Bringing worlds into existence through 2D animations
Art is a way for people to connect with their passions, and in some cases even create their own worlds. For Michael Lim, an independent 2D animator based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he is creating his own artistic worlds through his combined passions for science fiction and comics. Not only that, but he is also continuously diversifying his portfolio by making animations for music videos and various companies.
His first ever animation was done in an animation class he took during college; in it, a dog gets abducted by a UFO that flies into space. To pay homage to his origins of animating, his online alias is fittingly “Space Dawg”. Since the beginning of his journey, he has gained a lot of interest in 2D animation and has even started making music to complement his work.
Screenshots of Michael’s first animation, the birth of Space Dawg (via @space.dawg Instagram page)
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to ask Michael about his animations, music, and creative process to bring everything together.
In what ways did getting one of your animations showcased at Supertoon International Animation And Comics Festival in Croatia help give you momentum to continue making animations?
Having one of my animations showcased at the Supertoon festival in Croatia boosted my confidence and passion for animation. As a student at the time, it was inspiring to have my work recognized by the animation community and seeing the positive reactions from audiences. Additionally, the opportunity to travel to Europe and experience new sources of inspiration further solidified my love for animating.
Michael at Supertoon Croatia accompanied by a drawing of the one and only Space Dawg himself (via @space.dawg Instagram page)
With your background training in piano, what have you learned from collaborating with music engineers like your brother to create audio to complement your animations?
Having a background in piano training has made it easier for me to communicate with music engineers using musical theory terms. This ensures that they understand my vision for the background music, instead of perceiving my suggestions as random or unreasonable. Furthermore, it enables me to have a clear and decisive direction for the music on my animations.
Given that you have a routine of listening to music first to help you "get in the zone" before creating something, how has music helped further inform your artwork in addition to your other passions like sci-fi and comics?
I believe that everyone has their own ways of getting into the zone. For me, listening to music before creating something is the most effective routine. I find that good music sets the scene in my mind and helps me match the animation flow to the music's rhythm and flow, thereby enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Even though Michael’s passions for sci-fi and comics are reflected through his animations, those passions do not directly influence his music. As Michael previously mentioned, he says that his background in piano training has enabled him to make clear and decisive decisions on musical direction, making it easier to select music that fits well with the animations.
Michael also shared that his interest in sci-fi and comics started when he was a child, drawing comics as a hobby. Having always been fascinated by the 70s sci-fi art style and other artist’s vision of the future, outer space, and other similar themes, he has decided to continue to create in this art style with some color tweaks of his own, incorporating the vibrant, standout colors that can be seen in his work.
A screenshot of thumbnails of Michael’s animations, showcasing the art style and various color schemes used (via @space.dawg Instagram page)
Being influenced by your daily surroundings, how important is it to your artwork and your life in general that you try to constantly view things from different perspectives?
I believe that everyone has unique perspectives and it's crucial to align or choose your perspectives wisely. For me, being influenced by my daily surroundings helps me adjust my mood and stay focused on my work. Having good daily surroundings can increase my dopamine and I channel that dopamine to my energy and creativity to create my artwork.
In 2022, you came out with your first album titled “Let’s Fly” with your music group, Space Wav. How long has that project been in the works and what was the creative process like for you and the group altogether?
It took us five months to create the album. I was doing some practices and exploring my animation; my brother had some musical pieces that he shared with me. I then asked him to create a playlist, which would later accompany my animations.
One of his music videos for a song form his music collective, Space Wav (via Space Dawg YouTube channel)
Speaking of drawing comics as a hobby, Michael’s artistic background started in graphic design and doing work with illustrations. However, he eventually got introduced to animation in his college studies, and the rest is history; now, he is utilizing both art forms to create his work and is being recognized through multiple art awards in the process.
Some of Michael’s earlier illustrations (via @space.dawg Instagram page)
A collection of retrofuturisc illustrations (via @space.dawg Instagram page)