So, yesterday was my birthday. I figured I’d take this week’s post to celebrate me, Jules Effin Rivera. We wouldn’t really have any of this without me. so let’s talk about my incredibly obvious self insert character in Hurricane Vendetta and why she matters.
This is Justice. This is the Love, Joolz insert character and she’s here to impart surfer wisdom on Vanessa. Justice is the Surf Jedi of the story and she’s the one adult who doesn’t admonish Vanesssa for blowing up her life by giving a Joke Speech at School. In fact, Justice celebrates it. She even rewards Vanessa with a gift we’ll see later.
In the beginning of this story, Vanessa isn’t very sure of herself, especially not after her speech bombs spectacularly. You’ll notice her friends aren’t really around to support her either (Why yes I am packing a lesson of unreliable friends into this adorable surfer whale cartoon). By the time she gets on the C Train, she’s alone and sad. But a chance encounter with whales and later Justice helps to change all that.
We all wish we could’ve had a “cool adult” in our lives as teenagers who could guide us through life without judgments or expectations. Sometimes we get that in school. Sometimes we’re even lucky enough to have that in our family. But for those of us who didn’t get that growing up, I wanted to show you what that could look like.
In a way, the story of Vanessa and Justice is a way to give surfing to my awkward adolescent self. I didn’t get that kind of mentorship, so the least I could do is render it in ink and paint. And this isn’t just about me. I’m doing this for all the awkward, shunned girls who said Too Much Truth and got in trouble for it. I may not have gotten a surf mentor as a kid, but I can pay it forward.
Animation is more than a product. Animation and storytelling can be the gift you give to the next generation of kids just like you.
Happy birthday to all of us.
-Love, Joolz