I wanted to put together short write up about making Horse Town, for myself but also for some degree of social performance because I'm posting it, you're reading it (why, why are you reading this)
(Mild story spoilers, watch the toon first please, or don't, whatever, you do you).
Around September of last year, a friend recommended I check out a local monthly short film screening night. It was the first time in years I'd been in a physical setting with other people who also loved making dumb little movie projects. I got to screen The Mysterious Gentleman and won that night's weird award.
(this is me not showing my face and answering crowd questions)
(this is a small glitter skull with the word "weird" written on it)
It's a little glitter skull and I love it, it's my favorite award. It lives on my shelf with a miniature of the ED-209 from Robocop.
The screening night really helped me reconnect with the fact that art has always been a part of how I relate to others and the world. In music most directly, but in all art pursuits I can sit with emotions and ideas with more clarity than I can seem to find in journaling or just talking things out (both valuable things, talk to people and write stuff, do it). Finding an in person community of people (no offense to internet, I've met some lovely people through you, you're just not the same as not internet) who care so much about a relatively niche hobby, especially the small group of other animators, gave me the real kick in the butt I'd needed to get serious about a new project.
@littlbox was kind enough to hear me blab out some unfocused aims of what I wanted to make a story about and he helped me shape those ideas into what ended up becoming the main narrative for Horse Town the town where everyone is horses. He's very good at that. The story kind of sprouted from the title and some feelings of deep emotional detachment and a lack of purpose I'd been sitting in for a little too long. I don't think my depression is as straightforward as joining a volunteer fire horse department, but making stories out of aspirations is a part of how I see ways through dark periods.
In terms of what kept me at it with this project, it's the first animation I've ever fully story boarded, a really fun and totally novel concept no had ever heard of before I invented it. It ended up being really nice way to work on this in a public setting, with friends, etc. Animation has long been this very solitary activity for me, mostly out of necessity, but with my last several projects had all being solo projects with no voice actors, animation had become even more of a social silo than it had been previously. Literally just getting me literally out of my room while still being able to work on this was super nice and helped working on horse town (at least those parts) feel a lot less like... work
(actual story boards, these will be worth 4.80$ some day after inflation)
In that same vein, I decided I wanted to incorporate more pictures, field recorded sounds and hand drawn elements than I have in previous projects. Little cheats to connect what I was making to the real world, (for me anyways) grounding it a little. It became a passtime for a couple of months for my girlfriend and I to visit antique malls around town just finding and taking pictures of old phones. I HAVE SO MANY PICTURES OF OLD PHONES NOW
Also, the process of painting all the backgrounds added to making this a project that I could work on around friends, at the library, at cafes, etc. Just out and in the world, you know. I've never had an animation where I have so many pleasant memories with people I care about tied to the making of it.
Finally, getting friends to help with the voice work gave this so much more personal weight for myself. The people playing each role mean a lot to me, thanks so much y'all. I historically have a pretty low opinion of the things I make so I'm always pleasantly surprised when people not only like what I do but are willing to contribute in someway.
Also in the voice cast is Alex Goldman, a podcaster who's work I've loved and listened to for years. That happened because of this:
It's so dumb that this happened but It's also very funny and I love that it happened
That's about all I have to say about it it, I hope you like Horse Town the town where everyone is horses. Thanks for reading, I really do appreciate it :)
