Who we are...
About Uqu Creative
Animation · Film · Series · Interactive Media
Founded with Intention
Uqu Creative is an independent animation studio focused on developing and producing original stories across film, series, and interactive media. With a foundation rooted in both high-level production experience and creative development, we bring ideas from concept through to execution with clarity, care, and intention.
We believe animation is one of the most powerful forms of storytelling—a medium where imagination can expand while still honoring emotional truth. Our work is guided by a commitment to authenticity, cultural respect, and character-driven narratives that resonate across audiences.
Founded by industry veterans with decades of experience across leading global studios, Uqu Creative bridges large-scale production expertise with a deeply personal approach to storytelling. From pipeline to performance, we understand how to build projects that are both creatively meaningful and thoughtfully executed.
We develop stories that aim to connect—balancing wonder with grounded human experience, and creating worlds that feel immersive, intentional, and alive.
What We Do
Original IP development (film, series, interactive) · Story and world development · Animation production support and pipeline consulting · Creative collaboration with studios and independent creators
Why We Create
We create to inspire connection. To spark wonder. To tell stories that stay with people.
Our Approach
We begin every project with a clear foundation: story, perspective, and intent. Whether developing original IP, drawing from lived experience, or exploring folklore, we prioritize emotional truth, cultural awareness, and narrative clarity from the earliest stages. Our process is collaborative and deliberate. We work closely with writers, artists, and the communities that shape and inspire each story, ensuring every project is developed with intention. From concept through to production, we focus on building stories that are not only meaningful, but also executable at a high level. At Uqu, artistic ambition is always supported by strong development. The result is work that is visually compelling, narratively grounded, and built to translate seamlessly into production.
Lyla Patricia Deraat
Producer · Creative Developer · Storyteller
Patricia "Lyla" Deraat is a Vancouver-based Founder and creative storyteller working across animation, CG production pipelines, and narrative development. Known for her calm leadership style, warmth, and meticulous attention to detail, she has become a trusted presence within both animated and interactive production environments.
Most recently, Lyla served as a Producer on the interactive narrative game Dispatch—a high-profile project recognized for its innovation, visual quality, and collaboration with award-winning, BAFTA-recognized talent. In this role, she played a key part in shaping production across multidisciplinary teams, working closely with creative and technical leads to align vision with execution. She supported cross-department communication, maintained momentum across complex production phases, and contributed to the overall cohesion of the project. Her ability to anticipate challenges, support creative problem-solving, and balance artistic ambition with production realities made her a central part of the team's success.
Her experience in animation production includes work on feature film pipelines and studio environments, with contributions to major projects such as Leo, where she has supported the coordination of complex character-driven workflows and collaborated across cross-functional teams throughout the production process. This foundation has shaped her ability to move fluidly between creative intent and production structure.
Beyond production, Lyla is the creator and rights-holder of the original IP Lulan, a magical coming-of-age adventure set on the open sea. The story follows a young girl who secretly builds a sailboat to pursue her destiny, guided by unseen forces and driven by a deep, emotional bond with her mother. Currently in development for both short-form and feature-length adaptation, Lulan reflects Lyla's commitment to storytelling that blends wonder, vulnerability, and emotional truth.
Across every project, Patricia "Lyla" Deraat brings a rare combination of production precision, creative intuition, and heartfelt storytelling. She is steadily carving out a meaningful space within the animation and interactive entertainment industries—one thoughtful collaboration and one carefully crafted world at a time.
Teunis De Raat is the Producer of Animation on the acclaimed interactive narrative game Dispatch and a seasoned industry leader whose 25-year career spans artistry, technical innovation, and high-level creative direction. With a rare blend of production expertise and strategic vision, he has shaped major studio pipelines, guided global teams, and helped build animation infrastructures from the ground up.
On Dispatch, a high-profile production recognized with nine BAFTA award nominations, Teunis led the animation production and was instrumental in executing the project's animation vision at every level. From establishing pipeline integrity to guiding teams through complex production phases, he played a hands-on role in shaping both the creative output and the systems that supported it. His leadership ensured that the animation was delivered with both technical excellence and creative consistency across the entire project.
