (2000) — Character Designer
-* ''[[Samba de Amigo Ver. 2000]]'' (2000) — Character Designer
-* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' (2001) — Player Character Designer, Product Support
-* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' (2001) — Player Character Designer, Product Support
-* ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' (2001) — Art Director
-* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' (2002) — Illustration (Compiled Under The Supervision of SONICTEAM, LTD.)
-* ''[[Sonic Advance 2]]'' (2002) — Art Director
-* ''[[Sonic Pinball Party]]'' (2003) — Art Director
-* ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' (2003) — Art Director (Sonic Adventure DX Staff), Lead Character Designer (Sonic Adventure DX Staff), Lead Visual Artist (Sonic Adventure DX Staff), Character Designer (Sonic Adventure Original Staff), Character Motion Designer (Sonic Adventure Original Staff), "Chaos" Character Designer (Sonic Adventure Original Staff)
-* ''[[Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg]]'' (2003) — Character Coordinator
-* ''[[Sonic Battle]]'' (2003) — Design Coordinator
-* ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'' (2003) — Menu Screen Artist, Product Support
-* ''[[Sonic Advance 3]]'' (2004) — Art Director
-* ''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]'' (GBA version) (2004) — Art Director
-* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' (2004) — Illustrator (Sega Corporation)
-* ''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'' (2005) — Illustrator (Sega Corporation)
-* ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' (2005) — Special Thanks
-* ''[[Sonic Rush]]'' (2005) — Art Director
-* ''[[Sonic Riders]]'' (2006) — Character Art Director
-* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (2006) — Publicity Artwork
-* ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' (2007) — Promotional Visuals
-* ''[[Sonic Rush Adventure]]'' (2007) — Art Director
-* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' (2007) — Sonic Family Character Supervisor
-* ''[[The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return]]'' (2007) — Promotional Visuals
-* ''[[Sega Superstars Tennis]]'' (2008) — Special Thanks
-* ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' (Xbox 360 & PS3 versions) (2008) — Publicity Artwork
-* ''[[Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' (2009) — Cut Scene Artist, Promotional Visuals
-* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'' (2009) — Sonic Family Character Supervisor
-* ''[[Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]'' (2010) — CS2 R&D (Sega Japan)
-* ''[[Sonic Free Riders]]'' (2010) — Scenario Supervisor, Sonic Character Supervisor
-* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I]]'' (2010) — Artist
-* ''[[Sonic Colors]]'' (2010) — Sonic Character Supervisor (Sega)
-* ''[[Sonic Generations]]'' (2011) — Sonic Character Supervisor (Sega)
-* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]'' (2011/2012) — Sonic Character Supervisor
-* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II]]'' (2012) — Character Artist
-* ''[[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]]'' (2012) — CS2 R&D (Sega Corporation)
-* ''[[Sonic Lost World]]'' (2013) — Sonic Character Supervisor
-* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]'' (2013) — Sonic Character Supervisor (Sega Development Team)
-* ''[[sonic:Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS|Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' (2014) — Supervisor (Original Games)
 * ''[[sonic:Sonic Boom (TV series)|Sonic Boom]]'' (2014) — Sonic Character & Universe Supervision
-* ''[[Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric]]'' (2014) — Character Supervisor (Sonic Team) (Sega of Japan) (Sega)
-* ''[[Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal]]'' (2014) — Character Supervisor (Sega of Japan CS2) (Sega of Japan)
+==Magazine covers==
-* ''[[sonic:Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' (2014) — Supervisor (Original Games)
+{{gallery
-* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]'' (2016) — Sonic Character Supervisor (Sega Games Development Team)
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|ssmjp|1998-25|01
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|dmjp|1998-01|01
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|dmjp|1999-01|01
+}}
 }}
-[[Category:Sega of Japan employees]]
+==Interviews==
+{{mirror}}
+[http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannelOld/creators/001/index.html Yuji Uekawa interview by Sonic Channel (April 3, 2006)] [[https://browniehideout.wordpress.com/2022/07/06/creators-interview-001-uekawa-yuuji/ Translated]]
+==Photographs==
+:''Main article: [[:Category:Photos of {{PAGENAME}}|Photos of {{PAGENAME}}]]
+==References==
+<references/>
 [[Category:Lead Artists]]