Category: animation movies

Interview with Filmmaker Ashley Gerst (THE SPIRIT SEAM)

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Ashley Gerst: I was motivated by my relationship between my grandfather and myself. He passed away in 2013, and I wanted to do something to honor his memory and to help me find a way through my grief regarding his death. 2. From the idea to… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Ashley Gerst (THE SPIRIT SEAM)

Interview with Animator/Filmmaker Susan Shulman (PURRS AND ‘OL MAN BLUES)

 PURRS AND ‘OL MAN BLUES was the winner of BEST MUSIC at the December 2017 Animation FEEDBACK Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Susan Painter: I have a love of music especially the blues and it was inspired by the actual musician Jack Dappa from New York City. I heard… Continue reading Interview with Animator/Filmmaker Susan Shulman (PURRS AND ‘OL MAN BLUES)

Interview with Animation Filmmaker Ina Conradi (CHRYSALIS)

 CHRYSALIS was the winner of BEST ANIMATION at the December 2017 Animation FEEDBACK Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Ina Conradi: The idea for Chrysalis started in 2014. I have followed up the abstract and surreal structure of my earlier war film Elysian Fields (2013) and continued developing the story… Continue reading Interview with Animation Filmmaker Ina Conradi (CHRYSALIS)

Interview with Animation Filmmaker Marleia A. Alfaro (BARRY THE BLOBFISH)

BARRY THE BLOBFISH played to rave reviews at the December 2017 ANIMATION FEEDBACK Film Festival.   Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Marleia A. Alfaro: It’s so difficult to come up with new characters that you’ve never seen in animation before. The story of Barry the Blobfish came about and motivated me… Continue reading Interview with Animation Filmmaker Marleia A. Alfaro (BARRY THE BLOBFISH)

Interview with director Anthony Bennett (MY LITTLE BROTHER)

Anthony’s short film MY LITTLE BROTHER was the winner of BEST FILM at the September 2017 FAMILY FEEDBACK Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Anthony Bennett: The film was originally made for Tropfest NZ and the theme for 2017 was ‘flame’ – I interpreted this through merging two ideas; the… Continue reading Interview with director Anthony Bennett (MY LITTLE BROTHER)

Interview with Animation Director Peter Zhaoyu Zhou (KARMA)

Peter’s short film KARMA played to rave reviews at the September 2017 Animation & Family FEEDBACK Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?   Peter Zhaoyu Zhou: I always want to be a storyteller that can deliver meaningful messages to my audience through my works. Back to 2013, I read some news and… Continue reading Interview with Animation Director Peter Zhaoyu Zhou (KARMA)

Interview with director/animator Nick LeDonne (HANGING)

Nick LeDonne’s short film “HANGING” played to rave reviews at the March 2017 Animation Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Nick LeDonne: I was motivated to make the film after almost attempting to hang myself back in 2014… I know this is starting off cheery. But later in 2015 I… Continue reading Interview with director/animator Nick LeDonne (HANGING)

Interview with director/animator Stephanie Davidson (SNOOT IN THE CITY)

Stephanie Davidson’s short film “SNOOT IN THE CITY” played to rave reviews at the March 2017 Animation Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Stephanie Davidson: As a film student who was about two years into understand CGI animation, my motivation at the beginning was to simply create a short piece… Continue reading Interview with director/animator Stephanie Davidson (SNOOT IN THE CITY)

Interview with director/animator Nyan Kyal Say (MY LIFE I DON’T WANT)

Nyan Kyal Say’s short film was the winner of BEST FILM at the March 2017 ANIMATION Short Film Festival. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Nyan Kyal Say: The reality that I saw and heard in my surroundings, and the news that I read, and my friends’ experiences what I felt together,… Continue reading Interview with director/animator Nyan Kyal Say (MY LIFE I DON’T WANT)