The Animator’s Friend

26: Bring Back Pangea with Marcelese Cooper

In true TAF fashion, me and Marcelese Cooper [https://www.marcelesecooper.art/] talk about bugs.   Marcelese Cooper is an artist and educator originally from Santa Clarita, California, and has practiced throughout the Midwest and the South for nearly a decade. Influenced by their experiences as a young, black, queer individual, Cooper explores themes of identity, community, and the black/brown narrative through mediums like animation, performance art, and experimental video. They blend the DNA of dreams, science-fiction, and surreal art-house cinema in their work. Currently a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Film and Media Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh, Cooper merges storytelling with time-based media to nurture the next generation of storytellers. Their recent artistic endeavors extend into 2D animation, video art, and sound experimentation, with a focus on community-centered projects that emphasize group storytelling and self-mythos. Learn more and contribute to Story Drive [https://storydriveproject.com/] here - an ongoing video series focused on community storytelling. We interpret anonymous voicemails — dreams, memories, secrets, and more — into video art. Whether you're sharing a laugh, a personal truth, or a somber moment, your story will be heard. Donate to Marcelese's upcoming project On Good Days here [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-on-good-days-a-chronic-illness-documentary] - On Good Days is a short experimental documentary about what it means to live with chronic and autoimmune conditions on a daily basis. These conditions are often shown only during emergencies or flare ups, but most of life happens between those moments or potentially in spite of them. It happens in the pacing of energy, in care routines, in the small decisions that shape a day, and in the adaptations that allow people to keep moving through the world on their own terms. This film is focused on that living part, which is often the part that is least understood.     Get your hands on a Camp Snap Camera for $5 off by using my link! https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO [https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO] Get 10% off your submission to the Hudson Valley Film Festival [https://www.hudsonvalleyfilmfest.com/] with TAFnHVFFrCOOL   Links to points of discussion: * Marcelese Cooper's website [https://www.marcelesecooper.art/] * Marcelese's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/slymcooper/] * Story Drive's website [https://storydriveproject.com/] * No More Than Anyone Else [https://www.bridge-chicago.org/bridge-featured-films/nomorethananyoneelse] * Film Diary NYC [https://filmdiary.info/] * On Good Days on GoFundMe [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-on-good-days-a-chronic-illness-documentary] * The Animator's Friend on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/luckydogface/] * Hellavision on June 2nd - Troy NY [https://www.hellavisiontelevision.com/events/cunt-a-vision-2-screening-troy] * No Fun - Troy NY [https://www.nofuntroy.com/] * Ground Zero Basement - Troy NY [https://www.instagram.com/gzbasement/] * The Animator's Playlist on Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-animators-playlist-2026/pl.u-6mo4lNLiZaJlVo] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0d3c1KFC5UJwD3PzOd1VIm?si=9c5e81d1d86144df] * Smith's Hot Dogs [https://www.smithhotdogs.com/] * Nathan's Hot Dogs [https://nathansfamous.com/] * American Museum of Natural History - NYC [https://www.amnh.org/] * The Animator's Favorites [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxR7ZM_iAW8&list=PLhzvCRO-V4rb0RbrbY1aUAYpe7Isl5h97&index=21] * The Animator's Animations [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdwRk7qu4g4&list=PLhzvCRO-V4rarABqMSj7p-L_J9LCL4o-Y&index=18] The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an educator based in New York City. In this series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for personal, lighthearted, and unexpected conversation. Credits: * Recorded, produced, and edited by India Lombardi-Bello * Digital marketing assistance from Arnesh Kundu * Music by Cloutmeyer * Design by Sawyer Rippon * Special thanks to Benton Bainbridge for connecting me to Marcelese! * All opinions belong to the guests and do not represent any other individual or entity

