One thing I am excited about every day as a representative is that animation does not just exist in the movies and television shows we watched growing up. It stays with us for a lifetime.

Yes, that may sound cliché, but animation is constantly evolving and will always be a part of our lives, no matter our age. The stories being told at both the independent and studio level have purpose. They have something meaningful to say. They entertain, inspire, challenge perspectives, and connect people across generations.

Why Animation

What makes animation so special is that everyone brings their own artistic expression to the process. Whether it is the writing, directing, animation, art direction, character design, storyboarding, or any other creative discipline, each artist contributes a unique voice that helps bring these worlds and characters to life. That collaboration is what makes animation such a powerful and enduring medium.

So many times, I hear writers say, "I've never written an animated script before."

My response is always the same: that doesn't mean you can't write one.

I usually ask a few simple questions. Do you have a story to tell? Do you know how to build compelling characters? Can you create a world that feels unique and authentic? Can you find moments of comedy within heartfelt scenes and moments of heart within comedy?

The answer is almost always yes.

At its core, great storytelling is great storytelling. Animation is simply another medium through which those stories can be told. While there are technical differences and unique creative opportunities within animation, the foundation remains the same: memorable characters, engaging worlds, emotional stakes, and a story that resonates with an audience.

As a representative, one of my greatest joys is helping clients navigate between live action and animation. While both mediums offer incredible creative opportunities, there is something uniquely magical about seeing a story come to life in animated form.

Animation has the ability to take audiences anywhere, push beyond the limits of reality, and bring imagination to the screen in ways no other medium can. Watching a character, world, or idea evolve from a concept into a fully realized animated story (feature or series) is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

3 Key Factors in Animation Features to Remember

1) Supporting Characters:

One thing that I look for in a script is the supporting characters and how they help build out the film or series.

Take Zazu from The Lion King. If Zazu didn't exist, how do you think "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" would start? Without Zazu, the scene loses its conflict and much of what it reveals about Simba's personality.

2) World Building – The Rules of the World

If you are writing a sci-fi, a fairytale fantasy etc. start with the simple concept of the world and build it out. There are so many times when reading a script one gets lost because there are so many details that you get lost in the script because you are trying to understand what is going on in the world that the character lives in. In addition, writers sometimes forget that the world also acts as a character in some cases.

3) Dialogue

Creating strong dialogue for characters is also key to a great script that a rep looks for. Every time a character speaks or interacts with another character, it is important to see how their relationship develops within each scene. Some of the best moments in an animated film come when one character says something subtle that makes another character laugh, or when two completely opposite characters are put together and build off one another.

Think about the relationship between Cogsworth and Lumière in Beauty and the Beast. Their dialogue is timeless, no pun intended. They disagree with each other, and they only respect each other to a certain extent, but they share a common goal: to become human again.

Bringing It All Together

At the end of the day, these three factors, supporting characters who add conflict and depth, a world with clear rules that becomes a character in its own right, and dialogue that reveals relationships, all serve the same goal. They make a story feel alive. They are what turn a concept into a world an audience wants to live in.

So if you have been telling yourself that animation is not your medium, I want to leave you with this: it can be. The tools and techniques may be different, but the heart of the work is exactly the same as it has always been. If you have a story worth telling and characters worth caring about, you already have what matters most. The rest is craft, and craft can be learned. I cannot wait to see the worlds you build.

Last Week's Winner Spotlight

Before we jump into this week, let's celebrate. Congratulations to our two Week 1 July Filmmakers Club winners, Timika Chambers and Lindsay Thompson!

Timika Chambers is a multi-genre screenwriter specializing in family drama, with a gift for weaving humor into stories about the generational cycle of pain and how to break it. She writes to present real-life issues, and their potential solutions, in empowering and daring ways. Connect with Timika by clicking here!

Lindsay Thompson is a Director of Photography and visual storyteller based in Greensboro, North Carolina, known for blending natural light with psychologically textured compositions that balance bold visual depth with minimalist restraint. In 2024, she completed the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Masterclass, deepening her ability to translate emotion into visual language. Connect with Lindsay by clicking here!

For completing all three of last week's challenges, Lindsay and Timika have each won a free Stage 32 Pitch Session with an executive of their choice!

Could this be you next week? Complete this week's challenges below for your chance to be featured right here in next Monday's blog.

This Week's July Filmmakers Club Challenges

Evan's blog is a reminder that animation, like every kind of filmmaking, is built on the stories and characters we care about, and on the community of artists who bring them to life together. This week is your invitation to do exactly that: celebrate the worlds that inspire you, and connect with the storytellers building alongside you. Here are your three challenges for Week 2:

Here are your three challenges for Week 2:

• Comment on this blog below, with your biggest takeaway from Evan's insights, a question you'd love his perspective on, or a project you're working on that this advice applies to.
• Post in the Stage 32 Animation Lounge and share an animated film, series, or short that inspires you. What worked? What surprised you? Whether you are an animator, writer, director, or just someone who loves the medium, share what stood out and why. Bonus points if you can include a video link, trailer, scene, or image so we can see what you are talking about!
• Then post in the Stage 32 Filmmaking Lounge to update us on what you are currently building, learning, or working on. Last week, you told us your goals, so this week, tell us how you're working toward them! Use this as a chance to share your current challenges and interests, or to check in with the community on your progress.

Complete all three challenges this week, and you will be entered to win a free Stage 32 Webinar, with the winners announced in next Monday's blog.

We can't wait to see what you share. See you in the Lounges!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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