Mark Neeley is an independent animator & designer from Cincinnati, Ohio who has dedicated himself to working purely in an analog manner using a lightbox, paper, and frame by frame recording methods. He is also a teacher of autistic children who inspire him with their freedom to allow their imaginations to directly come to life on paper with an innocence and immediacy. Kit Laybourne's "The Animation Book," found in Mark's childhood public library, introduced him to indie animation and the methods of how to create. The midcentury animation husband and wife duo John and Faith Hubley, who dedicated themselves to making at least one personal film per year in the midst of making commercial projects, introduced him to a mindset in which to work with your soul intact. Mark's lifelong dedication to animation led him to create a short film called“Fragments” (2020.) It is an ideal vs. real mixed media animation inspired by his wife and him experiencing the joys of traveling to California contrasted with the loss of a family pet. It was the recipient of over a dozen film festival screenings and finalist awards. His love and specialization of creating music videos (Maston, Psychic Temple, Cactus Lee) connects directly with his creation of the "Aquarium Drunkard Picture Show" originally commissioned by the Adult Swim Network, and now an episodic production released on aquariumdrunkard.com. He is a generous creator who has even been known to offer free workshops for young people who are desperate to find a way to bring movement and life to their drawings.