25: Earthwalking with Andy & Carolyn London

From oatmeal to the occult, the London [https://www.londonsquared.net/]'s give equal attention to their pastimes.  They even begrudgingly give equal attention to their dislikes as well which include Long Island and the discomfort of growing up.  These are featured predominently in their most recent film 1981 [https://www.londonsquared.net/films/1981-trailer], where the mullets are long, the metal is heavy, and 14-year-old Douglas gets a birthday surprise that will change his life forever.   Andy and Carolyn are writers, directors, animators and co-founders of London Squared Productions. Since 1999, they’ve been creating films, music videos and animated content.      Get 10% off your submission to the Hudson Valley Film Festival [https://www.hudsonvalleyfilmfest.com/] with TAFnHVFFrCOOL   Get your hands on a Camp Snap Camera for $5 off by using my link! https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO [https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO] Host your podcast on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend [https://www.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend] Do businessy things on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/pro/theanimatorsfriend [https://www.podbean.com/pro/theanimatorsfriend] Advertise on Podbean! https://sponsorship.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend [https://sponsorship.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend]   Links to points of discussion: * Sundance Film Festival [https://festival.sundance.org/] * NBC Page Program [https://www.nbcunicareers.com/pageprogram] * Animation Speak/Easy - NYC [http://animationspeakeasy.com/] * Lisa LaBracio's website [https://www.lisalabra.com/] * Anna Samo Bergmann's website [https://samo-animation.com/index.html]   * The Animator's Playlist on Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-animators-playlist-2026/pl.u-6mo4lNLiZaJlVo] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0d3c1KFC5UJwD3PzOd1VIm?si=9c5e81d1d86144df] * Library180 - NYC [https://www.library180.com/] * East Village Shoe Repair - BK [https://www.instagram.com/eastvillageshoerepair_bk/] * Cinanima - Portugal [https://cinanima.pt/en/] * The Animator's Animations [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdwRk7qu4g4&list=PLhzvCRO-V4rarABqMSj7p-L_J9LCL4o-Y&index=18] * The Animator's Favorites [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxR7ZM_iAW8&list=PLhzvCRO-V4rb0RbrbY1aUAYpe7Isl5h97&index=21] * The Metropolitan Museum of Art - NYC [https://www.metmuseum.org/] * Fantagraphics [https://www.fantagraphics.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo1rm6-obWkmwkBLYbvnHLpz77lzsIt2JBy-IrXzGhOQkpwvY6A] * Woodstock Film Festival [https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/] - NYS * Sonoma International Film Festival - CA [https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/] * Stuttgart International Festival of Animation Film - Germany [https://itfs.de/en/home/] * Joy + Noelle's website [https://www.joyandnoelle.com/] * The Animator's Friend on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/luckydogface/] The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an educator based in New York City. In this series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for personal, lighthearted, and unexpected conversation. Credits: * Recorded, produced, and edited by India Lombardi-Bello * Digital marketing assistance from Arnesh Kundu * Music by Cloutmeyer * Design by Sawyer Rippon * Special thanks: my mom and dad * All opinions belong to the guests and do not represent any other individual or entity * We are not doctors or mental health professionals, so consult a doctor before enacting on any of our opinions

TAF at the Marvels of Media Festival 2026!

Last night, I transcended my human form and turned into a rd carpet correspondent for the Museum of Moving Image's Marvels of Media Festival! We spoke with festival participants and organizers Dani Bowman, Jackson Tucker-Meyer, Josh Sapan, Susanna Hunt, Steven Fraser, Steph Prizhitomsky, Bob Clark, Miranda Lee, and Maxwell Scheller. The festival runs all weekend long, see details here: https://movingimage.org/series/marvels-of-media-festival-2026/ [https://movingimage.org/series/marvels-of-media-festival-2026/] Get your hands on a Camp Snap Camera for $5 off by using my link! https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO Host your podcast on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend Do businessy things on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/pro/theanimatorsfriend Advertise on Podbean! https://sponsorship.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an educator based in New York City. In this series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for personal, lighthearted, and unexpected conversation. https://linktr.ee/theanimatorsfriend Credits: Recorded and produced by India Lombardi-Bello & Arnesh Kundu Edited by India Lombardi-Bello Digital marketing assistance from Arnesh Kundu Music by Cloutmeyer Design by Sawyer Rippon Special thanks: Renata Luczak, Justin Solar, and Arnesh All opinions belong to the guests and do not represent any other individual or entity

Festival Strategy with Warren Etheredge!

I know I said we were on a break, but I just couldn't wait to share this bonus episode on Festival Strategy! Festival programmer Warren Etheredge shares how to get the most out of your film's festival run including insights into timeline, assessment, contact, assets, and budget. This episode will be here for you whenever you have a film ready to take out on the road! Listen, take notes, and get 75% off your submission to the Walla Walla Movie Crush [https://www.themoviecrush.com/] this year with the code indiaisawesome! Submission deadline through to May 15th. As for your regularly scheduled TAF programming, expect to hear from me by mid-April B) Get your hands on a Camp Snap Camera for $5 off by using my link! https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO [https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO] Host your podcast on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend [https://www.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend] Do businessy things on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/pro/theanimatorsfriend [https://www.podbean.com/pro/theanimatorsfriend] Advertise on Podbean! https://sponsorship.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend [https://sponsorship.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend]   Links to points of discussion: * Warren Etheredge's website [https://www.warrenetheredge.com/] * The University of Washington - WA [https://www.washington.edu/] * Cornish College of the Arts - WA [https://www.cornish.edu/] * The Red Badge Project [https://www.theredbadgeproject.com/] * Walla Walla Movie Crush - WA [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.themoviecrush.com/&ved=2ahUKEwiEpcjw-bmTAxWFFlkFHa4YEpQQFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1CZP1moUDFpXy4QVE3OHlL] * Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) - WA [https://www.siff.net/festival] * Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival - WA [https://bumbershoot.com/] * The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World, MovieMaker Magazine [https://www.moviemaker.com/coolest-film-festivals-2025/] * Sundance Film Festival - UT [https://festival.sundance.org/] * SXSW - TX [https://sxsw.com/] * Indy Shorts Film Festival - IN [https://www.heartlandfilm.org/indyshorts] * Summer Shorts Film Fest - NY [https://www.throughlineartists.org/summer-shorts-film-fest] * Le Court International Short Film Festival Clermont-Ferrand - France [https://www.lecourt-clermont.org/en/] * Annecy Festival - France [https://www.annecyfestival.com/] * Ottawa International Animation Festival - Canada [https://www.animationfestival.ca/] * Animafest Zagreb - Croatia [https://www.animafest.hr/en] * Kristie Kish's website [https://kristiekish.com/] * Michael Dondero's website [https://www.augustinedondero.com/] * "How to Network without Networking" by Warren Etheredge [https://www.wheelhousewa.org/resources/how-to-network-without-networking] * Tennis, Oranges trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cadkOIgHWRI] * Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) - CA [https://sbiff.org/] * The Animator's Friend on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/luckydogface/]   The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an educator based in New York City. In this series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for personal, lighthearted, and unexpected conversation. Credits: * Recorded, produced, and edited by India Lombardi-Bello * Digital marketing assistance from Arnesh Kundu * Music by Cloutmeyer * Design by Sawyer Rippon * Special thanks: Warren Etheredge and my mom and dad * All opinions belong to the guests and do not represent any other individual or entity

