The “Yoppaman” work-in-progress screening offered a first look at the animated series, diving into its origins, ethos, and marketing strategy in front of a live audience in Los Angeles.
Wendy Willis, MFA Program Assistant Director, is the Executive Producer for Yoppaman, a new animated series concept that screened at the Animation Is Film Festival in Los Angeles on October 20, 2024. The event showcased the full concept short, followed by a Q&A about the project’s origin story with co-creators Zack Fox and Chibu Okere. The world of Yoppaman is a society under siege by the forces of late-stage capitalism, unspeakable monsters, and growing unrest. The world’s only chance for survival? Happy Grits — a training ground for elite super Sentai soldiers.
Willis’ expertise in developing animated content for major networks includes her work with FX, Comedy Central, HBO, and others. Animation Is Film, produced by GKIDS in collaboration with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, provided a platform to debut the project, which represents an innovative approach to animation and aligns with the festival’s mission to elevate animation as a cinematic art form.