Animation director Kris Wimberly and his Los Angeles-based Studio Smokescreen have teamed up with non-profit CalHOPE Schools to create a series of animated shorts promoting mental health and wellness for students. Geared towards middle school-aged kids and their families, the shorts tackle subjects including managing
The series of six shorts, each 60-90 seconds in length, feature characters Drip, Poppy, Diablo and Juli as they tackle issues relatable to young viewers. The digital 2D animation style is designed to capture a robust, contemporary production quality, making them feel like snippets from a full-scale TV show. The shorts are slated to debut in early January on the CalHOPE Schools website (calhopeschools.org).
Animation Magazine was given the exclusive opportunity to premiere the first short in the series, “Okay to Ask for Help,” which you can watch below.
Wimberly served as executive producer on the project with Janice Rim as first-time episodic director, veteran Patrick O’Connor as art director, up-and-comers Laura Rivas and Rukshan Thenuwara as writers, and Tiara Little as first-time line producer.
“We hope these vignettes will speak to all young people, especially those most in need from marginalized backgrounds and communities,” said Wimberly. “As a studio, our Smokescreen team was incredibly excited to work with CalHOPE on these shorts because they reflect the perfect intersection between the young audience they are intended to reach and our core mission of authentic storytelling told by diverse and underrepresented voices.”
Studio Smokescreen (studiosmokescreen.com) is an independent, Black-owned animation studio dedicated to leading significant changes in diversity and inclusion across the animation industry. Led by co-founders, brothers Kris Wimberly and Chase Wimberly, the full-scale Los Angeles-based “bridge” studio, the first of its kind, is designed to elevate marginalized and underrepresented talent striving to break into roles on major studio projects.
Part of the California Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS), the CalHOPE Schools (calhopeschools.org) initiative provides no-cost resources for schools and educational agencies across California to further support mental health and wellness for students, educators and families.
