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| Silver Ant's golden touch |
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THERE is a Japanese saying that you can't catch a cub if you do not enter the tiger's cave.
That was the kind of gung-ho attitude which got Goh Aun Hoe started in the animation business.
"We knocked on every door, besides scouring the websites for opportunities," he recalled of his early days in the 1980s, soliciting for business in Japan after graduating in computer animation from Nippon Electronics College.
The Hokkien boy from Kuala Kangsar, Perak, had known little Japanese when he decided to venture to the Land of the Rising Sun, believing that he should make hay while the sun shines.
His perseverance paid off as he spent four years there, learning the language and pursuing his studies.
He had earlier worked for two years at Jaya Jusco supermarket in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, upon completing his Form Five education.
A turning point in his young life came when he saw a sophisticated TV commercial by a cigarette company. Impressed, he decided to learn more about the technology in Japan.
Today, Goh is the successful 43-year-old CEO of Silver Ant Sdn Bhd, which will release Malaysia's first 3D animated movie in English, Seefood The Movie, this year.
Silver Ant, which began in 1999, has recently completed a RM5mil undertaking for a new office and animation studio in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It has 56 people under its employment.
Explaining the name of his company, Goh said silver always implies being in second place.
"But I don't mind being No.2 because it means you have the drive to be chasing for the top position. And ants are very hardworking, very organised and they value team work."
Goh said he learnt a lot, too, while working at Jaya Jusco.
"The bosses were Japanese. They were very disciplined and not afraid of hard work. Once, when the drains were clogged, they even used their hands to clean them," he recalled.
Silver Ant gained prominence when it won accolades for its work on the Stadium Astro TV commercial in 2007 to promote the satellite broadcaster's sports coverage. It won the best production and best animation director awards at the MSC Malaysia Kre8tif! Awards in 2009.
"But it was Saladin which first got us noticed here on the local scene (two years before)," he said of the made-in-Malaysia animated TV series. Most of its clientele now are still foreign-based.
Prior to that, Silver Ant already had its international break in 2002 when gaming giant Konami hired it to produce game cinematics. Its overseas clients would later include famous Japanese gaming brands Nintendo (for work on the Mario game), Sega and Pachinko.
Among its other assignments was animation work for Winx Club, the popular children's TV cartoon series from Italy.
Ironically, Goh was never much into comics or stuff like that when he was a child. Even his three children, ages five to 14, have not exactly caught the animation bug.
Goh said he had originally yearned to be a pilot during his growing up days.
Once, he went for a gruelling test at the Kuantan airforce base in Pahang but was offered a navy job, which he declined.
His career path has since then taken on a much different turn, albeit a rewarding one. But for good measure, he obtained a private pilot licence three years ago.
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| 2010 December - Silver Ant's Annual Party |
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| 2010 October - Silver Ant's Launching@ 10 Boulevard |
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| 2010 August - Silver Ant's New Office |
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| 2010 August - Silver Ant's Company Trip - Taiwan |
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| We are moving soon... |
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Silver Ant is continuously on the 'look-out' to recruit experienced professionals or new graduates, who have the drive to explore, create and 'motionalize' their dreams in animation with US.
YOU too can be a member of our Dynamic Team!! Be part of our vibrant team that always exudes comfortable and confident vibes!
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| 2010 February - New Office's Renovation in Progress |
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| 2010 February - Annual Dinner in Kissaten |
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| 2009 December - Christmas Party |
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| 2009 October - MoonCake Festival Party in Redbox, Midvalley
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