Soren Spina 2025

Abstract

For this project I am mostly working digitally to create character designs, backgrounds/environments, and assets, as well as write a 12 minute pilot episode and season outline. The physical style of the piece will combine a more cartoonish style for characters and objects, mixing them with a looser style for backgrounds and environments.

Some of my biggest inspirations for Nowhere Special are series like Over the Garden Wall, Yellowjackets and Welcome to Night Vale. I really enjoy the way that a lot of these stories seem to take place somewhere outside of time. The way that the characters within these worlds exist in such a strange and removed place is so intriguing to me. I also really enjoy these stories' balance of comedy and seriousness, as someone who likes to be a bit silly within my work. I really appreciate when a piece of media can find a good balance between fun and plot.

My hope for my thesis after graduation is to pitch it to a studio like adult swim or channel Frederator, but since I am aware that getting a series picked up (especially with how streaming treats animation right now) is very challenging, I could also see myself creating my series independently and then releasing it onto a site like youtube for people to be able to enjoy.