Cecil was born in Seoul, Korea where he spent most of his childhood and began taking basic art training at local atelier during school winter breaks, Cecil always liked painting watercolor still-life. While he was deciding whether he should study painting or engineering or history journalism, Cecil decided to move to US when he was 17. Kims family settled in Irvine where Cecil started to take art classes from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. After 2 years of exloring different avenues in art and design, Cecil got accepted into Art Center College of Design where he graduated with Honor in illustration with scholarship in 1996. First job was at Imaginary Forces where Cecil worked with Creative Directors to pitch film opening sequences and special FX imagery.
With a portfolio of production illustration and FX storyboards, Cecil started his first staff production job at SquareUSA in Marina Del Rey, California as a cinematic storyboard artist to work on Parasite Eve.
Parasite Eve team saw Cecil's potential in game level concept design, Cecil began sketching several game levels include NYPD HQ level. Towards the end of PE production, Cecil moved to Honolulu, Hawaii to join Final Fantasy IX team for 2 1/2 years where he created almost 150+ game level maps for the giant project includes memorable Lindblum Castle. Cecil returned to LA to join Sony Santa Monica Studio in 2000 where he worked on popular games such as Twisted Metal Black and God of War series. Cecil became a Visual Development Lead / Lead Concept Artist God of War III. In 2011, Cecil left Sony and started a company "Section Studios" with Justin Yun in Los Angeles. Section Studios now has a team of graphic designers, concept artists working on various projects include their first own IP.
In 2002, Nathan Ota introduced Cecil to Otis College of Art and Design to teach freehand perspective class. Cecil now focuses on developing Concept Art Track in Digital Media Dept where Cecil created a series of studio classes focusing on IP developing, character & environment design, storytelling and Thesis Classes for senior concept art majors. Cecil also teaches VisCom 6 at prestigious Art Center College of Design for Entertainment Design Program since spring 2011.
Seminars and workshops: China Game Developer Conference 2009, Shanghai and Red Engine School of Design 2010, Art Institute of Inland Empire 2009 and more.Cecil's artwork also can be seen in music industry on album covers of various musicians includes French heavy metal band "Dogoba"
In 2011 British Academy of Film and Television Arts awarded Cecil Kim and Sony Santa Monica Studio "Best Artistic Achievement" on God of War III.
Education
| 1996 |
Art Center College of Design |
BFA with Honor in Illustration |
Pasadena, California |
| 1992 |
Orange Coast College |
Art Program |
Costa Mesa, California |
| 1990 |
Gyeongseong High School |
|
Seoul Korea |
Work History
1996-1997
Imaginary Forces - Hollywood, California
| Truman Show |
FX Illustrator |
| Men in Black |
Title Sequence Storyboard Artist |
| Volcano |
Title Sequence FX Illustrator |
| Mask of Zoro |
FX Illustrator |
1997-2000
Square USA - Honolulu, Hawaii
| Parasite Eve |
Storyboard Artist / Concept Artist |
| Final Fantasy IX |
Concept Artist |
2000-Present
Sony Computer Entertainment America Santa Monica Studio - California
| Twisted Metal Black |
Concept Artist |
| Psycho 5-0 |
Lead Concept Artist |
| God of War I |
Senior Concept Artist |
| God of War II |
Concept Artist / Environment Lead Concept |
| God of War III |
Lead Concept Artist |
| Warhawk |
2005 |
| God of War PSP "Chains of Olympus" |
2007 |
Teaching History
2002-Present | Adjunct Professor Los Angeles
Otis College of Art and Design - California
| IP Visual Development |
| Visual Development for Animation |
| Senior Thesis for Concept Artists |
| Concept Art Workshop |
2011- Present | Instructor
Art Center College of Design - Pasadena, California
2010| Instructor
Gnomon School of Visual FX - Hollywood, California
Seminars
| China Game Developer Conference |
Shanghai China 2010 |
| China Game Outsourcing Conference |
Shanghai China 2010 |
| Dominance War III - 2008, Final Judge |
| Dominance War IV - 2009, Primary Judge |
| Seoul Institute of the Arts |
| Art Institute of Inland Empire |
Interview & Publication