Story & Lesson Highlights with Brandon Dean Johnson of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Brandon Dean Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Brandon Dean , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now my life feels like a double life, with being a father to my 9-month-old at the very center of it. My mornings start in full dad mode: diapers, bottles, play time, and those half-asleep moments before the day really kicks in. Then I shift into my “Bruce Wayne” side. In the daylight, I’m Create Now, in meetings, securing partnerships, fundraising, visiting schools, and making sure our programs are really reaching the youth we serve. That’s the public-facing part of my world, the responsibility and structure everyone can see.

When night hits and the world finally quiets down, the other side of my life comes alive. That’s Hoodlin Mania time. Late nights are for building universes, script work, reviewing animation and comics, and pushing forward this creative world that’s been in my head for years. That’s the cape-and-cowl side, the creative side driven by imagination and instinct.

Through all of it, I’m focused, motivated, and grounded. So a “normal day” for me right now is two lives running side by side: serving the community in the daylight, creating worlds at night, and being a new father through every minute of it, which is the part that matters most.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Brandon Dean Johnson. I’m the CEO of Create Now, a nonprofit that provides free arts education and workforce training to young people who normally don’t get access to creative opportunities. I actually started with the organization as a volunteer over a decade ago, and worked my way up to leading it, so my story is deeply tied to the mission, art literally changed my life, and now I get to help it change others.

At the same time, I’m also the creator of Hoodlin Mania, an original trans-media universe of animation, comics, characters, and events that I’ve been building for years. Create Now is my “daytime” work, the public, community-focused side, and Hoodlin Mania is the creative world I build late at night. On top of all of that, I’m a new father, which keeps everything grounded and very real.

What makes my work unique is that it blends purpose and imagination. I’m building worlds that entertain people, while also opening real doors for youth to enter creative careers in animation, music, and digital media. That’s the through-line in everything I’m working on right now.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful goes back to elementary school. A teacher gave us a simple drawing prompt, and with nothing more than crayons, markers, a pen, and a sheet of paper, I created something that really stood out. I remember realizing for the first time that art was real power, that I could take something from my imagination and turn it into something other people could actually see.

I also wasn’t very good at reading back then. Other kids could disappear into books, but that was never my escape. My escape was my own imagination, drawing, painting, and creating characters and worlds through art. That’s where everything opened up for me. Once I discovered that I could build entire universes from a blank page, I understood that if I could dream it and get it down on paper, I could accomplish anything in the art world. I never looked back after that.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I’d tell him, “Do it the way you want to do it. You’re doing just fine.” Growing up, there were a lot of negative voices around me. People told me I couldn’t do art, that I wouldn’t amount to anything, and I was often seen more as an athlete than a creative, which was really confusing as a kid.

I would tell my younger self not to carry all of that, not to let other people’s limits become his own. Keep creating, trust your imagination, and follow your path, because you’re going to be successful doing exactly what you love.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is absolutely the real me. I think sometimes people assume I’m putting on a front or faking my intentions, but that isn’t the case. What you see is who I am. I’m genuinely a supporter of others, a doer, and someone who truly loves people. I want the best for everyone, especially young people and those trying to find their way in the art world.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people tell a story that reminds others they can do anything they set their minds to. I want people to know that you can come from anywhere, be underestimated, and still become exactly who you were meant to be. More than anything, I want it to be clear that being good and kind to others actually matters. We’re all in this together, and we don’t need to stay as divided as we are now.

I hope people say I was the real deal, that Brandon Dean Johnson was the real deal, that I didn’t just talk about change, I actually did the work. That I believed art could bridge communities and change lives, and that I believed kindness could do the same thing, and I tried to live that way every day.

Don’t be afraid to bet on yourself, go out, explore, meet new people, and learn about other cultures. If they tell that story about me, that I showed up, did the work, and stayed true to who I am, I’m good with that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hoodlinmania.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoodlinmania/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandondeanjohnson/
• Twitter: https://x.com/HoodlinMania
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoodlinMania/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HoodlinMania/featured