July FableFriday: Adam Gravett, Artist/Animator

Adam Gravett had an artistic goal in mind and just needed to figure out his path. “Ever since I was a little kid, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do or how I was going to get there, but I was certain that I wanted to be in the field of art and animation,” says Adam. 

With a keen interest in aliens, animals, wizards, knights, and other creatures, Adam breathes a creative, humorous, and cartoony aesthetic into his character designs and animation at FableVision. Inspired by other artists and the wonderful work that he stumbles upon, Adam continues to improve his illustrations, discover new techniques, and grow his incredible portfolio. 

Keep reading to learn more about Adam’s creative process, hopes for future projects, and unparalleled hat collection. 

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What’s your “journey to FableVision” story?
It began back in 2016, when two ambassadors for Lesley University came to my high school art class and talked to us about the college. Lesley ended up being the college that I attended. During my junior year, I took a character design class taught by FableVision’s Bob Flynn, Director of Art and Animation. I had previously heard about the class and I knew immediately that I needed to take it. FableVision stayed on my radar for potential post-college work. Bob told me that he liked my work and wanted to keep in touch. 

A year later I ended up seeing him and taking a tour of the old FableVison studio space. I’m happy I did that because soon after that COVID-19 started, and I moved home to Albany, New York. Bob contacted me and I started doing some freelance animation work for FableVision. A year and a half later, I received an offer for a full-time position as an artist/animator, and moved back to Boston to start the next chapter of my life. 

How did you get into art and illustration?
Ever since I was little, I knew that I wanted to make cartoons. I loved watching SpongeBob SquarePants and I realized from a very young age that I wanted to make something like that. I never thought about doing anything else.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your art? What types of characters do you like to create and animate?
I’m inspired by other artists I find on Twitter and Instagram. There are so many talented people out there, which encourages me to keep drawing and making art. I always enjoy drawing fun little creatures – animals, aliens, and monsters are so much fun. 

Can you walk us through your creative process?
When it comes to drawing, it usually starts with me looking for reference images to help me get some ideas on where to start. Using those, along with the knowledge of what kind of feeling is supposed to be perceived when looking at the art, I’ll make a few versions of whatever it is I’m drawing. I’ll push certain elements to ensure the art is as dynamic as possible. 

When it comes to animating, I’ll start by looking at what I’m going to animate, and I act out the movements myself to get a feel for how the characters are supposed to move.

What would you like to work on in the future at the studio?
I’m a big fan of longer series of animated shorts, like the NoiseFilter series or The Paper Girls Show, a Global Tinker and FableVision collaboration. In a similar format, I’d love to design and animate alien characters based in space. I’m a big sci-fi fan, so getting to work on a project like that would be a dream come true. 

When you go to a museum or art show, which works do you look at first?
When it comes to museums and other art shows, I want to consume as much art as I can. I have a very simple solution –  I head towards the closest thing near me and try to circle through all of the works.

Tell us more about your hat collection.
I got my first hat back in high school. I saw it out of the corner of my eye while shopping in the mall with my mom, and just thought it looked neat. I started wearing it every day and I eventually bought more. Some of my hat highlights include my Squid Hat, Umbrella Hat, and my most recent addition, my Bidoof Hat.

Adam’s Favorites

Favorite cartoon: SpongeBob Squarepants is easily my favorite cartoon. It was the first cartoon I remember watching and it’s partially the reason why I am where I am today. 

Favorite movie: I don’t think I’ve ever watched a movie more times than I have with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. I saw it four times in theaters and five more times after that.

Favorite game: Destiny – I’ve put too much time into that game, both playing it and learning about its deep DEEP lore.

Favorite hat: My hats are like my children – you can’t choose one over the other… except my gray flat clap with winter flaps (but don’t tell the others).

Favorite vacation destination: Saint Martin, a part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. My parents have a timeshare there and it is absolutely beautiful and a great place to scuba dive.  

Favorite snack: Pretzels, both soft and hard. Top tier snack.

Favorite New York state attraction: The Saratoga Race Track.

FableVision and AETC Collaborate to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy

With COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and vaccination hesitancy on the rise, educating ourselves remains a priority. By combating false information and taking the time to learn about COVID-19 and other health topics, we can improve the health of us, our family, and our friends. 

To bring humor and movement to complex scientific concepts, FableVision and the AIDS Education Training Center (AETC) partnered together to create an animated series based on the NoiseFilter Podcast and Live Show, featuring infectious disease specialist Dr. MarkAlain Dery and community health expert Dr. Eric Griggs (Doc Griggs). The podcast aims to distill COVID-19 information, debunk misinformation, and correct health literacy.

