December at Kokku – Experts, new leadership, and a Holiday special

Welcome to The Vault: Kokku's monthly newsletter! As we wrap up an incredible year, we're excited to share some of our most impactful moments and achievements from December. Dive in to discover inspiring stories, new initiatives, and a special treat created by our talented team!

Crafting excellence in every pixel

Our Assistant Art Director, Leonardo Menezes, dives into the intricate world of art direction and production pipelines in game development. In his article, Leonardo reveals how a seamless collaboration between artists and developers ensures the highest level of visual quality in games.

With examples from Kokku’s portfolio, he highlights our expertise in art production for AAA games and the sophisticated techniques we use to achieve excellence in every pixel.

Read the full article: https://kokkugames.com/crafting-excellence-in-every-pixelor-art-direction-and-production-pipelines-in-game-development/

Are you looking for a partner to bring your vision to life? Kokku is here to deliver outstanding art for your game! Get in touch with us!

Kokku Experts presents: Manoel Neto

Introducing Kokku Experts, our newest video series featuring Kokku’s talented specialists as they share insights into their careers and roles within the company.

The first episode spotlights Manoel Neto, our Chief Technology Officer, who brings nearly 23 years of experience in the gaming industry. From his beginnings as a developer to leading technical innovation at Kokku, Manoel’s story is both inspiring and insightful. He also shares how Kokku continues to push the boundaries of gaming through its technological expertise.

Watch the full interview with Manoel Neto here.

Celebrating gender equality in leadership

We’re proud to announce a major milestone in our commitment to diversity and inclusion: 50/50 gender parity in our leadership team.

This year, through internal promotions, we achieved an equal split of 50% women and 50% men among our Heads Team, a rare accomplishment in the gaming industry, where only 16% of leadership roles globally are held by women (Women in Tech, 2023).

Highlights of this achievement include:

• Mea Nilimaa, now Head of Business Development, who leads an all-women team and emphasizes the strength of inclusivity in driving innovation.
• Caroline Lara, our new Head of Production, who underscores the value of diverse perspectives in leadership.
• Luciana Cianci, Kokku’s Head of HR, who has been instrumental in fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring our values are reflected in our leadership.

"At Kokku, we’re not just talking about gender equality – we’re living it. Milestones like this inspire meaningful change in the gaming industry," says Mea.

This achievement reflects Kokku’s belief in promoting talent from within and creating an inclusive environment that empowers everyone to thrive.

Read the full story and learn about the journey to this milestone here.

Made in Kokku: a Holiday card like no other

This month, we’re excited to unveil a special edition of Made in Kokku, featuring the behind-the-scenes process of creating a unique Holiday Card crafted by our incredible team of artists.

With inspiration drawn from the tropical warmth of Recife, where our main office is located, the card captures the magic of a Brazilian Christmas and New Year. Here’s a sneak peek into the creative process:

• Stylized characters were brought to life using advanced 2D rendering and cel shading.
• The Christmas scene combined 3D techniques and photobashing to add depth and realism.
• For the New Year’s scene, digital painting and photobashing highlighted intricate details, such as fireworks and festive lights.

Watch the making-of video on Instagram!

But the final card is a surprise! Check it out and celebrate the holidays with us on LinkedIn.

It’s our way of celebrating the season and expressing gratitude for your support. We hope it brings you a little extra joy this holiday season!

Thank you for being part of our journey As we step into 2025, we’re excited to continue growing, innovating, and sharing our passion and excellence in game developing with you. Stay connected with us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content.

From all of us at Kokku, Happy Holidays and a fantastic New Year!

- The Kokku Team