Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
Hello! I’m Daron Nefcy. I’ve been working in the animation industry for nearly 15 years. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do; like most of our members, all I did was draw and write as a kid. Specifically, though, I wanted to make my own TV show. Because I grew up in L.A., I even wrote scripts with some friends for an imaginary TV show in middle school.
After graduating high school early and spending a couple of years in community college, I went to CalArts. I loved CalArts, the community, the people, the support to make whatever you wanted to make. It was glorious. While there, I actually started pitching what would eventually become my TV show for Disney: Star vs. the Forces of Evil. The very first thing I ever pitched actually became a TV show. On Disney! It was a several-year process getting Star going, and during that time, I had the opportunity to work on MAD, Robot and Monster, and Wander Over Yonder.
My show, Star vs. The Forces of Evil, ran for four seasons and was a big hit all over the world. I was the Showrunner and Executive Producer, and I loved it. I really got to make the show I wanted to make and work with an incredibly talented crew. It ended in 2019, and later that year, I started an overall deal at Nickelodeon producing some original pilots. I also won an Emmy for directing one of the shorts for the prestigious We the People series. Since then, I’ve been pitching and developing shows and movies.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
Like everyone, the last couple of years have been a challenging time. I had a baby in 2020, and at some point I took time off to be a mom, thinking I’d be able to jump right back in. Then all the strikes, mergers, AI, etc. hit. I currently have a bunch of really fantastic development projects I’ve been working on for Gaumont/Scholastic, Amazon, and Warner Bros., and I am very much hoping something gets picked up soon or some full-time work materializes. I miss working with a crew, and I absolutely love show-running. My father, who was my biggest supporter/fan, passed away in 2022. He was a camera operator whose Hollywood career had a lot of industry ups and downs. He was always optimistic, and I’m trying to be as well, that things will pick up soon. Animation attracts the most wonderful, passionate people, and it would be a real crime for the world to not have the magic of what we create with the care we put into it.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
I grew up on anime, and I’m a big Hayao Miyazaki fan. All my favorite movies are early Tim Burton films, so I’d say he’s a big influence (Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure). I also read a lot—comics and novels—and I love looking at art. I think everyone in animation should go see Luna Luna; you will feel inspired!
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I would love to one day make another original show or movie. I have so many stories to tell! I’m also very excited to show-run/direct something I didn’t create, but I hope I get at least one more opportunity in my career to make something totally original.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
It means having support and not being left alone in an industry that will take advantage of you if you let it. I urge our members to get more involved. Think about what the WGA and SAG-AFTRA managed to accomplish last year. We need to constantly be fighting for the importance of what we do.
Check out Daron’s work at her website.
Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
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