My junior film is the first story I remember my bubby telling me about her childhood. I tried to dive into the memory, talking the moment through with many of her siblings. I sought every opportunity to better understand and get to know my family while making this.
These layouts were finalized in Clip Studio Paint and served as the foundation for animation in TVPaint. Backgrounds were translated into watercolor to bring a sense of warmth and handmade texture to the world.
The character designs are based on stories my Bubbie shared about her siblings, blended with my own memories of them. I went back and forth between depicting them as tiny elders or as children, and ultimately leaned toward a more age-accurate look. My Bubbie stands out a bit—though she was blonde in her youth, I’ve always pictured her with darker hair, which also helped balance the palette and emphasize her presence in the group.
This project combines many of the influences that shaped me—my Bubbie’s constant encouragement to create, my love of storytelling, and the sense of wonder I’ve always found in animation. Drawing has always felt like a way to capture more than just a moment; it’s how I hold onto memories and explore worlds that live just under the surface. Bubbie’s Garring Tale let me reconnect with family history and imagine it through my own artistic lens—bringing together the personal and the magical in a way that feels true to why I animate in the first place.