Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Grant Kolton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Grant, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

As a full service animation company I typically handle every aspect of production myself instead of relying on a team. This allows me to create a singular vision that is better managed since I am informed during every aspect of production and how each element will fit together in the end. Of course I have to get help sometimes depending on the scope of the project, but in those cases I still maintain the same level of transparency to allow for the most cohesive workflow.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an independent Director/Writer/Animator. I got my start directing animated music videos while I was still in college. My first video being for My Morning Jacket “Outta My System.” After that I continued to work in music video and commercial production until I sold my pilot “City Dwellers” to Frederator and Sony Pictures Animation. I gained notoriety for my first animated short film “By the Name of Boston” which took me around the world to various festivals. I’ve continued producing my original short animations, two of which were commissioned for FX CAKE on Hulu. My typical client is someone who has never worked with an animator before so my first priority is to familiarize them with the animation process. I am usually given very broad creative freedom and only provided with a general brief. My main job is to visually solve the creative problem in a compelling and engaging way.
What sets me apart is my versatility to work seamlessly across mediums and the ability to integrate them with one another: including traditional 2D animation, infographics, motion graphics, live-action, and stop motion.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

My best source for new clients is Vimeo and my website. Specifically I have noticed an uptick in web traffic and new business reaching out to connect and work with me when my animated shorts have received Staff Picks. I have received six Vimeo Staff Picks to date. My website is where I often receive the most inquiries via my contact form. This is where I showcase my more comprehensive portfolio.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My unique visual style and ability to consistently deliver high quality animation production on a tight turnaround. Along with the added benefit that since I am a smaller animation production company it allows for lower costs for clients than a larger studio would charge.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://grantkolton.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantkoltoons/
• Facebook: Facebook.com/grantkolton
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-kolton-614bb169/
• Other: Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/grantkolton TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@messing_with_craig

Image Credits
Frankie Pepper- Bio Photo (ignore duplicate upload) Animations: Washington State Lottery Commercial- https://vimeo.com/813683039 Greensky Bluegrass “Stress Dreams” Music Video- https://vimeo.com/683440568 Kill Your Idioms (Personal Film)- https://vimeo.com/469965791 Blackhole Apartment FX CAKE- https://vimeo.com/467934657 Amazing Grass Commercial- https://youtu.be/WfMPBoIASBQ Weinerschnitzel Commercial- https://vimeo.com/355397714