Don’t Miss the Stories Behind the Stories

Fable’s mission has always been to empower folks to tell stories. So we thought, let’s double down and get into the stories behind the stories. Ideas in Motion is a Fable series streaming live on select Friday afternoons on YouTube. It's a space for real conversations with seasoned creators about motion, design, life, learnings, and more.

Pursuing a professional career in creative industries can be intimidating, isolating, and competitive. But, it can also beget collaboration, connection, and the ultimate: mentorship.

We’ve been continuously delighted to host talented creatives from far and wide, with storied freelancers and in-house powerhouses sharing their invaluable insights and unfiltered musings. Amidst sincere discussions, lighthearted debate, and that one live-drawn animation of a butt, we’ve affirmed that creative journeys and perspectives run the gamut; there’s no right or wrong way, just passion and perseverance.

Don’t worry; we talk about burnout, too.

To our guests, thank you for your time and tellings. To our viewers, more to come. May our chats inspire, reassure, and at the very least, provide entertainment.

Don’t miss a beat–more incredible guests with ideas to boot coming soon.

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Episode Descriptions

Dive into the full series — from career pivots to burnout, oddball moments, and the occasional live-drawn animation of a butt.

Episode 1 — Julio Michelon

Adrian sits down with Brooklyn-based Motion Designer Julio Michelon to explore what happens when the craft you love calls for a move abroad. Originally from Mallorca, Spain—a beautiful island paradise (his words) not exactly known for its motion design scene—Julio briefly compromised his interests after graduation. Three months later, he said, “Okay, I really want to do something in the entertainment industry, so this needs to stop, basically.” From early curiosity to professional success, discover what’s shaped Julio as a designer.

Episode 2—Melody Shih

Brooklyn-based creative Melody Shih joins Adrian to talk about the ups and downs of finding and growing your community as an aspiring professional. Originally from Taiwan, Melody speaks to these challenges with experience. Now a pillar of her community and a badass educator at SVA, shaping the next generation of designers, she reminds us that sharing is caring, and snacks are critical.

Episode 3—Michael Luckhardt

NYC-based creative Michael Luckhardt, a seasoned motion designer with experience spanning many creative disciplines, sits down with Adrian to rave about the value of saying “Yes!” more than “No.” They talk about what happens when things don’t quite go as planned, and how staying open can lead to paths you never would’ve mapped out, but are glad you followed. Not just for motion designers. Freelancers, pay attention: first holds.

Episode 4—Liam Elias

Art Director Liam Elias joins Adrian to talk about how all the little things ultimately add up to the spectacular whole. They explore why personal stories, not technical skillsets alone, are what give creative work its emotional weight and how paying attention to those details is what actually makes something resonate.

Episode 5—Kaori Sohma

Seasoned Creative Director Kaori Sohma chats with Adrian about the trials and tribulations of a prolific creative career. The search for work-life balance proves elusive, shaped by budgets, corporations, and personal interests that influence major career moves and long-term growth. Kaori shares how she manages when the pressure is high, and what it actually takes to get through the tough stretches, not limited to—but including—chain-smoking cigarettes.

Episode 6 — Dino Qiu

Up-and-coming CVLT Productions Creative Director Dino Qiu joins Adrian to talk about career direction and the many paths a creative life can take. They talk through the game-time decisions that come with navigating those paths, the difficulty of weighing options as they appear, and strategies for balancing making with managing. In conclusion, the world needs more plumbers.

Episode 7 — Masayoshi Nakamura

Animation Director Masayoshi Nakamura talks with Adrian about a feeling many creative freelancers know all too well: the inability to fully relax, even when there’s nothing you’re technically “supposed” to be doing. They unpack the comical realities of being off the clock, the guilt that sneaks in anyway, and why that ever-elusive work-life balance remains just that—elusive.

Episode 8 — Mark Phillips

Senior Animator Mark Phillips joins Adrian to talk about the animation industry and its cyclical nature—from the golden era to commercial saturation, the death of cel, the pivot to motion design, back to cel, and now AI. They explore how to navigate these shifts as creators, what it takes to stay adaptable, and the lessons you can carry across eras. Bonus: watch Mark complete a live-drawn animation of a butt and find out why he has a soft spot for the weird, the hairy, and the taboo.

Episode 9 — Jae Bae

Senior Motion Designer Jae Bae joins Adrian to talk about what it’s like to create when the user ultimately decides what’s beautiful and what isn’t, what works and what doesn’t. They dig into what it means to be a creative “professional” today, when the role is as much about navigating taste and trends as it is about making the work itself.

Episode 10 — Dorca Musseb

Freelance Motion Designer/Animator Dorca Musseb chats with Adrian about what it takes to build an active, inclusive, and long-lasting creative community. They touch on the industry’s lack of racial and gender diversity, unpack the faux-inclusive trends of 2020, and get real about the obstacles creatives face, before pivoting to practical ways to move forward.

Episode 11 — Lori Samsel Hamasaki

Senior Motion Designer Lori Samsel Hamasaki joins Adrian to talk about navigating entrenched commercial workflows as a WFH freelancer while incorporating new tech and trends. They dig into the careful balance required to follow established processes while still pushing the edge, and how that adaptability can lead to existential questions like, “WHO AM I? WHY AM I EVEN HERE? WHAT IS MY JOB REALLY?”

Episode 12 — Lyla Ribot

Senior Animator Lyla Ribot joins Adrian to talk about the importance of maintaining an active external creative network, even when you’re working in-house. They explore the reasons one might choose to freelance or stay in-house and dive into strategies for avoiding burnout — unless, of course, you absolutely, positively can’t say no.

Episode 13 — Jordan Knight

Motion Designer Jordan Knight sits down with Adrian to talk about managing a creative lifestyle, how to stand up when projects start to pile up, and prioritizing your mojo!

Episode 14 — Taylor

Taylor sits down with Adrian to talk about how timing can shape a creative career and the unique challenges recent grads face entering the motion design industry in post-pandemic form. They explore what it’s like to try to tell powerful stories while juggling schoolwork, looming deadlines, and that constant sense of overwhelm, and touch on strategies for staying sane and caring for your mental health along the way.