Animation Anarchy FAQ
Answering the questions no one asked (but should have).
What is Animation Anarchy? A blog, a show and soon a game about animation. We take the cartoons and movies you love apart to see how they work. Sometimes we put them back together wrong on purpose, just to see what breaks.
Who makes it? Me, Dr. Jesse Bray. I'm an animator, an educator and the founder of Mr. Bray Labs. On screen, I'm Jesse the Pencil. Yes, I'm a pencil. It's a long story. I've been animating since before YouTube supported HD.
Why "Anarchy"? Because careful, polite takes on animation are everywhere. We ask the wild questions: What if WALL-E were a 1930s cartoon? Did the mob really sit at Disney's bargaining table? (Yes.) Then we go find the real answers.
What do you cover? All kinds of animation: hand-drawn, CGI, stop-motion, anime, classic shorts, Saturday mornings and brand-new releases. Plus animation history, the psychology of characters, and free art lessons in the Art College Crash Course.
Is any of it serious? Very serious about fun things. Every post has a real idea at its center: a true story, a craft lesson or a bit of psychology. The jokes are how we get there.
Is it okay for kids? Yes. Everything here is safe to read with your kids, and sharp enough you'll want to. We don't cover adult-rated shows, and we don't cuss. We roast movies, never the people who love them.
How do I know what's true? History and conspiracy posts use three labels: REAL (it happened, and you can look it up), RUMOR (people say it, but the evidence is thin) and ANARCHY (I made it up because it's funny).
What's Read / Watch / Play? Every story here is made to be enjoyed three ways. Read the article. Watch the animated episode on YouTube. And soon, play a pixel-art version.
Are there spoilers? Yes. You've had decades.
What if I disagree with you? Good. Tell me in the comments. Make your case. I've been wrong before, and I'll be wrong again, probably about Cars.
Will this help me become an animator? It might. Here's the five-step plan: watch a lot of cartoons, notice what you'd change, draw it yourself, discover how long animation takes, and keep going anyway. The Art College Crash Course will help with step three.
Can I suggest a topic? Please do. Pitch a movie for us to rewrite, a studio for the A to Z, or a conspiracy for us to put on trial.
Where else can I find you? New episodes drop on YouTube first. Subscribe to Mr. Bray Labs so you never miss one.
