About Late Studio | The Birth of an Animation Studio
. . . Late. As in, not on time.
It doesn’t sound like a name a professional animation company would choose. People usually laugh when they first hear it, look puzzled, and ask: “Are you serious?”
Yes, we are.
We didn’t want a name that sounds impressive but means nothing. Nor did we want one pieced together from the words other animation studios use, like “creative”, “digital” or “visual”. Late means something real to us. It isn’t just a label. It’s a reminder of who we are, what we do and what we believe.
In this industry, most people chase faster, cheaper and more efficient. Clients want it fast, the market wants it fast, and competitors race to be faster. We chose what looks like a contradiction: we are called Late because we don’t chase being the fastest.
We aim to be worth remembering.
A Name That’s Easy to Remember
Kaicho was often late to class at university, which gave him the idea of calling the company “Late” . . . nobody else would likely use the name, and it would be easy to remember.
Slow-to-Warm Artists
We are a group of introverted creators, and it takes us time to get close to people. That slow-to-warm nature shows in how we approach our work, too.
A Philosophy of Slowing Down
Late is not only about “polishing quality until the very last minute”. It is a choice to slow down. In an age that worships “faster and cheaper”, we give our time back to quality and refine every shot until it is worth remembering.
Design Philosophy behind the Late logo
A logo, and also the way we work:
leave space, keep our own rhythm, and refine every choice until it’s just right.
Minimal in form, deliberate in intent—refined down to only what’s necessary, with every detail chosen on purpose, and nothing added simply for decoration.
Restraint: less noise, more focus
Control: clear rhythm and proportion
Confidence: bold black-and-white, no extras
Early Days of Late Studio | Animation Student's Startup
On May 31, 2019, while still a Year 2 Animation and Visual Effects student at the Open University of Hong Kong (now Hong Kong Metropolitan University), Kaicho started Late Studio, driven by his commitment to and passion for animation.
“Most people wouldn’t start a company before graduating, would they?”
“If I’m going to start one sooner or later, the sooner the better!”
Late's Timeline
2019
Kaicho founds Late Studio as a Year 2 student (sole proprietorship)
2023
Incorporated as
Late Studio Limited2025
Produces the Broadway x Bwing cinema etiquette film
now
2029
Working on internationally renowned projects and making our name overseas
2039
One of the world’s top ten animation studios