Groundbreaking animated documentary short, helmed by Stephen Neary, brings John Matthias’ New Yorker memoir to life with hand-drawn artistry for festival circuit debut
LOS ANGELES, CA, May 28, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Garden Shed Productions proudly announces the addition of animator Janelle Feng to the creative team of Living with A Visionary, an ambitious animated documentary short film set for a 24-month production window from September 1, 2023, to September 1, 2025.
About the Production:
Living with A Visionary is an animated documentary short film adapted from John Matthias’ poignant memoir, first published in The New Yorker in 2021. The film intimately chronicles the journey of Matthias as he cares for his wife Diana, whose Parkinson’s-related hallucinations blur the line between reality and imagination. The project is spearheaded by Stephen Neary, Creator/EP of HBO Max’s “The Fungies!” and Supervising Producer of Cartoon Network’s Emmy-nominated “Clarence”. Neary was awarded a Filmmakers Fund Grant from Rooftop Films and Equity Financing from Brookly-based animation studio Cartuna, with James Belfer and Adam Belfer serving as Executive Producers and Mireia Vilanova as Producer.
The documentary short is entirely hand-animated, with each frame colored using watercolor crayons before being digitally scanned–a labor-intensive process designed to evoke the tactile, emotional texture of memory and hallucination.
Janelle Feng’s Leading Role:
Janelle Feng joins the production as Lead Animator, entrusted with translating the director’s vision into fluid, expressive animation. Working from detailed storyboards, Feng will animate on TVPaint, oversee the traditional rendering process, and collaborate closely with Neary to ensure each frame’s emotional authenticity. Her role is pivotal in maintaining the film’s visual consistency and in executing the complex layering and cel techniques that distinguish the project’s unique look.
Production Highlights:
Title: Living with A Visionary
Director/Studio Head: Stephen Neary (The Fungies!, Cartoon Network, Sony Pictures Animation)
Animator: Janelle Feng
Production Company: Garden Shed Productions, Cartuna
Production Timeline: September 1, 2023 – September 1, 2025
Technique: Hand-drawn animation, watercolor crayons and pencil on vellum cels, frame-by-frame scanning
Purpose: Festival circuit, distribution
A Distinguished Studio and Visionary Leadership:
Garden Shed Productions, under the direction of Stephen Neary, is recognized for its innovative storytelling and artistic excellence. Neary’s portfolio of clients includes major projects for Cartoon Network, Netflix, and Sony Pictures Animation, and his work has been celebrated in Animation Magazine and at the Sundance Film Festival 9. The studio’s commitment to nurturing new talent and pushing the boundaries of animated documentary makes Living with A Visionary a highly anticipated addition to the genre.
Director’s Statement:
“Thank you to poet and professor John Matthias for trusting me with your story. I first read John’s article in the middle of the pandemic, with a newborn sleeping at my side. I felt profoundly moved and couldn’t stop thinking about it for months. I began daydreaming of how to bring Diana’s visions to life in animation,” said Stephen Neary. “Thank you also to all the friends and mentors who’ve offered advice on starting this project.” Stephen is grateful to have Janelle’s talents on the project, and has tasked her with animating the film’s most complicated and emotional scenes.
About Garden Shed Productions:
Based in Los Angeles, Garden Shed Productions is dedicated to producing innovative, artist-driven animated content. The studio’s founder, Stephen Neary, is a veteran of the animation industry with credits spanning feature films, original series, and acclaimed indie shorts.
Contact:
Stephen Neary
Garden Shed Productions
Phone number: n/a
Email: spneary@gmail.com
For further information, interviews, or press materials, please contact Garden Shed Productions.
—
For the original version of this press release, please visit 24-7PressRelease.com here