To extend NoiseFilter beyond a podcast, FableVision created a video series with animated versions of Dr. Dery and Doc Griggs as they digest complicated scientific concepts into bite-size chunks. By using humor, storytelling, and punk rock spike proteins, they provide an easy way for the general public to dispel myths and understand COVID-19 and mRNA vaccines. As Dr. Dery and Doc Griggs’ personalities, dynamic, and humor come to life, FableVision artists use fun visuals, whimsy, and fairy tale analogies to help the doctor duo captivate audiences and explain medical concepts in an easy-to-understand way. 

“Dr. Dery and Doc Griggs have an amazing wealth of pop culture knowledge and a super-cartoony sensibility, which makes the brainstorming sessions ridiculously fun,” says Leigh Hallisey, FableVision’s Creative Director and Head Writer. “They aren’t afraid to push the boundaries with trippy visuals and humor, as long as the science is accurate and engaging for our audience. You’d be hard pressed to find anything else like it in the world of health PSAs, and that makes us really proud.” 

As a studio committed to telling “stories that matter, stories that move,” FableVision is proud to team up with AETC and NoiseFilter to produce a series that aims to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity through creative educational methods. Read on for more information.

A Look Inside

Episode 1: Valiant Vaccine Versus the Vicious Virus
Animated versions of Dr. Dery and Doc Griggs provide a simple way for healthcare workers and the public to discuss COVID-19. With fast-paced cartoons, engaging punk rock music, and superhero antibodies, the pair details how COVID-19 makes people sick, how mRNA works, and how mRNA vaccines fight Coronavirus.

Episode 2: The Big Bad Variant and the Three Little Griggs
The second video uses a Three Little Pigs analogy and more humor to demonstrate how the mRNA vaccine fights COVID-19 variants. By comparing the human body to the three pigs’ houses and COVID-19 to the wolf, the animation delves deeper into how COVID-19 mutates and how the mRNA booster shot helps the body update its security system to fight the mutating virus.

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Established in 1987, AETC aims to improve the quality of life of persons with or at-risk of HIV through high-quality professional education and training.

To stay informed about COVID-19 and to follow Dr. Dery and Doc Griggs’ journey of promoting health initiatives, watch the first two episodes on AETC’s YouTube Channel, the NoiseFilter website, and other platforms. Stay tuned for more episodes to come.

August FableFriday: Allie Caton, Production Assistant

Allie Caton knows how to get results: she’s climbed the ranks from FableFan to marketing intern to full-time member of FableVision’s production team, all in the course of one year. This ability to hustle has proven invaluable during her first few months as a studio production assistant, and she still has the creative drive to work on various collaborative projects in her free time as well. With a diverse skillset and passion for diversity itself, Allie brings a sharp eye to many of the Studio’s current projects. Speaking of eyes, make sure to keep one trained on her – there’s no knowing what she’ll put her mind to next.

“One of the biggest things that I got out of my marketing internship (and that I now apply to my role as production assistant) is an understanding of how FableVision as a company functions in both company culture and workflow,” shares Allie. “Getting to know the ins and outs of each person’s role in the company during my internship turned out to be incredibly important in my position as PA since I’m constantly working with different people. The independent project aspect of our internship was also immensely helpful in helping me understand the overall arc of creating a project from start to finish.”

Read on to learn more about Allie’s journey to FableVision, her current and upcoming side-projects, and what she thinks it takes to make it through a hectic (yet exhilarating) week in the studio.

Welcome Allie! Tell us about your journey to FableVision!
I found out about FableVision about a year ago, and instantly knew that I had to get myself involved in whatever way I could. In September, I reached out to Sarah Ditkoff and Mitul Daiyan to set up an informational interview where I was able to see the studio and pick their brains a bit. After that meeting, I applied for the marketing internship and joined the FableVision team as an intern in January. When the opportunity to interview for a PA position eventually opened up, I jumped on it!

You just graduated from Boston University – go Terriers! What did you study and how do you think this has prepared you for the “real world?”
I studied Mass Communication at BU’s College of Communication. I learned a lot of things throughout college, but the biggest thing I gleaned from my major is how to communicate clearly and effectively. This is something that is not only necessary for my role as a PA, but also as a functional member of the “real world.”

With your hand in so many projects, can you walk us through what a typical week in your shoes looks like?
A typical week as a PA doesn’t really exist. Every week is different from the last and will be different from the next. I have a few projects that I’m consistently on, but the work is almost always fluctuating. Generally, my tasks include helping manage databases, checking in on artists and developers, communicating with clients, testing games and interactives, and supporting the producers in whatever ways they may need.

