Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
Heya, I’m Hannah Lee Stockdale. I’m a Storyboard Revisionist who has been in the biz for roughly four years. I’ve worked in production and storyboard revisions on Cartoon Network’s Apple & Onion, revisions for Craig of the Creek (and Craig Before the Creek!), and board layout for an upcoming A24 series.
I’m a born-and-raised Michigander, and attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, earning a BFA in Illustration. Early into my college career, I waffled a lot, and convinced myself I wasn’t “good enough” for storyboards, despite that being my dream back in high school. Upon graduating from CCS, I floated around different jobs for years. I helped out with comics and kickstarter publishing in New England, and then moved to Chicago to work for Pusheen for a couple years. (And many stints of “retail heck” in-between!) It wasn’t until a dear friend recommended me to test for a DreamWorks’ show that I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was “good enough” to work in animation after all.
So, in early 2017 I packed what could fit in boxes and suitcases and moved out to L.A. It took years of trying to finally get my foot in the door. Another wonderful friend put my name forward for a Production Assistant position at Cartoon Network, and less than 48 hours later, I had the job.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
Simply finding work can be so, so daunting! For better and for worse, this can be an industry of knowing the right people and being in the right place and the right time. Given our current job climate, gigs are scarce, and it’s hard to not feel left behind if you’ve been unemployed for any amount of time. I fought hard to be here, and don’t want to give up my career. But the cost of living and job scarcity has made this a difficult year for me.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
It may sound cheesy, but I idolize so many of my peers and co-workers. Getting the chance to work alongside some of the best people in the biz, especially on Craig of the Creek, was an honor. I would list the whole crew as my inspiration! Having Dave Alegre as my director on Craig deserves a special shoutout, however.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
First and foremost, I want to keep working! I love being a Storyboard Revisionist, but I want to someday make the jump to storyboarding proper. And maybe a few years after that, I’d like to be in some variety of leadership position, whether as a director or showrunner. I love working with a team towards a creative goal and hope to keep doing that!
What does being in the Union mean to you?
The community support and safety the Union provides for us is vital. The importance of having an organization look out for us workers, providing us with the means to fight for what’s fair and right, especially during these difficult times, cannot be overstated. The studios would be nothing without us!
Learn more about Hannah at her website.
Follow her on Instagram and Bluesky.
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