Daily Inspiration: Meet Moss Lawton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Moss Lawton.

Hi Moss, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a queer goth goblin thing working in animation and comics. I grew up drawing, devouring cartoons, manga, theater, collecting CDs and exploring the internet. Sharing sketchbooks with friends became sharing art online and very quickly became a career path I knew would be my future. After high school I got a degree in Animation and Illustration from San Jose State University, where I was able to try out a variety of mediums and pieces of the animation pipeline. In my last year of school I was finally able to dip my toes into storyboarding, this was where everything fell into place. It made immediate sense! I could direct, design, act, write, touch a bit of every part of the animation puzzle without needing to sit and look at a single image for hours.

Myself and a small handful of aspiring directors in my graduating class locked in. Between classes we would share tips to build out our portfolios which landed me an internship at a feature film studio. Finding a steady job was still difficult, but with the connections I had made though school, conventions and the internet I managed to find stable footing, kicking off my animation career. I bounced around the big studios often, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Netflix, Disney and more, getting to cut my teeth on a variety of different shows and building my skills. But even as I worked on cool projects, it was never enough. I needed to tell my own stories.

In tandem with my storyboard work I was also developing my voice as a creator. I came up with pitches for shows to share with studios and drew comics for my online platform before landing a two book deal with Penguin Random House for my graphic novel series HELLAWEEN. Through my comic I was able to combine everything I had learned from animation with my experiences growing up in California. It’s a celebration of alternative culture and the thrill of having a holiday that revolves around the strange and unusual, combined with the emotional turmoil of being a teenager without the right outlets for your emotions, and struggling to express an identity you don’t have the words for yet.

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?
Oh my god, I’ve had so many set backs in my career. College was both a boon and a curse. I entered college during the recession, resources for the school were limited and getting my degree took a year longer than I had intended. Despite that, life long bonds were formed through blood and tears and I’m a much more well rounded person and artist. But it was also the start of a reoccurring theme for the next few years— being told “you’re great… but we don’t know what to do with you”. On top of that, the streaming bubble pop lead to mass cancellations. I personally have worked on three separate shows that were all shelved mid-production. Stories from diverse and wildly talented voices that should have had a chance to find an audience.

Because of this I’m constantly carving my own path, whether it’s out of stubbornness, spite or genuine intrigue? Who can say. I’ve faced a ton of rejection, but sticking to my guns has lead me to some of the most rewarding projects with the coolest people. So I feel like the trade off has been worth it. As we all know the entertainment industry has faced a lot of hardship the last few years and I think a combination of diversifying my work, making an effort to get to know my peers, the queer/alt culture around me and putting a hard stamp in what I like doing has revealed opportunities to keep me afloat in these trying times that I would not have normally found.

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?
I am a director, storyboard artist and comic creator, and I specialize in blending horror and comedy with a thick coat of 2000’s Hot Topic nonsense. I’m grateful that my enthusiasm for the things I love has brought me on to projects my childhood self would die over. Invader ZIM was a huge inspiration to me growing up, and was essential in kickstarting my career. I connected with some of the original artists to help out when Oni Press launched the comic revival, and those friendships lead to one of my first big industry roles on Enter the Florpus. As my career progressed, my life long obsession with Pokemon lead to collaborating with the Pokemon Company and Taiko Studios for their shorts Bidoof’s Big Stand and Path to the Peak.

When I’m not engaged in the studio grind I’m deep in the comics mines. My graphic novel series HELLAWEEN has been ten years in the making, inspired by 2000’s anime and late 90’s goth comics. I wanted to make something super self indulgent, while catering to exactly what I would have wanted to read as a pre-queer goth kid/teenager trying to have it all!!

Over the years I’ve bounced around studios, working in tv, feature, limited series, and more. I’m probably best known for my work on ZIM, Monster High, Pokemon, and my original comics. Currently, I’m excited to be working for Glitch Studios! The makers behind The Amazing Digital Circus and the upcoming Knights of Guinevere.

When I’m not drawing professionally, I’m drawing for evil. Plus throwing myself into new screen-free hobbies like showcasing at local markets, toy customizing, DIYing my wardrobe, linocut printing, Dungeons and Dragons, making costumes and whatever else I can get my hands on.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I don’t think I was that different from how I am now. Like I just keep getting more and more ME as the years go by. Every few years is a new Pokemon evolution, where the base idea is the same but I get cooler features and better move sets. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, including college in San Jose. I was the weird kid in my K-8 school who found a group of even weirder kids at my high school. One of the best things I did for myself was getting involved with theater. As a stage hand, I found a strong community of other alt artists, gained a lot of skills in making a lot of moving parts work, and a fondness for the smell of sawdust. The friends I made helped me find new and niche hobbies while expanding my tastes.

I also listened to a lot of My Chemical Romance while digging through the SLG shelf of my local comic shop. Which probably explains why I’m Like This haha.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dinolich.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinolich/
• Other: https://bsky.app/profile/dinolich.bsky.social