Inside Sandstorm Studio: An Exclusive Interview with CEO Maniacarta

RenderHub recently had the opportunity to interview Maniacarta, the talented CEO of Sandstorm Studio, a Tokyo-based creative studio known for pushing the boundaries of digital art and CG production. In this in-depth interview, Maniacarta shares her journey, the challenges she faced, and her vision for transforming the world of character design, game production, and animation. Join us as she shares her passion and innovation at Sandstorm, offering a rare glimpse into what it takes to make a mark in the CG industry.

Introduction & Foundation

1. Can you tell us about the origins of Sandstorm Studio? How did the studio come to be, and what was the initial vision behind it?

How do I start here? I've always had a passion for manga, animation, robots, and Japanese culture, which became my gateway to where I am today. I remember my first artwork as a child, it was of Goku and Vegeta from Dragon Ball. Since then, this beautiful fantasy world inspired me to explore a new realm, a place where I felt a deep imagination thrived - Japan.

As I grew, I began to develop my own skills and techniques, aiming to create a unique style rather than imitate others. Seeing talented artists produce beautiful projects and visuals inspired me to forge my own path, something Id never attempted before. This journey led me to choose Japan as my destination, a country rich in creativity and visionaries, and where real challenges await. Sure, I could have chosen another place, started a business, made money, and settled down, but that wasn't my story. I wanted something unreachable, something that felt like it would take an army to achieve. Yet, I accomplished it on my own.

This is where Sandstorm came into being. The name itself sand and storm isn't random, it carries meaning. Although I cant reveal everything, I can offer a hint. The company logo is a dragon and its black, white, and red. Imagine a dragon in deep slumber. While it rests, a powerful potential lies within, waiting to be awakened. Now, picture what would happen if it sensed your presence or felt a slight disturbance, like the prick of a needle. That's what Sandstorm is all about.

At Sandstorm, we can create anything, and I mean anything. We aren't limited to one direction, we can adapt, innovate, and deliver exceptional results. What you currently see on social media is just 10% of Sandstorms potential. This vision has been my plan since the company's founding.

2. What inspired the name "Sandstorm"? Is there a particular story or meaning behind it?

There is so much talent in the world, and challenges are what help us grow and develop. When I created Sandstorm, I knew I would face fierce competition, a kind that would feel almost unbeatable, like something you'd need an army to overcome. But I was prepared to tackle it on my own. I created a puzzle, a maze that no one could decipher, and that became the foundation of Sandstorm. This pillar marked the start of my adventure. If I revealed everything from the beginning, where would the thrill be? My strategy was to show only 10% of my true vision as an artist. I knew I would face significant challenges, especially in Japan, and that it would be incredibly tough. That's also why I wanted Sandstorm to be based in the heart of Akihabara, where games and anime thrive.

As for Sandstorm, imagine a dragon sleeping peacefully on the outside, but building something deep and mysterious within. And when it finally awakens, it spreads its wings and breathes, turning everything to dust. That's my company.

Perhaps I'm exaggerating in my interpretation, but that's truly how I see it. This has been my goal from the start, and I'm on the path to achieving it with the dedication and commitment of other passionate artists from around the world.

Team & Internal Structure

3. Could you give us an overview of your current team? How many people work at Sandstorm, and what roles do they play?

Regarding my team, you might think Im joking, but Im not. My team consists of myself and a group of freelancers I gathered from ArtStation. Some have stayed with me, while others have moved on. Since I was handling everything myself, I wanted to give other artists a chance to collaborate so we could combine our skills and ideas to create something fresh. Thats exactly what I did. I brought together many passionate artists. Some projects worked out, and some didnt, but Im proud of each one of them. Their passion is something rare, and I feel fortunate to have found it.

The foundation Ive built for the company has only grown stronger with their help and their love for games and art. Together, were creating an army of Blender artists with a deep passion, bringing new imagery and creativity to the world.

4. How do you structure your teams internally for different projects? Do you have specialized departments, or do teams work more fluidly across projects?

We use Discord exclusively for communication. There are no formal departments, as I've gathered artists from all over the world. These are artists who haven't yet had the chance to work for big companies, artists with only 20 to 200 followers on ArtStation. I chose them for their passion because I saw that spark of growth in each one of them. That's why I brought them to Sandstorm: to provide them with education, to teach them valuable skills and techniques, and to show them how to enjoy creating without rigid rules. Its about the freedom to express themselves as passionate artists.

Workflow & Tools

5. Can you walk us through your typical workflow for a CG project? From concept to final render, what are the key stages?

