The Happy Producers Podcast

In this deeply personal episode, I share a major news about my career journey and discuss the evolution of the animation industry in 2026. After a dark journey of the soul navigating a rapidly changing ecosystem, I reveal my next big chapter (listen to know more!).Whether you are feeling disheartened by the current state of the industry or considering a pivot of your own, this episode offers a roadmap for maximizing your skill set and future-proofing your career.In this episode, I discuss:My big announcement!The "Brag Bank" & value exercises: Practical tools to help you identify your unique strengths and align your career with your personal values.Navigating industry shifts: How to handle the bahotic reality of job losses in the industry while maintaining your sense of purpose and competency.The Mission of The Happy Producers: Why Virginie and her husband LP continue to support the community through education and mentorship.Explore All Happy Producers Courses LinkedIn: Connect with VirginieSupport the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help other producers find this message.

Exclamation point in human form! That's the best way to describe Raymond Malinga's energy! The founder and CEO of Creatures Africa in Kampala, Uganda, joined me to discuss the evolving business of animation. Described as a "global cocktail," Malinga shares insights from his unique journey—from growing up in Belgium and studying animation at Multimedia University in Malaysia to returning home to build a world-class studio from scratch in a nascent industry. The conversation explores his "future-forward" outlook and the bravery required to pursue a creative career when local environments lack an established status quo.Key highlights of the episode include:Landmark Projects: How the success of A Kalabanda Ate My Homework brought international attention to Ugandan animation at the Cannes Film Festival, and Malinga's role directing Herder Boy for the Disney+ anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire.Global Success: Discussion of the studio's partnership on Kunda and Friends, a 3D series that has achieved a staggering 1 billion minutes viewed across 224 countries.Strategic Advantages: Malinga explains why the lack of established "rules" in the Ugandan industry provides a strategic advantage, allowing creators to innovate and break traditional molds while still understanding global standards.Overcoming Barriers: Practical insights into the challenges of running a studio in a landlocked country, including high taxes on equipment and the necessity of self-teaching and internal training to build a talent pool.Mindset and Advocacy: The importance of a global perspective, the power of nostalgia, and Malinga’s dedication to using his platform (including his TED talk) to advocate for the spirit and growth of African animation.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of creativity, cultural authenticity, and the business resilience required to put African stories on the global stageGet instant access to the livestream recordings here!

Welcome back to the Happy Producers Podcast! In this episode, I am joined by the brilliant Justine Bannister, a veteran with nearly 30 years of experience bridging creativity and commerce in the global content landscape. Justine runs her own consultancy, Just B, providing bespoke support to creators and producers, helping them secure the right partners and achieve sustainable growth.Key points from our conversation:Animation is the ultimate team sport: Networking is the vital infrastructure that lets creativity travel and helps projects find their champions.Prioritize trust and relationships: Instead of a cold pitch, focus on building long-term human connections and shared context.Use the power of listening: By asking questions and listening twice as much as you speak, you become more memorable and useful to your partners.Networking strategies for introverts: It is more effective to focus on a few meaningful, qualitative conversations a day than to fill your schedule with dozens of exhausting meetings.Self-care and pacing: Managing your battery at major events by taking breaks in nature or watching films allows for serendipity and space for magic to happen.Preparation and follow-up: Treat festivals as professional business trips by researching attendees beforehand and maintaining momentum with personal follow-up notes afterward.Surgical outreach: Cold emailing works best when it is specific, respectful, and relevant to the recipient rather than generic or unsolicited.Serving versus selling: By showing up as your authentic self, you shift the mindset from bragging to serving your professional community.Connect with Justine Bannister on LinkedIn (with a note letting her know you discovered her on the podcast!)Connect with me on LinkedIn

