Independent Graphic Designer Creates Mind-blowing Animations

Malaysian graphic designer, Michael Lim Chung Leong has created some of the most captivating animations using meticulous frame-by-frame hand-drawn techniques. With huge clients like Hermès, Adult Swim, LEGO and NewJeans, the independent 2D animator has established his own studio, Space Dawg at just 28 years old.

“During one of my semesters in college, I attended an animation class. After drawing each frame then hitting the play button, it brought me so much satisfaction because I realised it could bring my drawings to life,” Michael shared when he realised the start of his love for animation. From that moment on, he began creating extraordinary animations for brands and products in his assignments.

“In my college years, I have always admired the students who won awards. I told myself I too must be an award winner in the future.”

A Graphic Design degree graduate from The One Academy, he started making a name for himself while still in college. As part of his education, Michael submitted his projects in several competitions and won the Kancil Awards for Student of the Year and Taiwan International Student Design Competition before moving on to win professional-level awards such as the D&AD Award (UK) and New York Art Directors Club (ADC) Award. He believes that entering competitions is a great way for designers to showcase their artworks to professional creatives around the world and build their clients’ trust.

His unique yet retro style animations are oddly satisfying from start to finish. Enthralled by the gesture lines of each character, seamless transitions and vibrant colours, Michael has also won the hearts of the public with over 200K followers on his Instagram (@space.dawg)

“I didn’t even know who the K-pop girl group ‘NewJeans’ was when their music video director first messaged me on Instagram, so I just ignored it.”

Little did Michael know that the famous girl group would soon feature three of his animations in their Hype Boy music video. It wasn’t until the director followed up with an email that he decided to take on the job. As he worked on the first animation sequence, they requested a second—then loved it so much that he ended up creating a third. Michael’s social media played a huge role in getting him an opportunity that resulted in his work reaching a global audience. It proved the power of social media in connecting artists with major industry players.

“Having Hermès as a client is my proudest moment. I received an email from them asking me to create a series of animations for their audience.”

Apart from working with Hermès, the renowned French luxury fashion brand, Michael's dream came true when he collaborated with Adult Swim, the American adult-oriented television programme segment, on a project centered around the theme of ‘farts’. It was an exciting creative artwork that follows SpaceDawg, a character that experiences the power of fart which sends him on an intergalactic space journey. Upon sending drafts to them for their review, both clients immediately gave him the green light to proceed with barely any setbacks.

“I remember loving to recreate Doraemon comics with my own stories. When animating, I feel the same joy and excitement I did as a kid, drawing for hours."

From a young age, hobbies like this sparked Michael’s passion for crafting unique narratives and exploring different perspectives. It wasn’t just his love for drawing but also storytelling that naturally led him to the art of hand-drawn animation. What began as simple sketches of a beloved cartoon gradually evolved into original, compelling works of art.

“Despite many people saying that The One Academy has a lot of assignments and can be stressful, I enjoyed the stress because it pushed me to deliver my work on time with the best quality. I always believe stress in college is different from the pressure faced in the working environment.”

He goes on to explain how his years of college study helped him develop the skills and mindset needed to work independently. As a freelance 2D animator, Michael shared his struggle with patience, as each animation sequence requires hundreds—sometimes thousands of detailed hand-drawn frames and if along the way he thinks of a better idea, he has to delete hundreds of frames and start all over again.

“My advice to aspiring designers is to explore a variety of things in life to gather as much knowledge and experience. When you create, your brain draws on memories and that helps you generate new ideas based on your visual vocabulary.”

Now a successful creative designer, Michael Lim works from the comfort of his home, collaborating with clients from around the world on exciting new projects. He serves as an inspiration for young designers today, proving that with a strong foundation and the right skills, they too can build a thriving creative career through social media, websites, and digital platforms. As the creative industry evolves, so does the opportunities for designers to establish themselves with international brands and companies.

There's so much more to this than words can explain! Check out Michael Lim’s exclusive interview and explore his creative process to success!

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