Conversations with Annie Nishida

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Nishida

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m fourth generation Angeleno, so I’m lucky to have grown up just a freeway or two away from the entertainment industry. (I’m not a nepo baby though, I swear!) I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer, and I miraculously – and on a whim – got into USC’s screenwriting program. After graduating, I worked a ton of odd jobs doing things like taking a photobooth to weddings, serving mochi ice cream, and teaching fitness classes. I kept writing (and started drawing indie comics) and eventually, I was staffed on my first television show – Gabby Duran and the Unsittables. And I haven’t stopped working since!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been easy, and there was a period of time where I was SUPER burned out. I was teaching 35 fitness classes a week while nannying while writing like crazy hoping to break in – and I was so overworked that I fell asleep while driving (very slowly, up a hill). One of my friends saw that happen and suggested that I read a couple of books – The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Those taught me to not try to do so much to control the universe around me, and to have fun and enjoy life. This shifted my mindset so dramatically, and shortly after applying these principles to my life, I finally achieved my goal of becoming a professional television writer. It may sound woo-woo, but I will always recommend those books. Life changers!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a television writer, illustrator, and perpetual emo kid with an affinity for combining comedy and genre to explore the hilarity and horror of growing up. My favorite thing to do is write about weird things I liked growing up – angsty music, ghosts, monsters – and use those elements to write coming of age stories for young adults and kids.

On the tv side, I’ve been a staff writer on Disney Channel’s Gabby Duran & the Unsittables, and Disney Junior’s Robogobo, and a Story Editor on Bunk’d: Learning the Ropes. I’ve written over 40 episodes of television, developed original animated projects with Hulu, Nickelodeon, and Apple, and is a fellow of the inaugural WarnerMedia Access Writers Program… and I am currently writing for an animated Sony/Netflix series.

On the illustration side, I write and illustrate funny indie comics about identity, mental health, and super specific feelings that we all experience, but are afraid to talk about (like being jealous of a successful friend and wanting to cry alone in your room). I exhibit these at art fairs, markets, and zine fests up and down the California coast, and I am super proud to be a part of this tiny but mighty community of likeminded creatives.

What sets me apart from others is that I can write and draw. It’s especially helpful when I’m pitching my own projects and have a specific look in mind. That way, I can just draw exactly how I want things to look instead of relying on mood boards or trying to explain my deranged vision to a different artist. Oh, and also… I’m a synchronized ice skater!

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
The entertainment industry is tough to break into, but I encourage those with specific, unique, colorful POVs to not give up. There are definitely times when I thought it wasn’t going to happen, but once I started to write stories that excited me, and that only I could write, doors started to open. You don’t have to sacrifice your voice to please others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annienishida.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/annienishida
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nishidannie