The R&D Studio
The R&D Studio is a 12-person Malaysian animation and live-action studio that develops and produces original Southeast Asian cultural content for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international film festivals, operating an IP bank of 100+ projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersPetaling Jaya, Malaysia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The R&D Studio does
The R&D Studio (The R&D Studio Sdn. Bhd.) is a 12-person animation and live-action content development studio headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, founded in 2012. The studio ideates and produces original content for film and television, specializing in Southeast Asian cultural storytelling through visual worlds inspired by traditional art forms — primarily batik textile craft (notably in its flagship short film Batik Girl) and wayang kulit shadow puppetry (The Dalang's Tale). Its portfolio spans 2D and 3D animated short films, animated television series (including Junglemajig, 26 episodes x 11 minutes), live-action short films (Sebayan, 2022), and a multi-cam Disney co-production (Wizards of Warna Walk, 2019).
The studio operates a project-based production model built around an internal IP bank of more than 100 projects in various stages of development. To date, it has sold 11 television projects and licensed 5 IPs to broadcasters, and its short films have been selected at more than 90 international film festivals, earning wins at DigiCon6 Asia, the Asian Academy Creative Awards, the Florida Animation Festival, and the Lima Web Fest. Its most commercially significant engagement to date is producing Wizards of Warna Walk for The Walt Disney Company — the first long-form scripted television series by Disney in Southeast Asia, shot at Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios. Distribution occurs via direct licensing to broadcasters and streaming platforms (including Disney+), film festival screenings, and the studio's own YouTube channel (rndchannel).
Go-to-market is enterprise-oriented: the studio targets broadcasters, streaming platforms, and global content markets (MIFA, ATF, Expo 2020 Dubai) with curated content slates rather than self-service offerings. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Marketing relies on its portfolio website, social media (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter), film festival participation, and earned media coverage in Malaysian and regional press. The R&D Studio is a privately held, founder-owned company with no disclosed parent, institutional investors, or external funding rounds.
The R&D Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The R&D Studio
- Legal name
- The R&D Studio Sdn. Bhd.
- Website
- https://rnd.my
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The R&D Studio is a 12-person Malaysian animation and live-action studio that develops and produces original Southeast Asian cultural content for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international film festivals, operating an IP bank of 100+ projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The R&D Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation and Live-Action Content Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Sound Recording Industries (5122)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)
Keywords
Where The R&D Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Petaling Jaya
- HQ country
- Malaysia
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
The R&D Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The R&D Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The R&D Studio is a content development studio that ideates and produces animated and live-action projects for film and television, specializing in Southeast Asian cultural storytelling. The studio develops original IP across multiple formats and genres and licenses or sells television projects to broadcasters and streaming platforms. It has sold 11 television projects, licensed 5 IPs, and maintains an IP bank of over 100 projects in various stages of development.
Product overview
The R&D Studio is a content development studio that ideates and crafts animation and live-action projects for film and television. The company's portfolio includes animated short films (Batik Girl, Framed Memories, The Dalang's Tale, Kuihpocalypse) that are part of the SPECTRUM Anthology, animated TV series (Junglemajig), live-action short films (Sebayan), and a Disney co-produced sitcom (Disney's Wizards of Warna Walk). The studio maintains an IP bank of over 100 projects in various stages of development and has sold 11 television projects and licensed 5 IPs to broadcasters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Batik Girl 2D animated short film exploring themes of love and grief through a surreal world inspired by the textile craft of batik; the studio's debut animated short film and a festival-circuit title.
- The Dalang's Tale 2D animated short film that tackles domestic violence through visuals inspired by wayang kulit (shadow puppet theater); part of the SPECTRUM Anthology.
- Framed Memories 2D animated short film exploring family relationships and reconnecting with estranged family members on the eve of Lunar New Year; part of the SPECTRUM Anthology.