Everything starts with a mood board. It gives me direction and a clear vision of where I'm heading. After that, a model sheet is essential for developing the concept visual I want to create in CG. Once the model sheet is ready, I move forward with production based on it. However, sometimes I work without any concept design, assembling pieces like a puzzle or Lego set until the final design emerges. That's my main workflow.

When working with clients and game studios, the mood board and model sheet become especially important. They are key elements for any CGI production, whether its characters, creatures, environments or previs cinematics.

6. What tools and software do you rely on the most in your production pipeline? Are there any specific features of Blender or other software that you find particularly effective?

I think everyone knows that my main tool is Blender, and I will never change this workflow, as its been the foundation for developing my skills and discovering unique techniques to achieve any production I want. The issue is that some people get uneasy when you mention Blender because most are used to Maya, 3ds Max, or Cinema 4D. These are great tools widely used by game studios, but in my opinion, Blender can surpass them all. Blender is an incredibly powerful tool. Once you start using it, you don't want to stop.

I could spend days explaining why I chose Blender, but in short, switching to Blender transforms the speed and creativity of your work in ways that can change your direction entirely. Its challenging for others to accept that one software could replace everything they've learned before, so they're hesitant to switch. But trust me, once you make the switch, there's no going back. And its free, what more could you ask for?

At Sandstorm, we've also developed techniques that rely 100% on Blender and Unreal Engine for character animation, rigging, creature design, and more. We use workflows like GoZ, which are essential for efficiently exporting assets to Unreal. We also use ZBrush, Marvelous Designer, Substance Painter, Knald, 3D Coat, Faceform, and many other tools, but sometimes I prefer to stick with one tool that can handle everything before moving to production in Unreal and Blender. This is especially true because of Blenders lookdev and real-time rendering capabilities.

With the new Eevee system, its clear where this powerful software is heading.

Notable Projects

7. Could you highlight some of your most notable projects? Which major clients or productions have you worked with, and what was your role in those projects?

Since founding Sandstorm, I've worked with many clients from Japan and overseas. They frequently contact me for collaborations, especially startup companies.

There was a game project in which I handled all character production. I cant share too many details, as I don't want to risk any leaks. For this production, I managed all character design visuals and production using Blender. It was a rewarding experience working with this client, whom I greatly respect. Their company trusted my skills and techniques, and we worked together for two years. When people see the final results, they might assume a large team was behind the project, but I was the only one who created it.

This experience inspired me to hire passionate artists worldwide as Sandstorm grew. Given my deep passion for character design, especially dark, atmospheric themes, I chose to invest my time and skills in training other artists I found on ArtStation.

I've also been involved in digital human production and asset development for games, including Final Fantasy: Ever Crisis, visual effects for Valkyrie Profile, and several ongoing projects I cant name due to confidentiality.

8. Is there a particular project that stands out to you as being especially challenging or rewarding? What lessons did you take away from that experience?

To be honest, in every project I've worked on, whether for clients or my own creations, I still feel I haven't reached the level of mastery I'm aiming for, as I'm always striving to achieve more. Of course, each project brings its own challenges, and without that challenge, where's the fun?

Each time I develop a project, I feel something is missing. Since Blender's technology is constantly evolving, especially in areas like hair grooming, many of my previous projects felt slightly off, even if others liked them. However, with the release of Blender 4.3, I can finally say I've achieved the real-time quality I was looking for. Ill be revealing some sneak peeks of it soon.

Artistic & Technical Vision

9. Sandstorm is known for its cutting-edge character production work. What distinguishes your approach to character creation and animation from other studios?

Hearing my company described as a cutting-edge character production studio is an honor, especially considering the many talented studios worldwide, each with its own artistic touch and creative direction.

I can say that my primary tool for character production is Blender, which sets us apart from other studios. Beyond that, I have deep respect for every artist and studio in this field. I believe there are studios that achieve higher quality and visuals than we currently do, but thank you for the compliment. Were constantly focused on bringing new technology into our work, with Blender as our main tool. Because of this, every artist in my company is a dedicated Blender artist.

I also took on the challenge of building both of my company's websites myself, as the site is essential to our identity. Feel free to visit both sites. The first one was created on Wix, but due to Wix's issues and bugs, I decided to learn WordPress and coding to develop my second website. Mobile user experience is a crucial element for us, and I'm still refining it to add more functionality and interesting features, which will be coming soon.

10. How do you balance creativity with technical precision when working on client projects? Do you find clients give you a lot of creative freedom?

