Lemon Sky Studios

Lemon Sky's production team is made up of over 450 artists and production staff.{{Cite web|title=Malaysia's Lemon Sky Studios part of project to remaster Command & Conquer {{!}} The Star|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2018/11/15/malaysian-studio-working-on-command-conquer-remaster|website=www.thestar.com.my|access-date=2020-05-14|archive-date=2020-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602053626/https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2018/11/15/malaysian-studio-working-on-command-conquer-remaster|url-status=live}}

The studio's headquarters is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with an additional branch located in the city of Penang.

The studio was acquired and is currently fully owned by ASX-listed game studio, iCandy Interactive Limited. {{Cite web |last=Astle |first=Aaron |date=2021-11-19 |title=iCandy acquires Lemon Sky Studios for $32.4 million, raises $29.1 million |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/icandy-acquires-lemon-sky-studios-to-make-high-quality-metaverse-games/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=www.pocketgamer.biz |language=en}}

The studio's co-founders, Cheng-Fei Wong and Ken Foong, were given a management contract to serve the studios post acquisition, but they left early ahead of the expiry of the management contract.

In November 2024, Lemon Sky Studios, via its parent company iCandy Interactive Limited, announced that Lemon Sky Studios had initiated legal action against Cheng-Fei Wong and Ka King Foong, the former executives of Lemon Sky Studios. The lawsuit, filed in the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alleges several breaches of fiduciary duties, breaches of trust, and other unlawful actions. {{Cite web |last=Kakuchopurei |date=2024-11-06 |title=iCandy Files Lawsuit Against The Founders Of This Prominent Malaysian Game Studio; Here’s Why {{!}} Kakuchopurei |url=https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2024/11/icandy-interactive-sues-former-lemon-sky-studios-founders/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |language=en-US}}

The legal action stems from an internal review and forensic audit conducted by Lemon Sky Studios The investigation revealed suspicious transactions involving an undisclosed privately held Malaysian company called Momodica Sdn. Bhd., which was allegedly majority-owned by Wong and Foong.{{Cite web |last=Adlan |first=W. Amirul |date=2024-11-06 |title=iCandy Sues Former Lemon Sky Heads For Allegedly Stealing Money - 尼未亞 {{!}} Nmia Gaming |url=https://nmiagaming.com/icandy-sues-former-lemon-sky-heads/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |language=en-US}}

According to iCandy Interactive, Wong and Foong allegedly arranged for Lemon Sky Studios to pay Momodica RM1,505,750 (approximately A$524,542) irrespective of the quality or quantity of sub-contracting work undertaken. {{Cite web |title=[EN] ICI initiates legal action on former lemon sky executives |url=https://www.icandy.io/project/ici-initiates-legal-action-on-former-lemon-sky-executives/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=iCandy Interactive |language=en-US}}

Amidst controversies and facing legal actions, Wong and Foong started a Malaysian studio called Spiky Things Studio immediately after leaving Lemon Sky Studios.

• Founders Cheng-Fei Wong and Ken Foong establish their first game art studio, Igloo Digital Arts.{{cite web |title=Igloo Digital Arts Sdn Bhd |url=https://www.mobygames.com/company/12294/igloo-digital-arts-sdn-bhd/}} The studio becomes the first Malaysian company to work on in-game assets.

• The studio contributes work to its first AAA game project, Afro Samurai, and its first TV animation project, Buzzy Bee.{{cite web |title=Project Timeline |url=https://www.lemonskystudios.com/project-timeline/}}

• Igloo Digital Arts is restructured and officially renamed Lemon Sky. {{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://flystudio.my/about/}}

• Lemon Sky signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Bandai Namco Malaysia to facilitate development of future games. {{cite web |title=Bandai Namco Singapore and Lemon Sky signs MoU |date=12 December 2014 |url=https://liveatpc.com/bandai-namco-singapore-and-lemon-sky-signs-mou/}}

• Lemon Sky launches a second studio in Penang under the name of Lemon Sky North.

• Lemon Sky celebrates its 10-year anniversary with Hello Lemon Sky, an event inviting the public to visit the studio and learn from experienced artists. {{cite web |title=Malaysian CGI Animation Studio Lemon Sky Celebrates 10 Years |date=6 June 2017 |url=https://liveatpc.com/malaysian-cgi-animation-studio-lemon-sky-celebrates-10-years/}}

• Lemon Sky debuts AstroLOLogy, its first original animation IP. {{cite web |title=Malaysia Focus: A Look 3 Animation IPs That Reveal The Country's Burgeoning Creative Talent |date=18 December 2020 |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/sponsored-by-mdec/malaysia-focus-a-look-3-animation-ips-that-reveal-the-countrys-burgeoning-creative-talent-199636.html}}

• Electronic Arts announces its partnership with Lemon Sky on Command & Conquer Remastered Collection. {{cite web |title=Malaysia's Lemon Sky Studios part of project to remaster Command & Conquer |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2018/11/15/malaysian-studio-working-on-command-conquer-remaster}}

• Lemon Sky wins Exporter of the Year and Gold Awards for the Services (Mid-Tier) Category in the Export Excellence Awards 2019.{{cite web |title=Paying tribute to the nation's top exporters |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/12/03/paying-tribute-to-the-nations-top-exporters}}

• As part of its rapid expansion, Lemon Sky moves to its new headquarters in UOA Business Park.