- Kuihpocalypse 3D animated short film about a competition between traditional and modern kuih bakers; part of the SPECTRUM Anthology.
- Junglemajig 2D animated TV series of 26 episodes x 11 minutes following three characters on adventures in the Magic Jungle in Kampung Kebayan.
- Sebayan Live-action short film highlighting Iban culture, particularly sebayan (the Iban afterlife); filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Disney's Wizards of Warna Walk Multi-cam live-action television sitcom - the first long-form scripted television series by The Walt Disney Company in Southeast Asia; shot on two sound stages at Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios and distributed via Disney+.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 90 international film festival selections
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The R&D Studio
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The R&D Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The R&D Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The R&D Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cartoon Saloon: Ireland-based independent animation studio behind culturally distinctive, award-winning films (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea). Closely comparable as a small, culturally-anchored animation studio with strong festival-circuit recognition building a global IP catalog.
- Lemon Sky Studios: Malaysia-headquartered animation and creative content studio serving global brands and broadcasters. Comparable boutique creative-studio model operating out of Southeast Asia, competing for animation, IP, and co-production work.
- Locksmith Animation: UK-based independent animation studio developing premium feature and series animation (e.g., Ron's Gone Wrong). Comparable as a small-to-mid independent animation studio building global IP through partnerships with major distributors.
- Wau Animation: Malaysia-based animation studio best known for the Ejen Ali series. Same geography, similar size bracket, and competing for the same Southeast Asian culturally-rooted animated content market that broadcasters and streamers are actively commissioning.
- Studio MDHR: Canadian independent animation studio behind the Cuphead franchise. Comparable as a small, independent, art-driven animation studio that has scaled globally off distinctive visual IP, illustrating both the upside and execution risks for boutique studios.
- Passion Pictures: UK-based independent animation and production studio known for culturally distinctive shorts and series (e.g., Lost Ollie). Comparable boutique animation model with global festival/awards presence and IP licensing across formats.
Broad incumbents
- Laika: US-based stop-motion animation studio owned by Phil Knight. Comparable as an independent, creatively-driven animation studio building a portfolio of distinctive theatrical IP, though at significantly larger scale and with parent-company backing.
- Aardman Animations: Long-established UK animation studio (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). Larger and broader incumbent in the independent animation space, comparable in being a creator-led studio but with materially greater scale and global IP monetization.
- Illumination: Major global animation studio (Despicable Me, Sing). Indirect overlap as a broad incumbent in family-oriented animation content that competes for the same downstream broadcaster/streamer commissioning budgets.
- The Walt Disney Company: Global entertainment incumbent and the studio's most prominent past co-production partner (Wizards of Warna Walk, 2019). Overlaps as a buyer/commissioner of culturally rooted Southeast Asian animation and live-action content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The R&D Studio social profiles
Digital presenceThe R&D Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The R&D Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The R&D Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The R&D Studio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The R&D Studio
What does The R&D Studio do?
The R&D Studio is a content development studio that ideates and produces animated and live-action projects for film and television, specializing in Southeast Asian cultural storytelling. The studio develops original IP across multiple formats and genres and licenses or sells television projects to broadcasters and streaming platforms. It has sold 11 television projects, licensed 5 IPs, and maintains an IP bank of over 100 projects in various stages of development.
Is The R&D Studio a public or private company?
The R&D Studio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The R&D Studio founded?
The R&D Studio was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The R&D Studio based?
The R&D Studio is headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, in the Asia region.
Who are The R&D Studio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cartoon Saloon, Lemon Sky Studios, Locksmith Animation, Wau Animation, Studio MDHR and Passion Pictures. Broad incumbents are Laika, Aardman Animations, Illumination and The Walt Disney Company.
Does The R&D Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for The R&D Studio.
What industry is The R&D Studio in?
The R&D Studio's product category is Animation and Live-Action Content Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAAAF, Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio), with a secondary code of BPAFAIAJ, Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.