Independent Animation Studio’s Path to Success – An Interview with Kuku Studio Founder Alex Woo

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Alex Woo, an animation veteran who worked on Pixar classics such as Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Finding Dory, has successfully launched the hit Netflix children’s series Go Go Cory Carson and the original animated feature film In Your Dreams (2025) as co-founder and CEO of the independent studio Kuku Studio. In an exclusive interview during the SIGGRAPH conference, Woo shared his journey from major Hollywood studios to independent production, his views on technological shifts in the animation industry, and his advice for emerging creators.

From Pixar and Lucasfilm to Founding His Own Studio

A graduate of New York University’s film school, Alex Woo won a Student Academy Award for his senior thesis short film, which caught the attention of Lucasfilm Animation. He was hired as a director in development, then moved to Pixar as a story artist, honing his skills in narrative and visual language. In 2016, he co-founded Kuku Studio, based in Berkeley, California, focusing on the front-end development of original animated content.

“Our business model is to do all the front-end work – concept creation, pitching, financing, and getting the green light,” Woo explains. “Our studio handles story, editorial, and art – all pre-production. Then we outsource the production pipeline to partners. For In Your Dreams, we worked with Sony Pictures Imageworks.” This strategy allows a small independent studio to focus on core creativity without competing headon with large studios in infrastructure and output capacity.

Narrative Challenges of a Dream World: The Making of In Your Dreams

In Your Dreams is Kuku Studio’s first animated feature, taking nine years from initial idea to release. Woo notes that while dreams are a universal human experience, the lack of rules – “anything can happen” – makes it difficult to establish dramatic stakes. Few Western animation studios had successfully cracked the problem.

His solution came from Scandinavian folklore: the Sandman, who sprinkles magical sand on children’s eyes to give them dreams. “We expanded that mythology: if you can find the Sandman in the dream world, he can make your dreams come true.” This simple rule connects the dream world to the real world, giving actions consequences and creating narrative drive.

Visually, the team designed the real world in a more grounded, realistic style, allowing the dream world to push design much further – even transforming characters into full anime versions of themselves at certain points. “Animation’s advantage is that you can do any style, but you always have to ask what the story needs,” Woo emphasizes.

A Cautious View on Artificial Intelligence

Regarding AI generation tools, Woo states that Kuku Studio did not use any AI on its productions, primarily because In Your Dreams was greenlit in 2020 and completed in late 2024, before consumer AI tools became widely available. He draws a distinction between machine learning and generative AI: “Visual effects companies have been using machine learning for decades – for crowd simulations, hair effects, textures. That empowers artists. No one objects to that. What makes people uncomfortable is the agentic side of generative AI – it feels like craftsmanship and human connection are being removed. Also, scraping data without compensating rights holders raises ethical concerns.”

While he does not personally like the aesthetics of current consumer AI tools, he does not rule out future use. “My primary focus is always story, the look of the film, and how to execute that at the highest level of artistry for the audience.”

Advice for Young Creators: Follow Your Passion, Not the Tools

When asked how students should balance learning new technologies versus traditional arts, Woo shares his own experience. In the early 2000s, as CG animation rose and 2D handdrawn jobs declined, professors advised learning computer animation. He tried it, but found the process unintuitive and unenjoyable. Instead of forcing himself, he shifted to storyboarding – a role that allowed him to keep drawing while leveraging his narrative skills.

“If you don’t enjoy using a certain technology but force yourself to do it just to get a job, I don’t think it will serve you in the long run. You have to be genuinely interested in something to excel at it. Find the position that brings you joy every day, rather than chasing trends.”

Future Plans: Multiple Projects in Development

Alex reveals that Kuku Studio is currently developing several projects simultaneously: another original animated feature to be pitched after awards season; a liveaction TV series aiming for a spring or summer pitch; and a children’s show far along in development at Netflix, hoping for a green light next year.

“Hollywood requires you to have a lot of material. You never know which one will catch fire. In Your Dreams was first pitched in 2017 – nobody was interested. We sat on it for three or four years. If we had waited only on that project, our company would have gone bankrupt.” He emphasizes that independent creators and small studios must keep multiple projects at different stages to maintain resilience and seize opportunities when they arise.

About Kuku Studio

Founded in 2016 and based in Berkeley, California, Kuku Studio specializes in frontend development and licensing of original animated content. Its series Go Go Cory Carson won three Emmy Awards, and the feature film In Your Dreams is now streaming globally on Netflix.

About Alex Woo

ChineseAmerican animator, graduate of NYU film school, Student Academy Award winner. Former director in development at Lucasfilm Animation and story artist at Pixar. Currently cofounder and CEO of Kuku Studio.