We’re in for a treat as we dive into the world of Sony’s new feature, GOAT with director Tyree Dilihay.

This film - this was fun. I really enjoyed it. And I know there are a bunch of kids out there who did too. And that’s great to see and to hear of kids who are wanting to go to the theaters to see an original film.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sports fan, so I was fascinated by this project and have been for a long time. It’s a project that came to Sony from producers Fonda Snyder and Rick Mischel - who you may have heard as they are two former podcast guests and Fonda is someone I developed a project for a few years with. So I’ve known about this one for a number of years. Whats great about this is also what is challenging - it was in development - active development at Sony for 4 years before being green lit. And it is an original - pretty much. The reason I say that’s challenging is that it gives hope to the many people out there developing original projects - but given that we’re shouting from the rooftops about an original animated movies success amidst a sea of negative news, its going to take not only an incredible idea, but people with incredible tenacity and a long term vision to see those originals to the screen.

We get into so much in this conversation - including some of Tyree’s back story, GOAT’s story, production and character design, production challenges, world building and more.

Enjoy!

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Host & Producer: Michael Wakelam

Executive Producer: Eric M. Miller

Music by: Rich Dickerson

Audio Engineering: Mike Rocha

The Creators Society is a professional community uniting all disciplines of the animation industry. Our mission is to foster meaningful connections, encourage collaboration, and deepen the understanding of every role involved in bringing animated stories to life. Through networking, mentorships, education, and industry events, we celebrate the creativity and passion that drive animation forward, supporting the talented creators who make it all possible.

Learn more about the Creators Society, and how to become a member at creatorssociety.net

Send us Fan Mail

From Robot Chicken to Buddy Thunderstruck to quirky shorts and highly polished commercials, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios is a powerhouse of ideas and creativity. We sat down with Eric Towner to talk through his career, and the creative process and idea machine at stop motion house Stoopid Buddy.

The hand made feel and aesthetic of top motion is one part of the industry that is not going to be replicated by AI so it was great to get Eric's thoughts there too.

Check out their work online and stay tuned for more episodes coming in 2026

Stoopid Buddy Stoodios website

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Enjoy!

Please like, rate, and comment on your favorite podcasting platform and share the episode on social media.

If you have any comments or suggestions please get in touch.

If you'd like to hear about new episodes in your inbox, please subscribe here.

Host & Producer: Michael Wakelam

Executive Producer: Eric M. Miller

Music by: Rich Dickerson

Audio Engineering: Mike Rocha

The Creators Society is a professional community uniting all disciplines of the animation industry. Our mission is to foster meaningful connections, encourage collaboration, and deepen the understanding of every role involved in bringing animated stories to life. Through networking, mentorships, education, and industry events, we celebrate the creativity and passion that drive animation forward, supporting the talented creators who make it all possible.

Learn more about the Creators Society, and how to become a member at creatorssociety.net

Send us Fan Mail

If you’re interested in animation and haven’t seen The Unloved, a Christmas film for French supermarket Intermarché, then you probably haven’t been online in the past couple of weeks. Love for this piece has spread far and wide, way beyond its intended French audience. With hundreds of millions of views across various platforms, it’s a remarkable achievement.

What fascinated me is that the ads that are not only garnering a lot of negativity, but are generally not good this holiday season, are AI-generated. While the 2 ads that have received the most love and attention are arguably this one, The Unloved, and Apple’s stop-motion piece shot on iPhone. They both have a lot in common - they were crafted by human storytellers and artists who love their craft.

So, after seeing The Unloved and absolutely loving it, I reached out to Amanda Stubbs, the producer at Wizz, a Paris-based production company, to chat about this extraordinary piece of work.

If you haven’t seen it, please go check it out here, and be inspired.

Enjoy!

Please like, rate, and comment on your favorite podcasting platform and share the episode on social media.

If you have any comments or suggestions please get in touch.

If you'd like to hear about new episodes in your inbox, please subscribe here.

Host & Producer: Michael Wakelam

Executive Producer: Eric M. Miller

Music by: Rich Dickerson

Audio Engineering: Mike Rocha

The Creators Society is a professional community uniting all disciplines of the animation industry. Our mission is to foster meaningful connections, encourage collaboration, and deepen the understanding of every role involved in bringing animated stories to life. Through networking, mentorships, education, and industry events, we celebrate the creativity and passion that drive animation forward, supporting the talented creators who make it all possible.

Learn more about the Creators Society, and how to become a member at creatorssociety.net

Send us Fan Mail