Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this interview, we sit down with writer/director J.P. Vine (former Pixar storyboard artist and director at Locksmith Animation) to discuss his BAFTA-nominated animated short film, Cardboard.
Vine reveals how a family road trip across the Nevada desert and a personal childhood memory of homelessness inspired this emotionally resonant story about a single father and his imaginative piglets. We dig deep into the production process at Locksmith Animation, exploring how the team moved away from photorealism to create a unique, hand-drawn watercolor aesthetic within a CG pipeline.
J.P. also opens up about the "therapeutic" nature of making shorts between features, the importance of dialogue-free storytelling, and why he chooses to trust his instincts over manufacturing films for an "ideal audience".
👀 Watch Cardboard - AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY youtu.be/JuITY9Jx1js?si=OmMVurWrX_m0xOFt
🔔 Watch more interviews with visionary filmmakers on our channel: youtube.com/c/directorsnotes
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** VIDEO CHAPTERS **
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - The Real Life Inspirations Behind Cardboard: Homelessness & Road Trips
05:55 - The Power of a Simple Box
06:53 - Moving from Pixar to Locksmith Animation
09:10 - Why Studios Should Make Short Films
12:05 - Emotional Scoring & The 'Cardboard' Song
14:43 - Why Pigs? Character Design Choices
16:58 - Achieving a Hand-Drawn Watercolour Aesthetic in CG
22:29 - The Art of Dialogue-Free Storytelling
26:47 - 'Rough to Find': Lessons for Future Features
31:30 - What's Next for J.P. Vine
33:19 - Advice: Trusting Your Instincts
34:31 - Short Film Recommendations
#bafta #baftanominee #animationinterview #animatedshort #behindthescenes #shortfilm
In this interview, we sit down with writer/director J.P. Vine (former Pixar storyboard artist and director at Locksmith Animation) to discuss his BAFTA-nominated animated short film, Cardboard.
Vine reveals how a family road trip across the Nevada desert and a personal childhood memory of homelessness inspired this emotionally resonant story about a single father and his imaginative piglets. We dig deep into the production process at Locksmith Animation, exploring how the team moved away from photorealism to create a unique, hand-drawn watercolor aesthetic within a CG pipeline.
J.P. also opens up about the "therapeutic" nature of making shorts between features, the importance of dialogue-free storytelling, and why he chooses to trust his instincts over manufacturing films for an "ideal audience".
👀 Watch Cardboard - AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY youtu.be/JuITY9Jx1js?si=OmMVurWrX_m0xOFt
🔔 Watch more interviews with visionary filmmakers on our channel: youtube.com/c/directorsnotes
🎥 Want to see your film here? Submit your work to Directors Notes: directorsnotes.com/submit
📬 Get filmmaking insights delivered: Subscribe to our free Newsletter: directorsnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
📷 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/directorsnotes
🎧 Listen to our Podcast: pod.link/192507317
👍 **Loved this deep dive?** Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation with the world's best filmmakers.
** VIDEO CHAPTERS **
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - The Real Life Inspirations Behind Cardboard: Homelessness & Road Trips
05:55 - The Power of a Simple Box
06:53 - Moving from Pixar to Locksmith Animation
09:10 - Why Studios Should Make Short Films
12:05 - Emotional Scoring & The 'Cardboard' Song
14:43 - Why Pigs? Character Design Choices
16:58 - Achieving a Hand-Drawn Watercolour Aesthetic in CG
22:29 - The Art of Dialogue-Free Storytelling
26:47 - 'Rough to Find': Lessons for Future Features
31:30 - What's Next for J.P. Vine
33:19 - Advice: Trusting Your Instincts
34:31 - Short Film Recommendations
#bafta #baftanominee #animationinterview #animatedshort #behindthescenes #shortfilm
