Now What?! is helping reimagine how animation can make democracy more accessible — and more fun.
MFA Program Assistant Director Wendy Willis exhibited Now What?! Animation at this year’s Lightbox Expo in Los Angeles, held October 23–25. The annual event brings together artists and animators from across the entertainment industry for panels, presentations, and demonstrations celebrating the art of visual storytelling.
Co-founded by Willis and her husband and collaborator Brendan Burch, Now What?! is a nonprofit production studio using animation and comedy to demystify democracy and encourage civic engagement. The team develops original characters and content that tackle challenging issues such as reproductive rights and gun control through an accessible, humorous lens — like reimagining Black Dynamite as a civics teacher; Middle Class Matt, whose debut short received over 16 million views; and a forthcoming music-driven First Amendment short by Tim Heidecker.
The studio’s collaborations also extend to Tartans in the School of Art: Now What?! recently greenlighted Mimi Chuang’s (BHA ’25) comic series TOE & BO, which explores climate issues, and Willis caught up with alum Leah Minsky (BFA ’23) while at the LA event (pictured together below).