I have the pleasure of sitting down with Sarah Mallia, a true force of nature and the co-founder of Nairobi-based Freehand Studios and Pungulu Pa Productions.Sarah Mallia, a social scientist with a background in psychology, shares her mission to use animation as a tool for social change and nation-building. Frustrated by the lack of East African representation for her own children, she and her husband, Chief, created Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes—a love letter to Kenya that celebrates the country’s 52 languages and diverse heritage.In this episode, we explore:Animation as Social Impact: How Sarah leverages her background in social science to create content that roots children in their identity and well-being.The Pungulu Party: Why taking characters off the screen and into real-world family events is essential for redefining the consumer experience and building "brand love".The 360-Distribution Strategy: Sarah’s bold choice to bypass traditional broadcasters, own her IP, and grow a massive audience on YouTube—leading to organic licensing opportunities for local products.Nurturing Talent: The importance of Sarah’s in-studio training program for Gen Z animators in Kenya, emphasizing the need for boundaries and purpose-driven work in the industry.Playing the Long Game: Insights into navigating industry lulls by embracing limitations and turning them into creative opportunities.Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, advocacy, and making animation production fun again.Connect with Sarah Mallia:Websites: Pungulu Pa Productions and Freehand Studios.Social Media: Find Uli & Tata and Pungulu Pa on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

In this episode of the Happy Producers Podcast, Virginie Lavallée sits down with Nic Cabana, the co-founder and co-chief creative officer of Claynosaurz, for an unfiltered look at how to positively disrupt the business of animation.Nic, an industry veteran who contributed to massive titles like Jurassic World, Game of Thrones, and Fantastic Beasts, shares his journey from feeling disillusioned with the traditional VFX pipeline to pioneering a social-first, community-centric animated IP.In this episode, you’ll discover:The birth of Claynosaurz: How a "napkin pitch" evolved into a digital-first brand that sold $1.3 million worth of collectibles in just three hours.A new business model: How Web3 native strategies and blockchain technology can be used to monetize content, solve for digital authenticity, and bypass the red tape of big studios.Building a community: The secret to engineering internet communities and leveraging loyalty loops through both digital assets and IRL events.Navigating the industry shift: Why being a nimble, smaller team is a massive advantage in today’s landscape where technology has made production more accessible than ever.Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Nic’s honest take on "doing it scared" and why you don't need to know everything to start building your own brand.Whether you are a creative artist, an aspiring business owner, or an IP developer, this conversation offers a masterclass in transparency, charisma, and innovation.Listen to the first 20 minutes of this live stream recording here. To catch the full conversation and gain instant access to the replay, check out the link in the comments or show notes.Get access to the full livestream replay here.Don't forget to subscribe to join our mission of making animation production fun again!To connect with Claynosaurz:WebsiteInstagramTik Tok

On this episode, Virginie shares the origin story of The Happy Producer's foundation course: The PROD Bootcamp!She shares how a few hours of training enabled her team to gain 20% efficiency while boosting motivation and lowering stress.Our courses have helped over 400 students worldwide, and participants from France, Ireland, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Canada, and the US have already enrolled in The PROD Bootcamp.Ready to join us? Register for The PROD Bootcamp before July 31st, 2025, to take advantage of the lowest price of the year (50% off!).Virginie also refers to our scheduling course, Animation Project Planning for Well-Being.👉 Follow Virginie and the team on LinkedIn for more conversations like this.

Get ready to have a good time!In this episode, the inspiring, daring, and hilarious Dina Sherman joins Virginie for a conversation about taking the reins of your animated project and meeting your audience where they are, without waiting for external validation or being greenlit by a big studio.Dina is an L.A.-based voice-over artist and the official voice of the Annie Awards. With decades of experience in animation, anime, video games, and more, she is also the creator behind the new YouTube series Bad Eggz N’egged And Afraid, a raunchy 18+ series that will have you laughing your head off.Make sure to connect with Dina on social media and leave her a comment:InstagramTik TokLinkedInFacebookAnd subscribe to Badd Eggz and don't forget to comment!You TubeInstagramTik Tok

In this episode, I explore how AI is beginning to shape project management in creative industries like animation, VFX, and gaming. I share why I believe AI holds real promise, especially when it comes to automating repetitive tasks and improving project forecasting through data and pattern recognition.But I also keep it real: AI isn’t perfect! If used carelessly, it can get things wrong, mishandle formatting, and pose serious confidentiality concerns. That’s why I believe an intentional, human-first approach is key.I’ll walk you through how I’m navigating AI in production, what I’ve learned so far, and how we can all use it to solve real pain points, without creating new ones.And if you’re ready to build your AI literacy, ⁠check out our course⁠ designed to help producers like you integrate AI with confidence. 

