Chicago-based filmmaker Robert Carnilius, who we last profiled when his experimental short film, "Jaspa’ Jenkins," was screened last
fall at the Chicago International Film Festival (HERE), has now embarked on a
new project; an animated web series set to premiere later this month.
The series is
an LGBTQ animated series called "McTucky Fried High," which will consist of 5 episodes, all using comedy to tackle issues of gender
identity, bullying, sexting and coming out of the closet.
Carnilius
says that he wanted to make the series because: "even though there are a lot of great network cartoons and animations,
there aren’t any that prominently feature characters in the LGBTQ community."
But why use
animation instead of live actors? According to the filmmaker, “with animated characters who were non-human,
they could be funny, yet inviting and make the perfect platform in which to
engage the audience with humor and quality story."
And he added
further that: " While foregrounding LGBTQ
characters, my goal for the series is to re-contextualize different issues so
audiences see them in a new light and to spark awareness and change through the
power of animated comedy. I also plan to expand the series and tackle teen
homelessness, gender roles, racism, privilege, slut shaming, and more – All
with humor of course!"
The series
will premiere on January 26th on the series website which you can
find HERE.
Here is the
trailer:
