Join us for this panel for a discussion of writing for animation!
Panelists Include:
Michael Poisson is an LGBTQ+ writer who has four Emmy nominations for his work on Adult Swim’s critically-acclaimed, animated comedy ROBOT CHICKEN. Most recently, he finished working as a Co-Producer on The CW's queer sci-fi, action series TOM SWIFT. Before that, he wrote on Netflix’s super hero dramedy series RAISING DION as well as on the Hulu animated comedy CROSSING SWORDS. On the development side, Michael previously developed with Red Hour and Full Fathom Five on his dark comedy, UNRAVELING: A Sadistic Musical. Before writing full time, Michael was the Director of Development for Krysten Ritter’s production company Silent Machine Entertainment. And outside of the industry, Michael has worked as a crisis counselor at The Trevor Project – a suicide lifeline for LGBTQ youth.
Miles Wood is a television writer and comedian. He’s written for Archer, Beavis & Butthead, Little Demon, Grimsburg, Frasier, and a forthcoming Netflix comedy. As a performer, he’s played Chicago Sketchfest, SF Sketchfest, the Yard Theater, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, UCB Franklin, and he will be playing Edinburgh Fringe Festival later this year. Currently he is a producer on Frasier.
Wali J. Mbekeani is a comedy writer for both live action and animation with experience in Pre-K programming, adult animation, and YA development. She began at MTV in unscripted series, before moving into scripted TV and film development under director Tim Story and producer Sharla Sumpter Bridgette. Under her production banner, Good Bru Inc, Wali has partnered with award-winning producers and creatives such as Executive Producer/Actor Gina Rodriguez and her company I Can and I Will, show creator of Run the World, Leigh Davenport, and The Lego Movie animation studio, Animal Logic. She has staffed and freelanced for Disney, Titmouse, and Wild Canary Animation. Outside of TV, Wali has a passion for developing and writing adaptable short stories, one of which was published by actress Sharon Horgan’s production company Merman. repped by Bryan Brucks at 831 Entertainment and currently staffed on an upcoming Disney Junior series.
Monica Violet Joy is the Creator of the upcoming series, Skatebirds, partnered up with legendary skateboarder, Tony Hawk and Laughing Dragon Studios. She was Showrunner and Head Writer for the hit series, Isaac & Friends as well as Creator, Head Writer, Director and Executive Producer of the original series for the popular toy company, Magna-Tiles. She was a Writer, and Creative Executive for Build-A-Bear’s show, Kabu. In addition, Monica was Consulting Producer on Netflix’s popular series, Go Dog Go! Further, she was a Writer on the acclaimed series, Bubbles and Friends, as well as a Writer and Creative Executive at Wind Sun Sky Entertainment, and at Jesters Animation. At both studios Monica was brought in to successfully write, develop and collaborate with the studio to create original series and video games, including the Future Chicken series.
Beforehand, Monica was the Senior Producer and Executive in charge of CoComelon at Moonbug Entertainment. There she directly devised the creation and development of all CoComelon episodic series and affiliated content. For her work on CoComelon she received an award from Youtube for growing the channel to well over 100 million subscribers. Prior to Moonbug, Monica worked at Paramount and Nickelodeon where she devised content, and ran the development and production of series including: Legend of Korra, Spongebob, Kamp Koral, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Blues Clues, Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, and Wallykazam. Prior to Nickelodeon and Paramount, she worked in development at Blue Sky Studios, on hits: Nimona (Oscar-nominated), Ice Age V, Ferdinand, Spies in Disguise, and The Peanuts Movie (Golden Globe-nominated).
Outside of her day to day, she runs her women-owned and operated business, Monica Violet Joy Productions, where she writes and develops series, novels, films, and games for clients including: Apple, Disney, Dreamworks, HBO, Paramount, Penguin, and Netflix.
In the nonprofit space, she is highly involved in Women In Animation. Monica has served on the Leadership Committee, and as a Mentor and Educator to champion female equality and participation in the creative arts. For her activism, she was nominated for a Women of the Year Award by the Universal Women’s Network™. Aside from those ventures, Monica holds a Bachelors in Film Studies and Art History from the University of East Anglia as well as a Masters in History from the University of Birmingham. Within academia, she has served as an adjunct professor and lecturer at leading education institutions including the: University of Pennsylvania, New York University, University of East Anglia, Montclair State University, University of Florida, and the Pratt Institute.