On this episode, LP takes over hosting!He meets with Animation Producer Mark Van Ee to discuss the shift in business models in the animation industry and how Mark is leveraging YouTube with his independent show, AstroNots.From learning AI tools to exploring your transversal skills in challenging times, this business-savvy discussion will inspire you to embrace imperfection and... go for it!I loved the scope of work chat around the 30-minute mark.Make sure to check out AstroNots and connect with Mark:https://astronots.tv/https://www.youtube.com/@AstroNots_Showhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/markvanee

Stop Motion Director and co-founder of See Creature and See Learn, Dale Hayward, joins this discussion about why imperfect things are more interesting.We touched on the pressure for artists to be perfect and how this can hinder creativity and risk-taking, and discussed the balance between artistic ideals and the realities of production.Dale also clarifies that not striving for perfection doesn't mean aiming for "good enough," but rather being realistic about the scope of a project and prioritizing the message or story, and underscores the importance of forward momentum and continuing to create, rather than getting stuck trying to achieve a single perfect piece.When we recorded this episode, the AI Coca-Cola Christmas commercial had just come out. It makes you stop and think how fast AI is making its way into our workplace...Make sure to connect with Dale:See CreatureSee Creature on InstagramLearn stop motion with See LearnConnect with Dale on LinkedInWe referenced to their latest campaign with crochet puppets for CNESST, watch it here

Animation Project Manager Yerani Kingston joins me from Guadalajara, Mexico, to share how the course Animation Project Planning for Well-Being completely transformed her production experience.From adopting a growth mindset to learning about production analytics, Yerani leveraged her participation in this course to get promoted within her studio. She was also invited to speak at a reputable event and received praise from a client for a job well done. Before the course, she felt stressed and at the mercy of the many moving parts. After: She feels confident, has a clear vision of the scope of work, and is equipped with the tools to make informed decisions that benefit her team.When we work in animation, we are part of a worldwide community of peers who face similar challenges inherent to the industry. We are stronger together! ⁠Connect with Yerani on LinkedIn⁠Get instant access to our masterclass on scheduling for animation

Did you know that 40% of your colleagues say that they would work harder if they received more praise at work? That's A LOT!! In this episode, Virginie helps you tap into gratitude so that you can boost motivation and efficiency in your production, while lowering stress. She shares easy, free to use tips that take less than a minute to do and can help you reap amazing results. ⁠Join our email community⁠ for more tips, tricks, and hacks to help make your project happy, healthy and profitable. Ready for more insights about well-being in animation and VFX production? We'll see you on ⁠LinkedIn⁠!

Communication plays a fundamental role in teamwork - but some things can be hard to discuss! My guest for today's episode,Tini Wider, is a seasoned associate producer with 10+ years of experience in live-action, animation, and visual effects.  She shares actionable tips you can use at work to make difficult conversations a respectful, inclusive, less awkward space. Tini referenced the book Radical Candor. Virginie suggested you may love her free masterclass How to Say 'No' Like a Pro. You can connect with Tini on LinkedIn, check out her mentoring services on her website, or follow her on Instagram.

In today's episode, Virginie shares a personal story about how she transformed a toxic relationship with a client into a healthy and efficient space for herself and her team. Because getting bullied by your clients is not a status quo we can accept in the industry!She gives you seven tips to implement in client relationships to avoid a negative, stressful experience.If you are interested in this topic, you will also love her FREE masterclass, How to Say 'No' Like a Pro (click here for instant access).Join our email community to be the first to know about new episodes and the free resources we offer at The Happy Producers!Ready for more insights about well-being in animation and VFX production? We'll see you on LinkedIn!

Join our email community to be the first to know about new episodes and the free resources we offer at The Happy Producers! Ready for more insights about well-being in animation and VFX production? We'll see you on LinkedIn! My guest for today's episode,Tini Wider, is a seasoned associate producer with 10+ years of experience in live-action, animation, and visual effects. She works at ILM and is an active member of the Women in Animation Vancouver. Fun fact: she is also an author! In this episode, she shares her top 5 tips for production coordinators and many insights on thriving in a fast-paced, high-pressure work environment. You can connect with Tini on LinkedIn, check out her mentoring services on her website, or follow her on Instagram. Ready to make animation production easy and fun? Download our free bid template or listen to our free masterclass, The Happy Project Schedule.

