“It has always been characters. Characters that draw you in and make you feel something real despite being unreal. I always start with the characters: a design, a trait, an ability, or simply a concept and I build out from there: other characters, the world, the story. My animations and characters are something that I want everyone to enjoy, but I also want to offer an understanding of different people, cultures, and ideas. My more cartoony style seems at odds with that second idea, but I think it is important that people are reminded that the world is more vibrant and colorful than we think.”