Leading the Next Generation: Why Ikaros Chose KarismaCG for Creative Excellence
Founded in November 1947, Ikaros Co., Ltd. is a long-standing media production.
Kazuhiro Kawajiri discusses the company’s journey from selecting KarismaCG to its full-scale implementation.
Ikaros Co., Ltd.
- Industry: Media & Post-Production
- Founded: November 1947
System Implemented
2 Units of KarismaCG L500
Reasons for Adoption
The decision to update our character generator was triggered by the sudden announcement of the discontinuation of sales and support for DEKO. After evaluating several systems, we chose KarismaCG based on the following three points:
- "DEKO + α": We prioritized "DEKO + α" to boost the motivation of our production team. There was a sense within the company that DEKO had been used to its full potential over a long period. We sought a professional, state-of-the-art tool for the critical process of telop insertion. We weren't satisfied with minor improvements to DEKO; we wanted a next-level graphics solution. While we could not compromise on the speed and expressive capabilities of DEKO, KarismaCG met our needs perfectly—maintaining DEKO's speed while enabling higher-level 3D and animation without rendering.
- Investment Cost: Guided by our corporate culture of "adopting what is good," we evaluated the investment cost not just for the unit itself, but for the entire system. KarismaCG handles motion, effects, and DVE, eliminating the need for expensive switchers. A configuration with KarismaCG and an affordable switcher can outperform a DEKO system with a high-end switcher. Consequently, the total cost was lower, and KarismaCG was the superior choice from an investment
- Future Workflow: We knew that linear workflows would eventually decline as NLE (Non-Linear Editing) becomes standard. We didn't want a short-term "DEKO replacement." We wanted a tool we could use for a long time, just as we did with DEKO. KarismaCG convinced us with its forward-looking, rendering-free workflows like "NPS (NLE Integration)" and "Hybrid Editing." We are excited to test these in the field as soon as possible.
Experience After Implementation
Using KarismaCG brings a sense of excitement and zero stress regarding speed, allowing the team to enjoy a new creative experience. Operators exchange information about functions and techniques during breaks or handovers to share knowledge internally. The “smoothness” of the 3D features and the ease of creating beautiful graphics are unprecedented. The operation is very intuitive. It took about one month for dedicated users to reach DEKO-level speed and proficiency, and two months for those not using it daily. Mastering most functions, including 3D, took about 2 to 3 months. Currently, six staff members are proficient in KarismaCG.
Future Challenges and Outlook
- Role Distribution: We are discussing how to efficiently allocate tasks between assistants and editors. Since KarismaCG can handle everything from design to animation, we are exploring whether to train more "all-around" masters or expand the assistant's role by utilizing pre-configured animations.
- Transition to NLE: With more programs moving toward tapeless production, we demand a stable and user-friendly NLE+KarismaCG workflow. We have high expectations for VRi in this area.
- Expansion Plans: Currently, training is limited by the number of units in the editing suites. We plan to add two more units this term to level up our staff's skills and standardize technical proficiency across the team.
Expectations for KarismaCG
We hope KarismaCG becomes the next industry standard, just as DEKO once was. We want the entire industry to thrive through the high creativity that KarismaCG enables. Since post-production often involves collaboration with other companies, we would love to see KarismaCG adopted by everyone in the industry.