Imaginary Friends Studios

Infobox_Company
company_name = Imaginary Friends Studios
company_
Logo design by Artgerm (Stanley Lau)
company_type = Imaginary FS Pte Ltd
company_slogan = It's time!
foundation = 2005
location = Singapore, Jakarta | key_people = Edmund T. Shern (Studio Head)
Stanley Lau/ Artgerm (Creative Director)
Kendrick Lim/ Kunkka (Art Director)
Lim RiKai/ Kai (Art Director)
num_employees =
industry = Illustration, Concept Art
products = "Imagine Artbook (2005)
Imagine Prime (2007)"
revenue =
homepage = [http://www.imaginaryfs.com Imaginary Friends Studios]

Founded in 2005, Imaginary Friends Studios (also known as Imaginary Friends or simply “IFS” to their fans) is an illustration, comics art and concept art studio based in Singapore and Jakarta.

Award-winning illustrator Ashley Wood has stated that "Imaginary Friends are an outstanding example of what can be achieved when artists choose to believe and make it happen." [2007, "Foreword", Imagine Prime: The Art of Imaginary Friends Studios. Published by [http://www.imaginaryfs.com Imaginary FS Pte Ltd] and [http://www.basheergraphic.com Basheer Graphic Books] . ]

Clients of IFS include DC Comics, Electronic Arts, Top Cow, Cartoon Network, WizKids and Upper Deck [ [http://www.imaginaryfs.com Imaginary Friends Studios Official Site] ] .

Founders

A veteran of TV, film and advertising, Studio Head, Edmund T. Shern manages Imaginary Friends Studios.

He had met Creative Director, Artgerm (Stanley Lau) during their stint at an advertising and design agency. Both wanted to create a company that would allow homegrown and regional artists to get jobs in the international arena, as before 2005 there was no company doing this in Singapore, despite the nation's rich pool of talent.

They sought to start their own independent studio, inviting Kunkka (Kendrick Lim) and Kai (Lim RiKai)- previously interning at the same advertising and design studio, to join the team.

Quotes

*"Ideally, we hope to see the general society (in Asia) get rid of this mindset that comics are something kids do and only kids read because in every other part of the world, its a big respectable business. Our very own cultural prejudices about art as a career need to be addressed." - Edmund T. Shern [March 2007, "More than an Illusion: Imaginary Friends Studios", Pg 94-97, [http://www.pageonegroup.com/ iSh] , Page One Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore ]

*"By rejecting this medium (digital painting) just because of its inability to behave like real paint, we stand to lose a world of digital possibilities." - Artgerm (Stanley Lau) [May 2007, Cover art (by Artgerm) and feature article "Find your Style" Pg 40-42, [http://www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk Advanced Photoshop] , Imagine Publishing Ltd, UK]

History

Imaginary Friends Studios started with four founders in late 2005. The company experienced initial problems with investors as it was very new and in a business not many investors understood. They had to prove to these investors their worth through profits and numbers but IFS didn’t have concrete profit margins to show then. In the end they had to strike out on their own. Once they were up and running, IFS are gaining international recognition due to their clients and portfolio. [September 2006, Interview with Edmund and [http://artgerm.deviantart.com Artgerm] "I Wanna Be Your Imaginary Friend", [http://youth.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1243&Itemid=28&limit=1&limitstart=0&sidenavpos=50 Youth.sg] ]

Recent News

*IFS is a principal sponsor at the 19th annual Eisner Awards to be held in San Diego, CA on 27 July 2007 [ [http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.shtml The 2007 Eisner Awards Site] ] .

*IFS conceptualized and executed the publicity design for CG Overdrive 2007 held at the Singapore Expo in June [ [http://www.cgoverdrive.com/CG Overdrive Official Site] ] .

Publications

*Imagine Artbook, 2005. Published by Imaginary FS Pte Ltd.

*Imagine Prime, 2007. Published by Imaginary FS Pte Ltd and Basheer Graphic Books.

Media Coverage

*June 2007, Feature interview (video) with Channel NewsAsia.

*May 2007, Cover art (by Artgerm) and feature article "Find your Style" Pg 40-42, Advanced Photoshop, Imagine Publishing Ltd, UK

*March 2007, "More than an Illusion: Imaginary Friends Studios", Pg 94-97, iSh, Page One Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore

*October 2006, "Hero Worship", Pg 86- 87, FHM, MediaCorp Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore

*September 2006, Interview with Edmund and Artgerm "I Wanna Be Your Imaginary Friend", Youth.sg

*July 2006, "Best Imaginary Friends", Pg 25, ImagineFX, Future Publishing Ltd, UK

*June 2006, "Indigo People", Pg 20-21, Indigo, Heart Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore

External links

* [http://www.imaginaryfs.com Imaginary Friends Studios Official Site]
* [http://blog.imaginaryfs.com IFS Blog]
* [http://youth.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1243&Itemid=28&limit=1&limitstart=0&sidenavpos=50 Youth.sg article “I wanna be your imaginary friend” interview with Edmund and Artgerm]
* [http://www.cgoverdrive.com/ CG Overdrive Official Site]
* [http://www.basheergraphic.com Basheer Graphic Books]
* [http://www.advancedphotoshop.co.uk Advanced Photoshop Magazine]
* [http://www.pageonegroup.com/ iSh Magazine]
* [http://www.fhm.com.sg FHM Magazine(Singapore)]
* [http://artgerm.deviantart.com Artgerm's DeviantArt page]
* [http://kunkka.deviantart.com Kunkka's DeviantArt page]

Notes