SESSIONS

Unlocking Asia’s Creative Workforce: Smart Staffing Learnings for Small Studios

Grand Ballroom 3
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Small games, animation, and VFX studios are operating in one of the most challenging hiring environments the industry has seen in decades. Skill shortages, ongoing layoffs, budget pressure, and shifting candidate expectations have fundamentally changed how studios build teams.

For smaller studios without large HR departments or long hiring runways, the question is no longer just who to hire—but how to staff smartly, sustainably, and without overextending. At the same time,

Asia has emerged as a powerful and increasingly accessible talent region. From the Philippines’ long-standing animation expertise and South Korea’s technical depth, to Japan’s creative influence and Singapore’s role as a regional hub, Asia offers small studios new ways to scale capability without scaling risk. However, navigating these markets requires clear strategy, realistic expectations, and an understanding of what works—and what doesn’t—for lean teams. This talk, Unlocking Asia’s Creative Workforce: Smart Staffing Learnings for Small Studios, is designed for founders, studio heads, producers, and leads who need flexible, cost-aware staffing solutions. Whether you’re staffing a short-term project, building a small core team, or exploring co-development or offshore support for the first time, this session focuses on practical lessons rather than theory. Drawing on Supaglu’s experience supporting boutique and mid-sized studios across Australia and New Zealand, the session shares real-world insights into how small studios successfully engage talent across Asia.

Topics include building lightweight regional pipelines, blending core hires with trusted freelancers, and avoiding common pitfalls when working across borders with limited internal resources. The emphasis is firmly on actionable takeaways. Attendees will gain clear guidance on managing cultural and regulatory considerations, improving candidate engagement without big budgets, and scaling teams in a way that remains flexible during market volatility. You’ll also learn how small studios can strengthen their employer brand and talent relationships without competing head-to-head with larger studios on salary alone.

Small games, animation, and VFX studios are operating in one of the most challenging hiring environments the industry has seen in decades. Skill shortages, ongoing layoffs, budget pressure, and shifting candidate expectations have fundamentally changed how studios build teams.

For smaller studios without large HR departments or long hiring runways, the question is no longer just who to hire—but how to staff smartly, sustainably, and without overextending. At the same time,

Asia has emerged as a powerful and increasingly accessible talent region. From the Philippines’ long-standing animation expertise and South Korea’s technical depth, to Japan’s creative influence and Singapore’s role as a regional hub, Asia offers small studios new ways to scale capability without scaling risk. However, navigating these markets requires clear strategy, realistic expectations, and an understanding of what works—and what doesn’t—for lean teams. This talk, Unlocking Asia’s Creative Workforce: Smart Staffing Learnings for Small Studios, is designed for founders, studio heads, producers, and leads who need flexible, cost-aware staffing solutions. Whether you’re staffing a short-term project, building a small core team, or exploring co-development or offshore support for the first time, this session focuses on practical lessons rather than theory. Drawing on Supaglu’s experience supporting boutique and mid-sized studios across Australia and New Zealand, the session shares real-world insights into how small studios successfully engage talent across Asia.

Topics include building lightweight regional pipelines, blending core hires with trusted freelancers, and avoiding common pitfalls when working across borders with limited internal resources. The emphasis is firmly on actionable takeaways. Attendees will gain clear guidance on managing cultural and regulatory considerations, improving candidate engagement without big budgets, and scaling teams in a way that remains flexible during market volatility. You’ll also learn how small studios can strengthen their employer brand and talent relationships without competing head-to-head with larger studios on salary alone.