OFF BLXXK Magazine
An Innovative Look at Modern Relationships
An interview with Julian Keys II on Is Typing…, SOAI’s storytelling philosophy, and building an animation studio in the South, alongside a review of the debut film.
Read the interview
SOAI
ENTERTHESOAICOSYSTEM
AboutOrigins
Origins
Spark Of An Idea (SOAI), pronounced “Sway,” is a media and entertainment company based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, with animation as its foundational medium. Animation is not simply SOAI’s first product or a division within a larger company. It is the core medium through which SOAI creates, owns, distributes, and expands original intellectual property. Culturally, the studio is founded and rooted in the American South.
POV
You Start an Animation Studio and Debut Your First Short Film in 6 Months
Founder
Founder
Julian R. Keys II
SOAI was founded by Louisiana native Julian R. Keys II, who set out to build an institution rooted in the region he called home. After a collegiate career in baseball, Julian began assembling a team of volunteer artists to bring the studio to life. Within six months, that team completed SOAI’s debut short film, Is Typing…
Gallery
What we’re buildingSOAICOSYSTEM
SOAI is building a diversified media and entertainment ecosystem designed to create multiple pathways for creativity, audience connection, and economic sustainability. At its core is the creation, ownership, and expansion of original intellectual property through animation. SOAI’s business model is built around creating, owning, and expanding original intellectual property through animation while developing complementary divisions that strengthen the overall ecosystem.
01
D3 — Drawn First 3D
SOAI’s proprietary production methodology designed to shorten the distance between idea and iteration while allowing animation to scale across the ecosystem.
02
Original IP
A library of stories, worlds, and characters designed to live across shorts, features, licensing, and brand extension.
03
Cultural Reach
A storytelling engine rooted in American South culture while reaching audiences globally across formats and platforms.
NEWS / PRESSWHERE THE WORK IS SEEN
In the conversation.
Interviews, festival selections, and moments with the creative community. Follow the stories taking SOAI beyond the screen.
In the community.
Sharing the work, exchanging ideas, and connecting with the next generation of storytellers.
Artist conversation
KOLORS: Bridging Visual Art and Animation
Julian Keys II and artist Lakeem Wilson came together at the South Dallas Cultural Center to discuss KOLORS and the Life In Black Ink art series that inspired its visual style.
View the recapIndustry Insights · A Bunch of Short Guys
LA Isn’t the Only Way: Creating Animation in the South
An inside look at independent animation with SOAI’s founder, hosted by the Dallas animation guild at Brookhaven College, exploring the process and lessons behind building original work in the South.
Explore the eventCommunity visit
SOAI Goes Back to School
New Tech High School
SOAI connected with students at New Tech High School, bringing the studio’s work into the classroom.
Visit SOAI on Instagram
Festival selections · 2026
Storytelling systemStories
Mundane
The everyday.
Mythology
The extraordinary.
The space between them.
SOAI's storytelling philosophy is built on the belief that stories can exist across all three spectrums. Grounded in the everyday, rooted in the extraordinary, or somewhere between the two.
Featured
Romantic Drama
In a world built on digital language, two young lovers struggle to understand each other.
The debut short film from Spark Of An Idea, completed in just six months using SOAI’s D3 production methodology.
Featured
KOLORS
Psychological Thriller
After a life-altering experience, a young college baseball player at Penney University, a fictional HBCU in New Orleans, finds himself trapped between intrusive memories and a disconnected present.
Set in New Orleans, Louisiana, KOLORS draws visual and artistic inspiration from South Dallas artist Lakeem Wilson and his Life In Black Ink series. The collaboration brings a distinct artistic influence from SOAI’s home in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex into a story rooted in the cultural landscape of New Orleans.
Through this cross-city artistic exchange, SOAI continues to develop its D3 approach to drawn animation, exploring how contrasting visual styles can express the relationship between memory, trauma, and the present.
Coming Soon
THE SOAICOSYSTEM EXPANDSWORK WITH US
WORK WITH US.
From developing ideas to producing visual experiences, SOAI works with creators, companies, and cultural institutions to bring projects forward.
Story & Creative Development
- Screenwriting & Script Development
- Story Consulting
- Narrative Development & Worldbuilding
- Creative Direction
- Campaign & Concept Development
Visual Development & Pre-Production
- Concept Art & Visual Development
- Character & Environment Design
- Storyboarding & Animatics
- Previsualization
- Look Development
Animation & Creative Production
- Animation Production
- Commercials & Branded Content
- Production Support
- Visual Effects & Post-Production
Commercial Visualization
- Architectural & Infrastructure Visualization
- 3D Modeling, Rendering & Texturing
- Animated Walkthroughs & Flythroughs
- Environmental & Urban Development Visualization
- Conceptual Design & Presentation Visuals
- Visualization for Economic Development & Stakeholder Engagement
Culture & Collaboration
- Artists & Animators
- Filmmakers & Studios
- Musicians & Composers
- Brands & Organizations
- Cultural Institutions
Have a project, an idea, or an opportunity to explore? Let’s talk.