Hideo Kojima is unrecognizable as a police officer in a Japanese series: they had to use CGI to make him look older

Hideo Kojima’s passion for movies and TV shows is well known, to the point that the creator of Metal Gear and Death Stranding didn’t hesitate to accept a small role in the popular Japanese series ‘Vivant’. However, the most striking aspect of his appearance wasn’t the cameo itself, but rather that the production team digitally altered his face using CGI to make him look older and better suit the character, resulting in a practically unrecognizable look.

The unusual reason why a Japanese series used CGI to alter Hideo Kojima’s face

Hideo Kojima has been demonstrating for decades that his great passion isn’t limited to the world of video games: although he’s considered one of the most influential designers in history thanks to franchises like Metal Gear and Death Stranding, the Japanese creator has always acknowledged that much of his narrative style and his unique approach to directing scenes stem from his love of film and television series. It’s no coincidence that his works stand out for their meticulous staging, extended cinematic sequences, and a visual language much closer to that of a Hollywood blockbuster than to that of a conventional video game.

His fascination with the film and television industry has also led him to step in front of the cameras on more than one occasion. Over the years, he has made small cameo appearances in productions such as Nicolas Winding Refn’s 'Too Old to Die Young,' and he has now added a new appearance to his acting resume with a brief role in ‘Vivant’, a popular Japanese spy and suspense series that follows an employee of a large corporation whose investigation into a financial error ends up uncovering an international conspiracy with political, military, and terrorist implications.

However, the most striking aspect of the cameo wasn’t his role itself, but rather the digital transformation he underwent. Kojima himself explained the situation on his X account: “I made a cameo appearance in episode 11 of TBS Sunday Theater ‘VIVANT.’ I took off my glasses, slicked my hair back, put on the costume, and gave it a shot, but as the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, it was deemed ‘too young’ and ‘no precedent for a bearded one,’ so it was adjusted with CG. Try looking for it.” In other words: the show’s producers used CGI to digitally remove his beard and slightly age his appearance, making the Japanese creator look convincing as a high-ranking police official… but also making him look like a completely different person.

Given Hideo Kojima’s close connection to the world of cinema, it wouldn’t be surprising if this cameo weren’t the last of his acting career. That said, after seeing just how much CGI can completely transform his appearance, next time it’s possible that more than one viewer might overlook his appearance without even suspecting that the creator of Solid Snake himself is right before their eyes.

Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!