Throughout his career, Teunis has worked in senior creative and technical roles at some of the world's most respected studios, including Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, ImageMovers Digital, Rainmaker Entertainment, and Dream Quest Images. As an artist, technical director, creative/technical lead, and VFX supervisor, he has contributed to many beloved and visually groundbreaking films, helping define the evolution of CG storytelling.
Over the past seven years, Teunis has expanded into executive and studio-building roles, overseeing large-scale production strategy, pipeline development, talent recruitment, and organizational growth. His work developing an indie studio's technical and creative infrastructure — from zero to a fully functional production environment — highlights his uniquely comprehensive understanding of both the creative and operational sides of animation.
His production credits include a wide range of globally recognized titles, among them: Meet the Robinsons, Bolt, The Willoughbys, Henchmen, A Christmas Carol, Mars Needs Moms, Armageddon, Mighty Joe Young, The Chronicles of Riddick, Queen of the Damned, Inspector Gadget, as well as Pixar's Toy Story shorts (Small Fry, Partysaurus Rex) and Mater's Tall Tales (Time Travel Mater, Air Mater). SpongeBob: Saving Bikini Bottom.
Bringing together decades of technical mastery, creative insight, and top-tier industry relationships, Teunis De Raat stands as a guiding force in contemporary animation — leading teams, shaping pipelines, and helping studios reach their highest potential.
Teunis De Raat
Producer of Animation · Industry Veteran
Teunis De Raat
Producer of Animation · Industry Veteran
Teunis De Raat is the Producer of Animation on the acclaimed interactive narrative game Dispatch and a seasoned industry leader whose 25-year career spans artistry, technical innovation, and high-level creative direction. With a rare blend of production expertise and strategic vision, he has shaped major studio pipelines, guided global teams, and helped build animation infrastructures from the ground up.
On Dispatch, a high-profile production recognized with nine BAFTA award nominations, Teunis led the animation production and was instrumental in executing the project's animation vision at every level. From establishing pipeline integrity to guiding teams through complex production phases, he played a hands-on role in shaping both the creative output and the systems that supported it. His leadership ensured that the animation was delivered with both technical excellence and creative consistency across the entire project.
Throughout his career, Teunis has worked in senior creative and technical roles at some of the world's most respected studios, including Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar, ImageMovers Digital, Rainmaker Entertainment, and Dream Quest Images. As an artist, technical director, creative/technical lead, and VFX supervisor, he has contributed to many beloved and visually groundbreaking films, helping define the evolution of CG storytelling.
Over the past seven years, Teunis has expanded into executive and studio-building roles, overseeing large-scale production strategy, pipeline development, talent recruitment, and organizational growth. His work developing an indie studio's technical and creative infrastructure — from zero to a fully functional production environment — highlights his uniquely comprehensive understanding of both the creative and operational sides of animation.
His production credits include a wide range of globally recognized titles, among them: Meet the Robinsons, Bolt, The Willoughbys, Henchmen, A Christmas Carol, Mars Needs Moms, Armageddon, Mighty Joe Young, The Chronicles of Riddick, Queen of the Damned, Inspector Gadget, as well as Pixar's Toy Story shorts (Small Fry, Partysaurus Rex) and Mater's Tall Tales (Time Travel Mater, Air Mater). SpongeBob: Saving Bikini Bottom.
Bringing together decades of technical mastery, creative insight, and top-tier industry relationships, Teunis De Raat stands as a guiding force in contemporary animation — leading teams, shaping pipelines, and helping studios reach their highest potential.
Our Mission
- We craft stories with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for the people and cultures that inspire them.
We move beyond the single story, embracing the richness of authentic human experience.
Our mission is to create animated worlds that spark wonder, invite reflection, and bring us closer together.
Compassion
Deeply Human Storytelling
We believe in layered storytelling. In complexity, nuance, and the full spectrum of human experience. Our work explores perspectives that invite curiosity, challenge assumptions, and deepen connection-creating stories that resonate beyond the screen and stay with audiences long after the credits roll.
Curiosity
Cultural Respect
We move beyond the single story, embracing the richness of authentic human experience. We craft stories with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for the people and cultures that inspire them.
Intention
Purpose-Driven Work
Our mission is to create animated worlds that spark wonder, invite reflection, and bring us closer together.