The Animator’s Friend

TAF at the Annecy International Animation Festival 2025!

We are live-to-tape at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Festival!  Take a pew with me and my friend Barnaby Catterall (who I met at Annecy 8 years ago!) as we chat with Animation Talent Picnic attendees about how well they tan, what animal would play them in a Better Man type biopic of their life, and what they have or have not yet seen at the festival this year.
 
Links to points of discussion:
Barnaby's website
Barnaby's Instagram
Annecy International Animation Festival
Arco
Layer Explorer podcast on Youtube
The Animator's Animations
Alberto Allegri Rodriguez's website
Alberto Allegri Rogdriguez's Instagram
Potlems on Short of the Week
Mikkel Mainz on Instagram
Sun Creature Studio
Skjaldborn Studios
Tales of Alethrion on Youtube
ChaO
Dragon Striker
Hoj
Kfir Ben-Dov's website
Lee-Yam Naaman's website
Lee-Yam Naaman's Instagram
Mononoke The Movie
The Animation Workshop
Pedro Martins Twitch
Hlin on Instagram
Melissa Raymond Lund's website
Royal College of Art Animation MA
The Animator's Favorites
The Animator's Friend on Instagram
 
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
 
 
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Co-host Barnaby Catterall
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Travel support provided by Annecy International Animation Festival and SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Cloutmeyer
Design by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Cynthia Chu; Brent Sievers; Ash Suh; Tracy Liu; my mom and dad Lisa Lombardi-Bello and Mick Bello; Barnaby's mom and dad; Darren Santa Maria.
 

TAF at Animafest Zagreb 2025!

In the interest of making new friends while attending Animafest Zagreb this year, I hung out at the festival picnic to record some impromptu conversations. This feels especially meaningful since Animafest is where I got the idea for the podcast this time last year! I was graciously joined by Sawyer Rippon, designer of the TAF logo, to chat with some new buds about Animafest's programming, frogs, and the beauty of the animation community with guests.
 
Links to points of discussion:
Sawyer's website
Sawyer's Instagram
Animafest Zagreb
Bratislava Academy of Performing Arts
Alina Koroleva's website
Alina Koroleva's Instagram
Estonian Academy of Arts
Power Rangers Time Force on Tubi
Yiyang Sun's website
Yiyang Sun's Instagram
@rs92221 on Instagram
A Night at the Rest Area by Saki Muramoto trailer
Ode to Perfume by Maxim Litvinov trailer
Rise & Shine
Animateka International Animation Festival
Kaboom Animation Festival
The Animator's Animations
The Animator's Favorites
The Animator's Friend on Instagram
 
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
 
 
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Co-host Sawyer Rippon
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Travel support provided by Animafest Zagreb and SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Cloutmeyer
Design by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Ash Suh for talking about recording at animation festivals with me; either Britt Raes or Tracy Liu for talking about recording specifically at the festival picnics with me; my mom and dad Lisa Lombardi-Bello and Mick Bello; Darren Santa Maria.
 

9: The Sid Defense with Michael Dondero & Shengnan Dong

Listen to my chat with my two favorite Annecy Achievers Michael Dondero and Shengnan Dong, whose film Nostril has been programmed into Annecy International Animation Festivals 2025's WTF Block!  If you are going to Annecy, book your ticket for one of the WTF blocks ASAP or rush day of!
 
Links to points of discussion:
Nostril's website
Michael Dondero's website
Michael Dondero's Instagram
Shengnan Dong's website
Shengnan Dong's Instagram
Annecy International Animation Festival
The Animator's Animations
The Animator's Favorites
The Animator's Playlist
Walla Walla Movie Crush
Lost Signal Society (Michael's podcast)
Woodstock Film Festival
Blender
The Animator's Friend on Instagram
 
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
 
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Cloutmeyer
Design by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to my mom and dad Lisa Lombardi-Bello and Mick Bello; Malt Adult and Sarah Schmidt; Darren Santa Maria

8: Belonging to the City Instantly with Brent Sievers

Two episodes in one month!? Don't get used to it!... yet.
Brent Sievers was in NYC a few weeks ago to receive a Webby for his show The Land of Boggs, becoming the podcast's first Angelino; allaying any blind East Coast/West Coast allegiances with his holistic perspective on the bites, the vibes, and the views.
Links to points of discussion:
Land of Boggs on Instagram
Brent's Instagram
The Divide
Caleb Wood's website
The Animator's Favorites
Los Tacos No. 1
Vidiots
The Animator's Animations
The Animator's Playlist
The Animator's Friend on Instagram
 
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Cloutmeyer
Design by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Lisa Lombardi-Bello, Mick Bello, and Darren Santa Maria

7: Starting Animation Beef with Jasper Lin

The Animator's Friend reaches Unc Status by having Jasper Lin on the show. In our chat, Jasper does everything in his power to get us both canceled by crowning me the Joe Rogan of Animation, starting animation beef with Oscar winners, and attempting to settle multiple disputes with me on mic. 
Jasper is an animator, computer artist, and educator. His work ranges from narrative short films to experimental video and sound pieces, but his interdisciplinary background and DIY work ethic have led him to fill a wide variety of roles in production, design, and academia.  Jasper received an MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts in 2011 and is an Assistant Professor of Digital Art and Design at Queensborough Community College.  His most recent film The Misprint is now available to stream on Youtube.
Links to points of discussion:
Jasper's webiste
The Misprint
Aid distribution in Gaza via Stephanie H. Shih
Trans Relocation Support Western Mass
Immigration Bond Freedom Fund
Jasper's Youtube
Jasper's Instagram
Nicole Otaola on The Animator's Friend
Westside Tavern
@there_i_ruined_it on Instagram
WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko trailer
IFC Center
SVA Faculty United: SVA FAC - UAW
Zohran for New York City
Kurt Vonnegut quote on Humanism
The Animator's Playlist
The Animator's Friend on Instagram
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Crankin' Cloutmeyer Evans
Design and branding by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Lisa Lombardi-Bello and Mick Bello, Darren Santa Maria, Jack Meisterich, Andres Salazar, Jose Vargas, Michael Dondero, Adam Meyers, and Rebecca Huang