You spent part of last year studying in Australia and interning for the Sanfilippo Children's Foundation. How was life “down under,” and what did you take away from that experience?
It was an amazing experience both living in Australia and working with SCF. I feel so lucky to have worked with an incredible group of passionate, driven women for a cause so close to all their hearts – and now to mine. I definitely left Australia with a deeper connection to the SCF cause, a wider set of professional skills, and the best tan I’ll ever have.

Aside from your marketing and production expertise, you’re also a very talented illustrator! When did you first start drawing and what do you most enjoy about it?
I first started drawing sophomore year of high school. There are a lot of things that I love about drawing, but the biggest thing is how empowering it is to translate an abstract idea in your brain into something tangible. As frustrating as it can be to make something I really like, drawing and creativity in general are not only outlets, but acts of self-empowerment. It’s also really fun to draw outfits I wish I had.

 You recently curated and produced the amazing zine Millennium Girls. What inspired you to launch this project, and what was it like working with 28 other artists to complete it?
I really love cartoons, and still feel really connected to a lot of the awesome female characters that I grew up watching. I wanted to do something to celebrate this nostalgia that I know is shared, so I decided to put together the zine! It was a huge learning experience working with so many artists and making sure all ends were met, but it was also one of the most fun and exciting things I’ve ever been involved with. I’m currently in the planning stage for a second volume all about ‘90s cartoons, so you can follow that process here if you’re interested in learning more!

 You grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina! What was it like adjusting to life – specifically winter – up here in New England?
The winters were definitely an adjustment – my first year here was the winter where we had record-breaking amounts of snow, and I was ready to move away right after arriving. I figure after making it through that, no winter will ever seem bad.

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More about Allie! 

Cat or Dog: Dog
Graphic novel: Catboy by Benji Nate
Harry Potter house: Sometimes Hufflepuff, sometimes Ravenclaw, sometimes Slytherin... I’ve never gotten a clear answer
Steven Universe character: Pearl <3
‘90s Cartoon: Recess
‘00s Cartoon: Danny Phantom
Artistic muse: Babs Tarr!
Inspirational site: Artstation
Best thing you ever cooked up: A variety of breads
Janelle Monae song: Q.U.E.E.N.
Favorite FableVisionary: Christina’s cat pillow

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June FableFriday: J Milligan and Cassandra Berger, Co-Founders of Lanky Co.

J Milligan and Cassandra “Cass” Berger are…well…lanky. The dynamic co-founders of Lanky Co. met at the award-winning digital toy company Toca Boca. That collaboration has flourished into the launch of Lanky Co., a development studio for high-quality, kid-focused projects to delight and entertain audiences wherever they may be. With a cadence of colorful projects up their sleeve and vast experience working with high profile clients, Lanky is ready to take on any project.

Recently, J, Cass, and FableVision’s Tone Thyne teamed up to produce the quirky earworm that is the new Don’t Mix Us Up music videos. The series addresses the common catastrophe of mixing up things that are easily mistaken for each other but should never be confused. The result is a viral sensation, out now on Aardman studios’ new YouTube channel for teens and adults, AardBoiled.   

“We’re always delighted to hear that our work stands out in the landscape of kids media, because it’s not intentional, it’s just our personalities. We never want to talk down to our audience, and humor is number one,” shares Cass. “Visually, we’re both drawn to similar things so that results in having a cohesive output. We’re not afraid to put something different out there, as long as it’s true to us.”

 We sat down with the duo to talk shop, their preference for Cabbage or Lettuce, and what makes Lanky Co. so…lanky in this month’s FableFriday.

Congrats on the recent launch of Lanky Co.! Tell us more about your mission and the motivation for launching your own studio.
J: We launched Lanky because we both always wanted to have our own studio, and when our last gig came to an end we thought it was time to go for it. I’m really glad we did. Our mission is to make great stuff, add to the culture in a positive way, and focus on projects we care about.  

Cass: We were both at a time in our careers where it felt right to go for it. We wanted to be creatives who have a sense of ownership for whatever work we do, big or small. Whoever gets to the office first texts the other a trophy emoji, that’s how excited we are to get to work.

Both Lanky’s live-action and animated projects have such a unique, creative style that stands out in the world of kids’ media! How do you describe Lanky’s personality? What unique perspective is your content adding to the landscape?
J: We like to challenge the audience a bit—we try to get them engaged and invested in a way that we can leave things out and have them fill in the blanks. We do this with visuals and writing and for any age audience. It’s fun to watch something where part of the story happens in your head.    