• AstroLOLogy gains 1 million subscribers on YouTube. {{cite web |title=AstroLOLogy Celebrates 1 Million Subscribers! |url=https://www.lemonskystudios.com/news/astrolology-celebrates-1-million-subscribers/}}

• iCandy Interactive Ltd acquires Lemon Sky. {{cite web |title=Australian game publisher buys over Lemon Sky Studios, for RM135mil |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2021/11/24/australian-game-publisher-buys-over-lemon-sky-studios-for-rm135mil}}

• Lemon Sky wins a Gold Award for the Services (Mid-Tier and Large) Category in the Export Excellence Awards 2021.{{cite web |title=Export Excellence Awards |url=https://www.exportawards.com.my/winners2021.aspx}}

• Lemon Sky receives its ISO 2700 certification.

• Lemon Sky announces the development of its original video game IP, Metal Genesis.{{cite web |title=Metal Genesis Has Landed! |url=https://www.lemonskystudios.com/news/metal-genesis-has-landed/}}

• Lemon Sky wins a Gold Award for the Services (Mid-Tier and Large) Category in the Export Excellence Awards 2022. {{cite news |title=Export Excellence Awards 2022 Winners |url=https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Content/StarPicks/Issues/DE814084-FCBA-4647-9786-0CB267444BCD.pdf |work=The Star}}

• Lemon Sky Studios announced the early departure of CEO and COO, with a management transition led by Executive Director Mr Kin Wai Lau. {{cite news |title= iCandy Subsidiary Lemon Sky Studios Leadership Transition | url=https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/icandy-subsidiary-lemon-sky-studios-leadership-transition}}

• Lemon Sky Studios initiated legal action against former executives of Lemon Sky Studio, Mr Cheng-Fei Wong and Mr Ken Foong for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and financial misconduct. Lemon Sky Studio assures zero impact on all ongoing projects. {{cite news |title= iCandy Commences Legal Action on Former Lemon Sky Executives | url=https://www.gamerbraves.com/icandy-takes-legal-action-against-former-lemon-sky-executives-over-alleged-misconduct/}}

{{Small|Sources}}{{Cite web|title=Lemon Sky Animation Sdn Bhd|url=https://www.mobygames.com/company/lemon-sky-animation-sdn-bhd|website=MobyGames|access-date=2020-05-05|archive-date=2021-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725011814/https://www.mobygames.com/company/lemon-sky-animation-sdn-bhd|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Project Timeline|url=https://www.lemonskystudios.com/project-timeline/|website=Lemon Sky Studios|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-13|archive-date=2020-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202200654/https://www.lemonskystudios.com/project-timeline/|url-status=live}}

In March 2021, game journalist Chris Bratt from People Make Games interviewed 19 current and former employee from Lemon Sky Studios and Indonesia-based animation studio Brandoville regarding working conditions. The testimonial from employees revealed that Lemon Sky Studios allegedly put its artists through unpaid overtime and had them work weekends to meet tight deadlines from triple-A clients.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-05|title=Southeast Asia's Lemon Sky & Brandoville Studios Allegedly Put Its Artists Through Unpaid Crunch [Update] {{!}} KAKUCHOPUREI.COM|url=https://kakuchopurei.com/2021/03/05/southeast-asias-lemon-sky-brandoville-studios-allegedly-put-its-artists-through-unpaid-crunch/|access-date=2021-12-07|website=kakuchopurei.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725015508/https://kakuchopurei.com/2021/03/05/southeast-asias-lemon-sky-brandoville-studios-allegedly-put-its-artists-through-unpaid-crunch/|url-status=live}}{{Citation|title=How Game Publishers Buy Crunch Overseas| date=4 March 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm7KUE1Kwts|language=en|access-date=2021-12-07|archive-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207193838/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm7KUE1Kwts|url-status=live}} The higher-ups allegedly used passive-aggressive methods to pressure Lemon Sky artists to work overtime. Lemon Sky Studios denied the allegations as "factually and legally inaccurate" and "are surprised that such allegations are targeted at Lemon Sky", stating they abide all Malaysian employment laws. Lemon Sky Studios also stated they will "take appropriate measures in response", include "obtaining feedback from all of our employees regarding their individual concerns".{{Cite web|first=Dale|last=Bashir|date=2021-03-08|title=Malaysian CGI Art Studio Lemon Sky Denies Allegations Staff Undergo Crunch Without Pay|url=https://sea.ign.com/sea-indie-games/169526/news/malaysian-cgi-art-studio-lemon-sky-denies-allegations-staff-undergo-crunch-without-pay|access-date=2021-12-07|website=IGN Southeast Asia|language=en-sg|archive-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726010854/https://sea.ign.com/sea-indie-games/169526/news/malaysian-cgi-art-studio-lemon-sky-denies-allegations-staff-undergo-crunch-without-pay|url-status=live}}

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Category:Malaysian animation studios

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Mass media companies established in 2006