We had the pleasure of chatting with the mind behind Beyond the Light! Be sure to check it out to learn more about this indie animation.
1. Tell us about Beyond the Light?
Beyond the Light is a fantasy queer indie animation series I’m currently working on with my wonderful team! We’ll be having a pilot episode that will hopefully be out sometime this year or possibly next. It is actually based on a webcomic of the same name that has been taken down due to the story’s remake. Started out as a digital comic format in 2021 and now we’ll be adapting as animation.
It is set in a modern-dystopian world, focused on this city called La Luz, which resembles the Roaring Twenties. Jazz music, art deco architecture, the rise of filmmaking–you name it! Except that our genre is fantasy, we have humans, elves, and devils co-exist in this story. We’ll be following the story of a man named Park Hyun-Jae, who forms a found family as they search for his missing Hollywood actor father, Park Jinyoung.
2. What inspired you to create this project?
I grew up as a Steven Universe and She-Ra and The Princesses of Power fan so I’ve always been fond of queer animated shows! I started making OCs (Original Characters) when I was 11, developing their lore which was full of rainbows and sparkles (Unlike what it is today, haha). So I developed my love for fantasy and animation starting from that point.
When it comes to storytelling, it was when I entered film school, I started watching films from around the world and became a filmmaker myself. My lecturer would teach me about film from the 1920s and the transition of silent to sound–whose era became my inspiration for Beyond the Light. I also watched Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (2013), which is also about the Roaring Twenties and I seemed to have huge interest in the complex storytelling and production design which I studied for this series.
Not to mention, I love jazz too! I listened to a lot of jazz musicians and watched many jazz-themed films.
3. What advice would you give to indie creators?
Start before you’re ready! You don’t need a big budget or a full team—just a clear vision and passion. Indie animation can be tough, but learning as you go is part of the process. Don’t be afraid of sharing anything you have–whether it’s an animated short or a full-polished animation, people will eventually come to you. Build a community, collaborate in events when you can, and don’t be afraid to take risks!
Most importantly, create something you genuinely love, because that passion will help you through the challenges. Beyond the Light has always been my passion project since I was 11, so never give up!
4. Biggest success story so far?
One of the biggest moments for me working on Beyond the Light was seeing the project grow from a small idea into a full production with a dedicated team. The positive response from early supporters has been incredibly validating for me. Also, having talented voice actors, animators, and artists—many of whom believe in the project as much as I do—has been a major milestone!
I sometimes cry of happiness about this too, haha!
5. Goals for your project?
Right now, my main goal is to complete and release the pilot episode. Beyond that, I want to create Beyond the Light as a fully developed series with wonderful animation and storytelling. Long-term, I hope it can gain a strong audience, attract funding, and push the boundaries of indie animation.
Another side goal, since I might be the first director coming from my country who’s developing an International remote based Indie Animation series–with diverse characters, queer and disabled community, and complex storytelling–so I hope to bring inspiration for others and give the best representation I could with my characters!
6. Where can folks support your project?
You can support Beyond the Light by subscribing to my youtube Rivonot – YouTube and following our official social media (Beyond the Light | Instagram | Linktree ), where we share updates, behind-the-scenes content, character designs, and production progress. Engaging with our posts, sharing the project, and spreading the word helps us reach a wider audience!
In the future, we plan to launch crowdfunding campaigns and possibly release exclusive content in Patreon, such as concept art, storyboards, and early access to animation clips. If you’re interested in supporting indie animation and want to see more original stories come to life, every bit of encouragement means a lot. Stay tuned for ways to contribute, whether through funding, collaborations, or simply being part of the growing Beyond the Light community!
Huge thank you to All Ages of Geek for this opportunity! Keep on supporting Indie Animation and Long Live The Light!
All Ages of Geek is a fully independent media platform, brought to life and sustained by the dedication of two sisters and the generous support of our community through donations. We’re passionate about creating content that resonates with our audience, and we’re excited to share our latest project with you—an upcoming game developed with our unique vision and creativity. Explore our other content and see how you can support our journey. Your engagement and contributions make a significant difference. Thank you for being part of our story.
