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

Christina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am very much happy as an artist. I also acknowledge the privilege I have to be able to pursue my passion for a living, as it’s not a forgiving or particularly stable road to take. Especially now. With the development of AI, the income inequality between higher-ups at major entertainment networks versus staff artists who are on the ground creating the media we consume, and the increase in limited/short-term contracts on projects that are very quick to get canned, there is so much uncertainty with creative roles in entertainment. So yes, I definitely do daydream about what it would be like to be, say, a software engineer or an accountant with long-term contracts and medical benefits, but I know that alternate reality isn’t for me because 1) I can’t do math and 2) I love what I do, even with the challenges it presents. Because at the end of the day, I love when what I see in my head all comes together on paper (or on a screen, whatever!) This is something I have said in talks with students before: being an artist is a choice you make every single day. Because it isn’t easy. It isn’t always fun and glamourous. And it certainly doesn’t always offer you stability. But that internal reward of breathing life into something that only ever existed in your head, that encapsulates a fraction of your own unique internal workings, is such an incredible skill and gift to have and share with others. So yeah, I’m happy even when it’s hard out here.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an award-winning 2D animator and director. I make films, pitch show ideas, and draw cartoons for a living. I’ve been drawing ever since I was six years old and always knew I would do something related to the arts.

I’ve worked at Comedy Central, Bento Box, Buzzfeed — and with several other studios and clients, pitching, writing, animating, and directing shorts, visualizers, and loops. And in my own personal animation-related endeavors, I have made films that have screened at festivals such as Sweaty Eyeballs, Maryland Film Fest, Animation Block Party, and more.

My personal work is all humor-based. Raunchy, dark, and high energy, I focus a lot on highlighting the things that make the human experience so painful, funny, and universal. Self-loathing, interpersonal relationships, and adjusting to change are some of the more common themes in my art.

I love working with others too — one of my favorite experiences of a creative partnership is seeing how our minds, styles, and sensibilities meld into something new. After all, animation is (for the most part) an incredibly collaborative field.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think the goal or mission that drives my creative journey is to pull myself out of my own mental isolation and have a laugh. It’s very easy to feel like you’re alone in the way you see the world or the way you feel about yourself. But most people have the same thoughts and feelings about their own place in life. And that is an incredibly comforting thought to have. By making the work that I do, I want people to be able to relate and I want them to find the humor about it too. In a way, it’s almost like I’m getting an audience to tell ME that it’s all okay.

I also like sharing stories with others. I like when my work can spark in someone the desire to share a memory or an experience that they otherwise never would have shared. It’s a privilege to be able to open up a safe and constructive floor for people to safely share parts of themselves. It’s an exchange of vulnerability, a very valuable and delicate currency in my opinion.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Just make work and share it. Make work that is authentically you, not work that is tailored to a specific audience. I think that is a huge key. I’m no expert, but I feel like this is the most sustainable way of creating the following you need to support your craft. I don’t particularly care about numbers, but maintaining a following also allows me to be seen by people who wouldn’t have previously known my work. It’s how I get work opportunities, general meetings, potential collaborations, etc.

Respectfully and non-creepily (emphasis on this!) engage with work that you like and admire. A lot of my friends in LA were friends I had on the internet before I moved here. Support other people, be kind — and most importantly be yourself — and you’ll eventually open up your audience to a whole new world. Also participate in community events! Both online and in person. That is such a huge part of the equation.

Contact Info:

• Website: christinafidler.com
• Instagram: schwiftybits