YUSKE FUKADA

Beyond JAPAN -Filmmaker- | [IMDB]

Yuske Fukada was born and raised in Uzumasa, Kyoto, known as the “Hollywood of Japan” for its two remaining samurai-period film studios. Growing up in this vibrant cinematic environment fueled his passion for filmmaking. Today, Fukada works as a director, producer, writer, and sound designer with a diverse portfolio spanning international and multicultural projects. He has contributed to productions like Netflix’s ULTIMATE BEASTMASTER and TOKYO OVERRIDE. His focus on telling stories of marginalized identities and outsiders has led him to collaborate on multinational projects.

From early on in his career, Fukada’s work has often explored characters who exist on the margins of traditional Japanese and Asian societies, with themes of identity and belonging. His short films, “The Last Dragon Lady and After Maiko”, reflect his interest in complex social identities and history, drawing on women’s experiences to examine cultural and societal boundaries. He is currently developing projects that explore the stories of Japanese immigrants and migrants worldwide, continuing his investigation of individuals navigating life between different identities.

One of his most innovative works, the sci-fi short “Perfect World,” is inspired by Fukada’s personal experience with disability. The film explores the morality of human selection in a dystopian future, using a unique blend of motion capture and 2D video to create a distinctive visual style. “Perfect World” was showcased internationally in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sydney, and Kyoto, receiving acclaim for its innovative use of visual effects and technology.

Fukada has worked on projects such as the Japanese TV documentary series JONETSU TAIRIKU as a producer/director and the feature documentary THE GAMBLE HOUSE as a sound designer. During this time, he also founded Composite Lab to expand his creative reach. His latest project, TOKYO OVERRIDE, is a sci-fi animated TV series set 100 years in the future in Tokyo, scheduled to stream worldwide on Netflix in 2024. Using an innovative development methodology called Worldbuilding, led by U.S.-based world designer Laura Cechanowicz of Golden Ticket Futures, Fukada brought together global talents from countries including Japan, the U.S., Thailand, China, Spain, Canada, Australia, Turkey, and others, with the goal of pushing the genre forward. He led the creative development of the series, overseeing script revisions and co-directing with Veerapatra Jinanavin of RiFF Studio. He also collaborated with world-leading designers from Yamaha and Honda to create realistic future mobility designs and worked with top talents in Japanese anime sound production for the Dolby ATMOS mix in Japan.

Fukada’s education reflects his deep commitment to art, technology, and identity. After studying film in Denmark and France, he earned an MFA from the University of Southern California and a PhD in Aesthetics from Kyoto University. His dissertation explored the concept of Guzen—a blend of chance and fate—in digital filmmaking, drawing on the ideas of philosophers like Shuzo Kuki and Gilles Deleuze. These experiences have given Fukada a global perspective, blending conceptual depth with technical innovation.

By using cutting-edge technology and cross-cultural narratives, Yuske Fukada continues to tell stories that challenge societal norms and expand our understanding of identity in a globalized world.