Welcome to The DIY Animation Show, the do-it-yourself guide for Independent Animators! Alex and Lindsay Small-Butera are the lovely creators behind YouTube sensation, Baman Piderman, and have recently directed and guest-animated on not one, but two shows on Cartoon Network. Today we cover: The Origins of Baman Piderman. How nonsensical humor and established rules go […] The post ‘Baman Piderman’ Creators, Alex & Lindsay Small-Butera (Part 1) :: DIY Animation Show #1 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

Hey, friends! We have two exciting OA announcements for you: 1.) We *finally* have a new release date for The DIY Animation Show (Wednesday, December 7th) …and… 2.) Auditions for the next generation of Painting Drama open this month! To get all the details, listen to the audio announcement via the media player below… Listen To The Audio Announcement: http://traffic.libsyn.com/oatley/OA_Announcement_Dec62016_DIYA_PD1G6_Announcement.mp3 […] The post [Announcement] New Release Date for ‘DIY Animation’ + ‘Painting Drama’ Auditions Open Soon! appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

The DIY Animation Show – our new podcast for animators who want to make their own animated series, shorts or features – launches Tuesday, November 15th! …and we need your help! To meet the hosts, get a sneak peek at our new show and learn how you can help us get the word out, check out our special announcement via […] The post ‘The DIY Animation Show’ Launches November 15th! appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

Samantha Kallis is an Art Director at Dreamworks TV Animation Studio, and the illustrator of The Fantastic Frame chapter book series, written by Lin Oliver, Executive Director of SCBWI. Join us today as we talk about: How Social Media (Tumblr and Twitter) landed Sam her first job in animation. Pros and Cons of having different […] The post Interview with DreamWorks Animation Art Director and Children’s Book Illustrator Samantha Kallis :: Stories Unbound #14 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

Creative community is vital for kidlit illustrators and authors. In this episode, guest co-host Manelle Oliphant and I talk about: How to get the most helpful feedback from your Critique Group. Keeping criticism positive with the “Critique Sandwich” technique. Digital vs. physical meetups. How Critique Groups deepened our understanding of the children’s publishing industry. How your […] The post Launching Your Kidlit Career (Part 2): Critique Groups :: Stories Unbound #13 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

If you’re a children’s book creator feeling daunted by the industry and disconnected from your community, conferences could be your solution! Join me (Shawna) and our guest co-host Manelle Oliphant for a conversation about: Why ​Conferences are crucial for newbies and offer new opportunities for seasoned pros. How Conferences can help you find your niche […] The post Launching Your Kidlit Career (Part 1): Conferences :: Stories Unbound #12 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

In this special episode, our host Shawna JC Tenney takes the guest seat to teach us how she wrote, illustrated and sold her first picture book Brunhilda’s Backwards Day. Chris Oatley, our Executive Producer, interviews Shawna about: The amazing, emotional power of picture books. Why you might turn down paid work for time on your […] The post How I Wrote And Sold My First Picture Book: A Conversation With Shawna JC Tenney :: Stories Unbound #11 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

When Disney announced that JJ Abrams would direct Star Wars Episode VII, Prescott Harvey responded with an animated open letter called 4 Rules To Make Star Wars Great Again. It resonated with millions of fans who were disappointed by George Lucas’ prequel trilogy and skeptical about Disney’s involvement. The film went viral and JJ got […] The post Advice For Your First Feature Film Pitch :: ArtCast #94 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

Molly Idle is the Author and Illustrator of many acclaimed picture books. In 2014, she won a Caldecott Honor Award for her book Flora and the Flamingo. Today we talk about the discoveries and challenges revealed along her journey from animation to a career in kidlit: The transition from Dreamworks to picture books. The importance of […] The post Interview With Caldecott Honor Winner and Kidlit Author/Illustrator Molly Idle :: Stories Unbound #10 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.

LeUyen Pham‘s versatile illustrations can be found in over 80 books, including picture books, graphic novels, and middle grade novels. In this episode, Uyen talks about leaving her high-paying animation job for full-time freelance, how and when to say “No” to potential clients and how she finds the kind of work she wants… Plus: Uncommon versatility and working with celebrities! Listen […] The post Interview with Kidlit Author and Illustrator LeUyen Pham :: Stories Unbound #9 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.