When a client reaches out to me, they know they can trust my work because of what I deliver. I have encountered some challenges with certain clients, often due to issues with their management or misaligned creative directions. There are many details I cant go into, but these situations are normal. Art is an educational process, and even if there are missteps, each experience provides valuable lessons and a learning curve to achieve better results.

Working with my clients gives me the freedom to develop their visuals, but as they say, "the client is king." So, despite the skills I bring, the client's needs are always the priority. Mutual collaboration and respect are essential for successful business growth.

Production Stages

11. How do you approach pre-production, including concept art, storyboarding, and asset creation?

Before I start any pre-production, I already have a clear vision of how the final image will appear on the screen. This allows me to easily create an organized hierarchy and workflow to bring my ideas to life.

This year, I wanted to test my own creative thinking and vision by collaborating with other passionate artists. The results and outcomes exceeded my expectations, and after this experience, I'm confident we can bring something impactful to the gaming and CGI production markets in the future.

12. Could you describe your post-production process? How much emphasis do you place on compositing, color grading, or other finishing touches?

This part is my favorite because it's the one I envisioned from the very beginning of pre-production. I already had the final product in my mind. It was just about finding the right way to enhance it with the finishing touch I was aiming for.

Industry Trends & Future Vision

13. What emerging trends or technologies in the CG industry are you most excited about? Are there any you're currently experimenting with or plan to adopt?

This is a great question, and I'm happy to say that AI technology has introduced a new way of thinking and a level of creative imagination that didn't exist before. AI technology is becoming a key tool to accelerate creativity and enhance imagination.

Our goal is to expand AI, digital human creation, and AAA character production to build new worlds and values for the future. By combining AI with various CG tools and techniques, we aim to bring forth ideas and imaginations that were previously out of reach.

Excited by these times, we believe AI models will address a wide range of business challenges and create unprecedented value. By harnessing imaginative models and virtual universes, AI can help shape a new atmosphere and futuristic world.

14. What's next for Sandstorm Studio? Do you have any upcoming projects or long-term goals that you'd like to share?

Yes, we have several projects already in production, but we can't reveal any specifics or visuals just yet. All I can share is that we are developing three IP projects: a Dark Fantasy game, a Cyberpunk game, and a Cel-shaded game. The entire production and pipeline use Blender and Unreal Engine, though we may integrate Unity for mobile. Our main focus, however, is on creating a AAA RPG for the next generation of consoles.

That's why I established a new studio in Tokyo and invested in gathering the most talented and passionate artists from Japan and around the world, raising significant capital to develop games with our unique touch and vision. Our goal is to bring a fresh and distinct style to gaming that our company will proudly share with the world in the future.

Advice & Insights

15. What advice would you give to aspiring CG artists or small studios looking to establish themselves in the industry?

Based on my experience, if you have a dream or a goal you want to reach, go and pursue it. It's as simple as that. But its not as easy as it may seem because behind every goal lies a sacrifice. You may find yourself alone, without the support of friends or family, as you pursue something only you can fully understand.

Its worth trying, without fearing failure. You need to fail, not just once or twice. Failure is essential for growth and development. Failure shows you what went wrong and how to fix it. It teaches you the secrets, techniques, and skills to manage yourself, understand your competition, and ultimately create something that seems like magic to others.

For any startup studio looking to establish itself in the industry, the first lesson is to learn how to fail, and to fail hard, so you understand what went wrong. Your competitors were once in the same position, maybe even worse, yet they persevered. There's no magic formula, just hard work, sacrifice, and passion for what you do. With time, you'll develop your own identity, and that will be the foundation on which you grow and establish yourself in the industry. Once you've built that foundation, the path to entering the market and standing out among the competition will become much clearer.

Competition is like playing Monopoly, without it, everything feels dull. If you have the courage to face it, you'll learn so much, and the road to success will reveal itself. When you wonder how others reached their level of success, remember that they got there through sacrifices and failures.

16. What do you believe are the most important skills for success in the CG industry, both on the creative and technical sides?

Passion and failure are the most important key factors for growth in the CG industry. Failure is the real secret behind anyone's development because it builds a resilience and skill set that others can never fully understand.

So fail, and get back up quickly, fail again, and rise even stronger, until you reach a point where failure no longer holds you back.

Our artistic journey is an adventure in education and self-discovery. With each experience, you'll learn things that were once hidden from view. But once you reach that understanding, everything becomes clearer, and the path to success gradually reveals itself.

I would like to thank RenderHub for the opportunity to share my experiences and journey. I hope others who want to establish their own studios among the competition find joy in the process, never give up, and build a system and a maze that no one can overcome.