Daily Inspiration: Meet Jordan Zangrillo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Zangrillo.

Hi Jordan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Back when I was in high school in Baldwin, NY I created “Young’N’Bored”, an adult animated comedy inspired by the misadventures of me and my friends. Although I didn’t know how I’d bring the show to life, it became a dream I carried with me for nearly 20 years. Growing up, I always loved cartoons and my goal was to have my own animated show. I loved South Park, Family Guy, and Beavis & Butthead. Creator driven shows. I graduated SUNY Purchase in 2014 with a BA in Playwriting/Screenwriting. Unfortunately, after graduating I began experiencing severe health problems, including nausea, and frequent stomach pain. My condition eventually forced me to move back to Florida and live with my father.

In 2021, I found myself working at a local gas station when I decided to launch a Kickstarter. I raised enough money to hire an animator and finally bring “Young’N’Bored” to life. The campaign succeeded, but unfortunately, things with the animator fell through. Suddenly, I had a choice to make: give up on my dream or learn how to animate the project myself.

I began animating the show on my own. All I had was my script, my characters, a light box, and tracing paper, For about four months, I worked overnight shifts at the gas station, came home at 6 a.m., and drew until I passed out from exhaustion around noon. The animation was crude and simple, but I fell in love with the process. I had always loved drawing, but making my drawings move was completely new and I found the challenge very exciting. Plus, it was better than dealing with customers!

After I finished the animation, I began to wonder whether I could go back to school and pursue animation seriously. As a sports fan, I searched for the animation school closest to the Buffalo Bills and found Rochester Institute of Technology. Not your typical way of picking a school! I remember looking at the program and thinking, “I could have a completely different life.” Young’N’Bored finished as a finalist at the New York Animation Film Awards (2024).

I’m now pursing my MFA in Film and Animation at RIT. So far I’ve learned the principals of animation, new advanced software, and expanded my skills into mediums such as 3D and Stop-Motion animation. While producing my short film “Zoey Puppy”, I was encouraged to apply to the RIT Study Away in LA program. Having spent most of my life on the East Coast, moving to Los Angeles was a big decision for me…but it was also an opportunity to be immersed in the heart of the animation industry, and follow in the footsteps of my childhood heroes.

Currently, I’m developing my Thesis Film, “Abe: The Junk Food Junkie”, a 2D animated comedy about a pot smoking Proboscis Monkey who loves eating junk food. I’m also actively pitching “Young’N’Bored” as an animated series. Ultimately, my goal is to establish my own animation studio, ZANGTOONZ where I bring my own original cartoon characters and stories to life!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In 2016, doctors discovered that my gallbladder was functioning at an alarmingly low rate, and I underwent surgery to have it removed. I hoped the procedure would allow me to return to a normal life, but afterward, my condition became even more debilitating. I spent years searching for answers while living with constant pain that made it extremely difficult to work or function normally.

One of the hardest parts was not being believed. Some doctors diagnosed me with IBS, others questioned whether my symptoms were real. With no reliable income or financial support, I sold many of my childhood possessions just to cover basic expenses and survive.

While attending RIT, I also continued searching for an explanation to the illness that had controlled my life for nearly a decade. After years of unanswered questions, I finally used ChatGPT to help research my symptoms and it discovered bile acid malabsorption, or BAM—a condition that can occur after gallbladder removal. I brought what I had learned to a medical professional and they prescribed Cholestyramine, a medication I now take twice a day. Now, I feel great!

My journey has been more than learning how to animate…it’s about reclaiming the life I thought I had lost. I couldn’t control what had happened to me, but I could decide what happened next. What once felt like the end of my story became the beginning of an entirely new one.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
ZANGTOONZ is my own name brand cartoons. I make caricature illustrations of pop culture, sports, and entertainment. I focus on comedy, and have sort of an early-2000s adult animation style. I do a little of everything…writing, acting, and animation. I specialize in frame-by-frame animation, meaning I draw every single frame. I also do voices. Not because I think I’m a great actor, but because I think it’s fun. I also believe it’s important to have a “single voice” in as many aspects of the show as possible. This makes the show feel personal, and gives it a human touch.

The project I’ll always be most proud of is “Young’N’Bored”. It’s funny looking back how bad the animation is…but that’s part of it’s charm! What sets me apart from other animators is that I come into it from a screenwriting perspective. I create my own original characters inspired by people (or animals) I’ve known throughout my life. My stories are often humorous exaggerations from personal life experiences.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
To me, what makes Los Angeles special is that it truly feels like the Land of Animation. I’m literally surrounded by all the animation studios. It’s very inspiring being around so many creative and talented people all following their dreams. Also, I love the weather—no humidity and lots of sunshine!

California is basically one big mountain. It’s full of slopes, hills, and inclines everywhere. Here, you don’t simply “go for a walk”…you go for a hike. There’s basically no sidewalks. As a New Yorker, I’m used to stepping outside and finding stores or a subway station within five-minutes in any direction. Everything is so spread out here that owning a car is unavoidable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zangtoonz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zangtoonz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zangtoonz/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanzangrillo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZANGTOONZ