The sky is the limit for Lemon Sky

We recently had the chance to speak with Ken Foong, Chief Creative Officer of Lemon Sky Studios, of the burgeoning animation studio in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian studio specializes in 3D character animation with a large list of clients who need high quality animation and CGI for both long and short content as well as games.

"We are a studio capable of adapting to a multitude of different artistic styles," says Foong. "As we deal with clients from all parts of the world, especially the US and Japan, it is vital to be versatile when it comes to the various directions they are trying to execute. From the very beginning, we have worked with clients from all over the world, including Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, Disney, Toei Animation, Nelvana and many more ".

Lemon Sky currently has a team of around 350 people working on both animation and game production. "From line producers to concept artists, 3D modelers, riggers, animators, VFX artists, lighting artists and technical artists, we have a team that specializes in every step of the animation production chain," notes Foong. “We use a wide variety of tools depending on the project and the scope of work required. Although software such as ZBrush, Maya, Houdini FX, Adobe, and real-time development platforms such as Unity and Unreal Engine are commonly used in the studio, we often also work with our clients' proprietary engines or development platforms to fulfill the client's mandate. "

The Nickelodeon connection

One of the studio's more recent projects is Nickelodeon's acclaimed preschool series Santiago of the seas. "Niki Lopez's vision for the animated series was something we were thrilled to bring to life," says Foong. “The stakes were even higher when we were hit by the global pandemic in the middle of production. The team, however, made us proud, managing to achieve remarkable results.

As Lopez points out, “When the pandemic hit, we were in the middle of producing the series and we weren't sure how much it would impact production. However, Lemon Sky Studios were ready to find solutions. I love the way they worked with us throughout the process. The culture within that studio is so collaborative and energetic. They have really increased the quality tenfold. "

Foong says the studio is also working on an animated comedy series for Netflix using the Unreal Engine. "We have to play with yet another art animation style," he says. "We look forward to working with DreamWorks on one of our most current projects."

According to the CCO, Lemon Sky is a studio that provides services not only to the animation industry but also to the video game world. “We are honored to be able to work with big names in both sectors. It is an extremely fortunate position where we can flex our creative muscles and work on projects that cover all aspects of the creative industry. In addition to this, we have developed our own intellectual property and are working to develop our games as well. "

AstroLOLogy

Good signs

One of the studio's new original shows is AstroLOLogy, a series developed by Lemon Sky Development (LSD), a division that was started to act as an incubator for new and exciting IP ideas. Foong explains: “After going through hundreds of ideas during our first launch session, we are finally here AstroLOLogy. We noticed a gap in zodiac-inspired content and decided to give it a try. This 288 x two-minute series is a slapstick, dialogue-free comedy that allows us to tap into the distinct characteristics of each sign.

Since its launch on YouTube, AstroLOLogy has amassed 400 million views, reaching audiences around the world. "We are delighted to announce that we are close to reaching one million subscribers," says Foong. "LSD actively compiles and evaluates ideas for new IPs, and we have more in the pipeline for development."

So who is the perfect match for Lemon Sky? Foong replies: “I guess we're looking for partners who have the right chemistry, if I may call it that. Of course, we want partners who are open to ideas, appreciate art and can communicate well with us. Also, we look for partners who can challenge us to be better. Let us try new artistic styles and work together do good art! "

Being one of the pioneers in the animation industry, Lemon Sky has seen remarkable growth in the industry over the past two decades. "Laying the foundation is no easy feat," says Foong. “Along the way we have certainly encountered obstacles that we had to overcome and we have seen many other studios close along the way. Twenty years later, we are grateful that we have come this far. It is wonderful to see so many passionate people in the industry who are working hard to make the industry stronger and better. Even though we have come a long way, we still have miles to go. "

For more information, visit www.lemonskystudios.com

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