24.5: Punk & Grind with Santi MacLean & Joe Zappulla [PART 2]

Continue your friend-of-the-pod/avatar/oink-oink drinking game with the final portion of my chat with filmmakers Santi MacLean and Joe Zuppulla!  Don't sleep on Doomscrolling [https://www.nobudge.com/doomscrolling/videos/doomscrolling] and the whole Fun pet namez [https://www.instagram.com/funpetnamez/] series! A young man talks himself through a panic attack. In Doomscrolling [https://www.nobudge.com/doomscrolling/videos/doomscrolling], Santi MacLean layers multimedia documents and data moshes on top of a vulnerable outcry. With bulging eyes and spaghetti-like green hair, the young man speaks in the form of a 3D-animated figure. In a high pitch voice, the character extrapolates on recent feelings of self-hatred and general aimlessness, due to financial pressures and up-keeping physical and intellectual standards while encountering romantic hook-ups. Micro-aggressions stretch the narrator’s mental bandwidth into oblivion and his cryptic self-recorded videos, along with other digital images, disintegrate into the next. While the outside world and its tactile elements offer moments of calmness, only so much can heal until the state of reality hits yet again. MacLean’s film moves quickly but packs a final punch, capturing the overwhelming influx of textures and feelings siphoned into a young person’s feed, and mind, today. Get your hands on a Camp Snap Camera for $5 off by using my link! https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO [https://www.campsnapphoto.com/INDIALOMBARDIBELLO] Host your podcast on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend [https://www.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend] Do businessy things on Podbean, one month free trial! https://www.podbean.com/pro/theanimatorsfriend [https://www.podbean.com/pro/theanimatorsfriend] Advertise on Podbean! https://sponsorship.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend [https://sponsorship.podbean.com/theanimatorsfriend]   Links to points of discussion: * The Animator's Animations [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdwRk7qu4g4&list=PLhzvCRO-V4rarABqMSj7p-L_J9LCL4o-Y&index=18] * Santi MacLean's website [https://santimaclean.com/] * Santi's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/santithellama/] * Joe Zappulla's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/joezappulla/] * Fun pet namez on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/funpetnamez/] * NoBudge [https://www.nobudge.com/] * Purhcase College - NY [https://www.purchase.edu/] * SUNY Oneonta - NY [https://suny.oneonta.edu/] * The Animator's Playlist on Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-animators-playlist-2026/pl.u-6mo4lNLiZaJlVo] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0d3c1KFC5UJwD3PzOd1VIm?si=9c5e81d1d86144df] * The Rizzler on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/itztherealrizzler/] * The Animator's Favorites [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxR7ZM_iAW8&list=PLhzvCRO-V4rb0RbrbY1aUAYpe7Isl5h97&index=21] * Brooklyn Public Library [https://www.bklynlibrary.org/] * The Sweatbox [https://archive.org/details/THE_SWEATBOX] * Louvre Museum - France [https://www.louvre.fr/en] * Julian Glander on TAF [https://youtu.be/kHn1OGlZ77Y?si=I2rLrw1Mvx7Ndeld] * Art Sqool by Julian Glander [https://glander.co/filter/tunes/ART-SQOOL] * Silvia's Kitchen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/silvias.kitchen/] * L&B Spumoni Gardens - NYC [https://spumonigardens.com/] * The Animator's Friend on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/luckydogface/]   The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an educator based in New York City. In this series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for personal, lighthearted, and unexpected conversation. Credits: * Recorded, produced, and edited by India Lombardi-Bello * Digital marketing assistance from Arnesh Kundu * Music by Cloutmeyer * Design by Sawyer Rippon * Special thanks: Talia Frank-Stemple, Ash Suh, and my mom and dad * All opinions belong to the guests and do not represent any other individual or entity