Future of Film, Games & Animation in 2025: The Hard Truth No One Talks About | EP06

We’ve reached a critical point. Layoffs. Studio closures. Investor pullback. Creative burnout.
The animation, film, and games industry is facing one of its toughest moments and this is our honest, unfiltered take on what’s really happening behind the scenes.

With nearly two decades of experience in AAA studios, outsourcing hubs, and content creation, we’ve lived through the highs of the pandemic boom and now the harsh crash that followed.

In this episode, we cover:
How the pandemic created a false golden age for digital content
Why 2023-2025 feels like a creative recession
The impact of AI, oversupply, and shifting consumer attention
What creators must do now to survive and thrive
Real advice for laid-off artists & how to pivot
Why authentic storytelling forced diversity
What the next 5-10 years will look like for animation, film, and games

🎧 If you’re a creative, studio leader, producer, or just care about the future of storytelling this is a must-listen.

Timestamp
0:08:02 Post-Pandemic Crash & Project Oversupply
0:09:13 Changing Consumer Tastes & Rising Production Costs
0:10:56 The Impact of AI on the Creative Industry
0:13:52 Short-Form Video & The Rise of 'Mini-Drama' Format
0:15:01 Global Layoffs & Studio Shutdowns in 2023-2025
0:20:05 Short-Form Videos as a Monetization Trend
0:22:04 Distribution Crisis: TV, Streaming, or Direct-to-Consumer?
0:25:04 VFX Studios' Profit Dilemma Despite Blockbuster Success
0:26:26 AI: Tool or Threat? Misconceptions at Executive Levels
0:32:59 Real-Time Tech & Unreal Engine Shaping New Pipelines
0:35:54 Budget, Burnout, and the Role of AI in Work-Life Balance
0:41:04 Producer vs Director Conflict: Revisions that Kill Projects
0:44:00 Streaming vs Theatrical: New Business Models Emerging
0:56:16 Hollywood's Golden Age vs Today's Storytelling Crisis
0:57:08 Advice for Laid-Off Artists & Freelancers
0:59:59 Becoming a Generalist: Upskilling and Presentation
1:26:00 The Industry Cycle: Patience Until Rebalance
1:48:00 Funding Support: MDEC, FIMI, Co-Productions
1:59:00 Rise of Indie Studios and Exit Opportunities
1:57:00 Where the Industry is Heading in 5-10 Years
1:20:00 Final Thoughts: Merge Creativity with Tech

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About Us
We're Gene and Steven, you co-hosts for TEJ Podcast based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We are passionate to interview Malaysian Entrepreneurs and Storytellers uncovering the real, unfiltered journey of business leaders, creatives, and innovators. With years of experience across animation, filmmaking, gaming, technology and entrepreneurship, we’ve built and scaled businesses while navigating the highs and lows of the creative and business world.