08/02/2026

ON SUNDAY February 8, 2026 theSunday Special III

Hermès Interludes by Space Dawg is a visual art series.

Lim’s background in graphic design has shaped his artistic voice and approach to animation. He refuses to think only as an animator. He also thinks like a graphic designer and uses that knowledge to strengthen his animation work and help his clients. It also makes communication easier, especially when the conversation involves graphic design. Beyond that, studying graphic design trained him WR H[SORUH DQG GHYHORS GL̆ HUHQW animator struggles to describe his own animation style. Most of the time, it is other people who recognise or describe it. /LP WKHQ ORRNV EDFN DQG UHÀHFWV RQ ZKDW KDV LQÀXHQFHG KLP RQ his creative journey. When Lim ¿UVW VWDUWHG KH GLG QRW KDYH DQ\ VSHFL¿F DUW VW\OH +H ZDV VLPSO\ providing options for clients at the advertising agency where he used to work. “I loved drawing aesthetics. It sharpened his eye for recognising what is visually appealing and what is not. The Kuala Lumpur-born

work based on that piece. For every proj ect, I would think about what else I could add or explore. Over time, it naturally developed into the style I have today. Now FOLHQWV FRPH WR PH VSHFL¿FDOO\ IRU P\ DUW style,” he added. Lim looks up to anyone who is deeply passionate, who never complains about their work, who enjoys what they do, shows their love through it and is excep tionally good at it. He admires

someone like Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli for the spirit and love he has for his craft. “As for me, I just want to create animation that the audience loves, remembers and feels inspired by while living a peaceful life. Here in Malaysia, we are often constrained by clients’ creative restrictions and budgets. That aside, there is so much poten tial and room for growth in Malaysia’s creative industry,” he said.

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Before making a huge leap into a career in animation, Lim worked as an art direc tor at an advertising agency. During the pandemic, he was trusted by his friends to create some animations, including an animated music video for a local indie band. He started posting his animation work on social media and some of it was widely shared online. That was when interna tional clients began reaching out to him. ,W JDYH KLP HQRXJK FRQ¿GHQFH WR VWDUW submitting his work for consideration for international awards. The world took notice “Design and Art Direction and Art Direc tors Club Awards hold equal meaning to me. Winning an award is not just about gaining recognition or popularity. It also influences me in many personal and creative ways. “I aim to win at least one award each year to maintain or improve the quality of my animation work. These award organis HUV LQYLWH KLJKO\ UHVSHFWHG DQG TXDOL¿HG creatives from around the world to judge the submissions, which gives my work valuable exposure,” he said. Winning these awards boosts Lim’s FRQ¿GHQFH DQG HQFRXUDJHV KLP WR FRQ tinue on his path, making him want to FUHDWH HYHQ PRUH WKRXJKWIXO DQG UH¿QHG work in the future. When he did not win,

LW SXVKHG KLP WR UHÀHFW RQ KRZ KH FRXOG improve and to study other winning works. Regardless of the outcome, these awards keep him motivated to move forward. “In terms of my collaboration with in ternational brands and clients, there have been many memorable ones. One worth highlighting is my collaboration with Adobe. Initially, they approached me and VDLG WKH\ ZRXOG À\ IURP WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV to Malaysia for a video and photoshoot about how I use their products. “I assumed it would be a small produc tion, but when they arrived, they brought a full crew and large professional cameras and the shoot lasted four days. People on the street kept stopping to see what was happening. It was exhausting but definitely a special experience,” Lim recalled.

comics as a kid, so one day I created a comic-style animation and the clients loved it. After that, more clients approached me requesting

Both 3D-dominated and 2D-dominated industries serve different purposes and each has its own beauty.”

Lim