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In today's episode, I interview Vanessa Esteves, director of the short film "Christopher & the Bug," a heartwarming animated short about a reclusive owl whose solitary world is upended by an unexpected visitor, evolving into a touching story about loneliness, empathy, and the courage to connect.

Listen to hear about the origin of the story in her own experience, the challenge of finding the balance between animal and human in animation, and the storybook feel of the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

• "Christopher & the Bug" directed by Vanessa Esteves and Kevin Micallef
• "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" directed by Chuck Jones
• Star Wars directed by George Lucas
• Wonderboys directed by Curtis Hanson
• Toy Story directed by John Lasseter
• Back to the Future directed by Robert Zemeckis
• Uncle Buck directed by John Hughes
• "We Were Here" directed by Pranav Bhasin

Follow the film on Instagram @christopherandthebug and Vanessa @vanesteves_animation. You can also check out the film's website at www.addthedog.com/catb.

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