In this episode, The Happy Producers co-founder Louis-Philippe Vermette joins me for an uncensored discussion about bullying in production. Not only does he help us understand the characteristics of bullying in the workplace, but he also shares his own story and how he was able to grow past this experience. Bullying and harassment are serious matters, and in many countries, there are laws that protect employees from experiencing bullying and harassment at work. In many countries, employers are legally obliged to provide a safe work environment free of bullying and harassment. In Québec, where we live, you can contact CNESST with any questions or report a problematic situation.  Juripop also provides information, services, and support for victims of bullying and harassment. If you or someone you know are struggling, please reach out.

In this solo episode, I share five tips that you can implement in your everyday production to lower stress and elevate well-being and mental health, not only for yourself but for everyone you work with. Let's not wear our stress like a badge of honor; there is a healthier way to produce animation! Are project scoping and scheduling stress-inducive in your project? Check out my free masterclass The Happy Project Schedule! Join our ⁠email community⁠ to be the first to know about new episodes and the free resources we offer at The Happy Producers!

 In this episode, ILM Associate VFX Producer joins me to demystify boundaries in the workplace and share some real-life examples of boundaries we have instilled in our productions and how they have been conducive to more well-being for all.   You can connect with Tini on LinkedIn, check out her mentoring services on her website, or follow her on Instagram!   Join our email community to be the first to know about new episodes and the free resources we offer at The Happy Producers!

Chronic stress is far too common in animation and VFX production, but did you know that it can lead to burnout? Burnout prevention and recovery coach Emma Matthews joins me to discuss what is at the root of burnout and how we can prevent burnout for ourselves and our team. She also helps us better understand what is necessary for burnout recovery and what we can do in the workplace to help our struggling teammates. Learn more about Emma Matthews services through her company Defeat Burnout. You can also connect with Emma on Instagram and LinkedIn. *** Join our email community to be the first to know about new episodes and the free resources we offer at The Happy Producers! Ready for more insights about well-being in animation and VFX production? We'll see you on LinkedIn! Ready to make animation production easy and fun? Download our free bid template or listen to our free masterclass, The Happy Project Schedule.

Does it feel like the project budget is stressful for everyone on your team? My guest, Victoria Mateo, helps us navigate budgetary discussions in creative project management. Victoria Mateo is the Creator of The Money Awareness Pathway or, as she calls it, The MAP, a Money Coaching and Consulting Service that caters specifically to creative professionals and businesses.   As a Certified Money Coach (CMC)®, Victoria is dedicated to empowering creative professionals to navigate financial challenges, overcome money-related obstacles, and unlock their true potential. She has over 15 years of experience in diverse areas of finance and the creative economy and, for the last 5+ years, with an emphasis on the VFX and Animation industry. Through One-on-One and group coaching sessions and online resources, she helps her clients develop financial awareness, create effective money strategies, and find their unique path to Financial and Creative success.   Take her Money Personality Quiz   Check out Victoria’s website: Follow Victoria on Instagram: @moneyawarenesspathway Follow Money Awareness Path on LinkedIn   *** Join our email community to be the first to know about new episodes and the free resources we offer at The Happy Producers! Ready for more insights about well-being in animation and VFX production? We'll see you on LinkedIn!  Ready to make animation production easy and fun? Download our free bid template or listen to our free masterclass, The Happy Project Schedule.

My guest for today's episode, Tini Wider, is a seasoned associate producer with 10+ years of experience in live-action, animation, and visual effects. She helps us cultivate the mindset to make the most of any situation. You can connect with Tini on LinkedIn, check out her mentoring services on her website, or follow her on Instagram. Ready to make animation production easy and fun? Download our free bid template or listen to our free masterclass, The Happy Project Schedule. Join our email community⁠ to be the first to know about new episodes and the free resources we offer at The Happy Producers! Ready for more insights about well-being in animation and VFX production? We'll see you on ⁠LinkedIn⁠!