6: That's What's Up with Nicole Otaola

Sit poolside with me and Nicole Otaola as we discuss pauses, pivots, persistence, politics, and Jurassic Park. 
Nicole is an artist and filmmaker currently based in Miami, FL.  She is a recent graduate of the BFA Animation Program at the School of Visual Arts.  She is an animation generalist, previously at Augenblick Studios - clients including PBS, Netflix, Irony Point, G-Fuel, Toei Animation, and Expensify.  More recently, she worked on City Island PBS Kids as a Production Coordinator.  In addition to animating, illustrating, storyboarding, and compositing, she also likes to make tunes.
Links to points of discussion:
Nicole's Instagram
City Island
Miami-Dade Public Library System
Josh Pilch on the Animator's Friend
The Animator's Favorites
The Animator's Animations
My Neighbor Totoro Fox Dub
The Animator's Playlist
The Animator's Friend on Instagram
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Crankin' Cloutmeyer Evans
Design and branding by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Sam Lee for introducing me to Nicole, Lisa Lombardi-Bello and Mick Bello, Ro and Scott Hornak, and Kylie Mitchell

5: Balance with Anne Beal

I think the theme of my chat with Anne is BALANCE: the balance between creative desires; improvisation and planning; nature and opportunity; perfection and imperfection; Alice in Wonderland and Scar; the artist and the critic. The deep sea angler fish serves as a sublime enactment of this search for harmony.
Anne Beal is an award-winning animation filmmaker and multimedia artist whose work merges experimental animation, painting, and sound. Informed by her musical training, she embraces the intuitive elements of cinematic language.
Links to points of discussion:
Anne's Patreon
The Animator's Friend on Instagram
The Animator's Playlist
Oliver Burkeman's 70% Rule
Girls Night Out by Joanna Quinn
Rocks In My Pockets by Signe Baumane
Consuming Spirits by Chris Sullivan
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Crankin' Cloutmeyer Evans
Interstitial music from guitarmaster on freesound.org
Design and branding by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Vinay Nandargi, Lisa Labracio, Michael Dondero, Kristie Kish, Darren Santa Maria, Rebecca Huang, my mom and dad Lisa Lombardi-Bello and Mick Bello, Nikolas Fortune Hagen, and Ro and Scott Hornak

4: Stretching & Narcissism with John Morena

This month, I made a new friend! John Morena joined me to talk all the most taboo topics: religion, and the tristate pizza wars.
Morena is a Bronx-born animator and art director, currently living in Brooklyn.  His films have been selected by such prestigious festivals Annecy, Ottawa, Hiroshima, Anima Mundi, Animafest Zagreb, and the International Children's Festival. He is currently working on an anthology piece Films for No One which you can keep stay up-to-date with on Instagram.
Links to points of discussion:
Di Fara Pizza
Creepshow 2
Animation Speak/Easy
Alphabet by David Lynch
I'm Okay by Elizabeth Hobbs
Martina Scarpelli
Area 52 by John Morena
25 Ways to Quit Smoking by Bill Plympton
Your Face by Bill Plympton
Beauty in the Grime: An Interview with Independent Animator John Morena by ASIFA-East
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Crankin' Cloutmeyer Evans
Design and branding by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Lisa LaBracio for recommending John Morena, Jose Vargas, Michael Dondero, and Nikolas Fortune Hagen

3: RHCP Summer with Josh Pilch

This month, The Animator's Friend is joined by the self-proclaimed Animator's Friend's Friend Josh Pilch. Josh is an animator at Augenblick Studios and has worked on such projects as City Island and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. He has his own improv podcast Big Town Improv which can be found on all major podcast platforms. This lively conversation leaves listeners wondering... is Josh brat? Is Josh a bully? Was Josh really raised amish? You be the judge!
Links to points of discussion:
City Island (show)
Bagel Villa (Brooklyn bakery)
The Animator's Playlist
Tigre (Manhattan bar)
Bruce Blitz
The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new series, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Crankin' Cloutmeyer Evans
Design and branding by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Darren Santa Maria, Lisa LaBracio, my parents Lisa Lombardi-Bello and Mick Bello, and Josh for helping me move my couch.

2: Some Joy with Lisa LaBracio

The Animator's Friend is hosted by India Lombardi-Bello, an animation educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In this new podcast, India creates a platform where animators get to talk about themselves outside the context of their work. A questionnaire format, inspired by the 24 frames per second of animation, allows for lighthearted and unexpected conversation.
In this episode, India sits down with director and educator Lisa LaBracio to discuss their shared Italian heritage, social norms, failure, chocolate, and Animation Speak/Easy.  Among other things!
Links to points of discussion:
Anne Beal
John Morena
Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days by Regina Pessoa
Tragic story with a Happy ending by Regina Pessoa
Feet of Song by Erica Russell
Neighbors by Norm McLaren
Song Exploder
The Animator's Friend's playlist heh
Credits:
Recorded and edited by India Lombardi-Bello
Produced in part with facilities provided by SVA MFA Computer Arts
Music by Crankin' Cloutmeyer Evans
Design and branding by Sawyer Rippon
Special thanks to Ethan Kaplan, Michael Dondero, Adam Meyers, Lisa Lombardi-Bello, and Mick Bello