Studio Smokescreen, a new independent, Black-owned animation studio, today unveiled its first animated short, TENT SALE, which it produced with a team of young animation talent from underrepresented and marginalized communities.
Independently financed and produced, TENT SALE showcases the vision of Studio Smokescreen founder Kris Wimberly to discover, support, train and prepare young animation talent that otherwise has encountered difficulty finding a path in to the animation industry. Studio Smokescreen is designed as “bridge studio,” which will train and develop talent on both in-house and commercial projects, giving them hands-on experience that helps them “bridge” their careers to larger companies and studios.
“As we work on exciting animation projects we develop ourselves and animate for studio, network and streaming partners, we ultimately want to bring greater diversity to the animation industry as a whole,” says Kris Wimberly, an accomplished animation director, executive producer and storyboard artist who has most recently brought his creative skills to Walt Disney Television Animation’s upcoming “Firebuds” (premiering in Fall 2022 on Disney+) and to Disney’s “Elena of Avalor.” Kris has also been a storyboard artist and worked in production roles at Nickelodeon Animation, Universal Pictures and Cartoon Network. At Disney+, Kris is currently in development on a series as creator and co-executive producer.
Kris has founded Studio Smokescreen with his brother Chase Wimberly, who leads the business side of the studio, building on decades of business-development and strategic management experience. Chase has held various roles for digital media companies backed by top-tier equity firms, including Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Corporate Development. He was responsible for creating growth and corporate value through strategic mergers and acquisitions, business development, and capital raising. He brings more than a decade of experience in M&A, strategy and corporate development.
Studio Smokescreen functions on three core levels: as an animation production partner, a creative development and production studio, and a training ground for the newest, most exciting artistic talent in the industry.
With a commitment to providing animation services that meet the highest industry standards, Studio Smokescreen fulfills its vision of producing best-in-class animation for partners, as well as developing and producing its own original projects – while ensuring that a new generation of animation talent will represent audiences and perspectives that have long been overlooked.
TENT SALE is the the first animated short produced entirely within Studio Smokescreen’s visionary framework. The studio is in development on projects with multiple partners.