You previously worked together in animation and production at the game development studio Toca Boca. We’d love to learn more about the history of your collaborative, creative partnership!
J: Cassandra came on to the Toca TV team as the Director of Animation. We’d sit in this half-finished interior room called The Barn with the content team and laugh hysterically for an hour or two coming up with ideas for mini-shows for the Toca TV platform. This was my favorite part of my job, which also involved running a subscription business and building a technology platform. We basically do the same thing now all day long in a much smaller office but with cleaner bathrooms and free kombucha. 

Cass: Back at Toca TV the Product Manager once told me that she was jealous of my meetings because she could hear my laughter coming from all of them. That’s the beauty of working on comedies, laughing means it’s working! We’ve carried that through to Lanky, where we know we’re on the right track when we’re cracking each other up.

Cass, before Toca Boca you spent some time as Art Director and Designer on several broadcast properties and published books. How have those experiences in visual development and show production influenced your work as Creative Director at Lanky Co. today? 
Cass: I’ve been lucky enough to work on a bunch of broadcast shows as well as a lot of show development. At Lanky we’ve taken on a few projects that are pure development, which is my favorite part! Because I’ve worked on shows before, I’m able to avoid complications down the road while we develop a project, as well as poking an idea enough to see if it has legs.

J, you’ve had some amazing experiences working with new technology as Creative Director of the Content Innovation Lab at Sesame Workshop! What technologies or content areas are you most excited about right now?
J: We’re doing a lot of bite-sized content for social media right now, and I love the challenge of packing a lot of story and information into a tiny thing. It’s like writing a sonnet or haiku, only with sound effects and speech bubbles and getting the timing exactly right. There is also a lot of interest in audio and speech recognition right now through podcasting and smart speakers which I find kind of cool and funny because it harkens back to radio theater, which gets the tech out of the way and puts the movie in your head, so to speak. 

Lanky may be young, but you’ve had a lot of collaborative experiences under your belt already, including the partnership with FableVision Studios to create the Don’t Mix Us Up videos. What was it like working with Tone Thyne on this wacky series of shorts?
Cass: Tone is one of my favorite people. He got me my first job out of college and has been a sort of mentor ever since. I was so excited to be able to work with him on an original project because I knew with him involved, it would be great.

J: Genius just wafts from Tone’s mind like that yeasty smell at Subway. Seriously, Tone is the best. When we gave him the note, “can you make the lyrics stupider?” he sharpened his pencil and molded the clever bits for a general audience and voila! Music video history was made.

You’ve also teamed up with Aardman animation studio to distribute the Don’t Mix Us Up series on their new YouTube channel AardBoiled. How is AardBoiled the perfect home for Don’t Mix Us Up?
J: We have always admired, no, worshipped Aardman’s comedy, craft, action sequences, attention to detail, and high, high bar for quality. It’s like everybody else was doing things one way and Aardman came along and thought, we’re just going to painstakingly make brilliant comedy for people of all ages and see what happens. We hope that Don’t Mix Us Up appeals to Aardman fans. We’re really happy to be working with them and to have the series on their channel.

We had so much fun working with you on Don’t Mix Us Up! Now that the series has launched, what’s next on Lanky’s horizon?
J: We have irons in fires all over the place. We’re creating new ideas for original shows and books as well as working with partners on edutainment, digital design, content marketing, and other kinds of storytelling. We love working on different kinds of projects, collaborating with folks, and are always looking for new challenges.

Finally, the Lanky mascot has an interesting (and creative!) presence on Instagram. Who is the mastermind behind-the-scenes?
Cass: When we had downtime early on we talked about creating some kind of Instagram comic, something that we could do just ourselves to get a presence out the world. We both come up with ideas and I draw them. The idea is to make quick bites that we can post to get a laugh. You can tell that we’re busy when there hasn’t been a post in a while but there are definitely Lanky fans out there eagerly waiting for the next piece in the series.

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More about J and Cass:

Favorite Muppet:
J: Cookie Monster                     
Cass: Grover

Junk food of choice:
J: Shrimp Chips              
Cass: Fritos

Animated short that inspires you: 
J: Virgin Atlantic Safety Video
Cass: The Little Boy and the Beast

New technology you’re excited about: 
J: Cordless Vacuum Cleaners—total game-changer           
Cass: Virtual Reality drawing/digital painting

Kids’ show that makes you nostalgic: 
J: Magic Garden   
Cass: Pinky and the Brain

The best viral YouTube video:     
J: This should be viral.  Please everybody watch this!  
Cass: Don’t Mix Us Up: Cabbage & Lettuce (If I say it, will it make it viral?)   

Cabbage or Lettuce? 
J: Lettuce 100%   
Cass: Cabbage 100%

Favorite way to unwind?            
J: Chopping wood in my orange safety chaps
Cass: Watching The Real Housewives