Animated Political Shorts Debut from Now What!?
Skwigly
Now What!?, an animation-based media nonprofit founded by Six Point Harness CEO Brendan Burch, is releasing its first three animated shorts aimed at engaging, informing and motivating voters 18 to 25 by blending complex political issues with edgy humor and a range of animation styles to make politics fun, accessible and relevant to the youngest generation of voters.
We want to meet young people where they are, and that means leaning in to humor and smart storytelling to tackle tough subjects. We’re aiming to bring the same energy and variety of Adult Swim-style cartoons, but doing it specifically to inspire young voters. Our mission is both to entertain and to educate, but above all to remind people that their vote is a powerful tool that shapes the future.
-Brendan Burch
Debuting today are:
STOP IT WITH THE VOTING
Written and directed by Kate Purdy, creator of Undone on Amazon Prime Video. By exposing how the rich and powerful pay to influence voters in order to get candidates into office who will cut taxes for their corporations, the short emphasizes the need and ability of individuals to fight back by voting their values.
FETUS MONSTER
Written by Annah Feinberg and directed by Amy Hewett, featuring Tim Heidecker and Emily Althaus. In a grimly comic and stylish way, this short shows a possible future in which reproductive rights are denied to women.
SNUBBY: THE FRIENDLY GUN
Created by Grant Lindahl and co-written by Aaron Lee (Family Guy), this short offers a paradoxically sunny and satirical take on gun control, blending pitch-black humor with a common-sense message.
Following the release of the first three animated shorts, NOW WHAT!? plans a regular release schedule, with its next short, Middle Class Matt, set for release in October. Written by Adam Lustick (Corporate), this sharp and funny short explores the life of the last middle-class person in America and the struggles he faces in today’s economy.
As an incredibly young person myself, I wish I had these shorts to help make politics fun and accessible, when I was younger – which I am.
-Kate Purdy, after growing exhausted from struggling to take off her sweatshirt
Amidst the mind-boggling amount on the line this November, these shorts offer a moment of droll reflection that we hope will give a final nudge for young people to write, ‘VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE’ in their Google Calendars.
-Annah Feinberg
Future projects from Now What!? will expand to cover civics education, helping to demystify government organizations and processes and help voters understand how every decision they make—at the ballot box and in everyday life—helps set the stage for a future they want to live in.
For more information about Now What!? visit now-what.us