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  • - Nickelodeon was historically run by women, created by a woman, a mother.

  • You know, I worked at Nickelodeon for six years and when I left Nickelodeon, I was deeply surprised that the rest of the world wasn't run by women, actually.

  • (white noise)

  • (white noise)

  • - We want to show the world what power girl surfers can do.

  • (white noise)

  • (giggling)

  • - You gotta be quiet twerps, we're doing an interview!

  • (laughs)

  • (bell pings)

  • - I'm the Avatar, you gotta deal with it!

  • - Bow down to my queenly queenliness.

  • - She's gotta eat, breathe, drink and sweat self-esteem.

  • - Let's rip!

  • - How extraordinary!

  • - Tap into to your tough side!

  • - You're a hero! (clang)

  • (explosion)

  • (white noise)

  • - (laughs) You know this is my twentieth year?

  • I was here in the middle, when it was run by a lot of men.

  • I had to leave the room often, because the men were gonna be talking.

  • - There was only very specific things that a woman was allowed to do.

  • - It used to be, women weren't allowed to animate.

  • They had to paint animation cells.

  • - And I watched it grow.

  • I've seen a lot more women now behind the camera.

  • I see a lot more women writing the shows.

  • I see a lot more women as artists.

  • I just see them more.

  • I used to walk onto a set and be the only lady there.

  • - I've seen more and more women coming into the studio.

  • It used to be, I'd walk into a room and it was like all guys, that was not unheard of.

  • - Yawn!

  • - Let me. (white noise)

  • - And now I walk in and I'm like, "Oh hi, hi!"

  • Fellow women, it's so nice.

  • Yeah, so it changed a lot since I was really young.

  • - I wonder.

  • (click)

  • (White noise) - Now it is really fantastic to be in a space, where we have so many different perspectives that are leading this studio.

  • And that many of those leaders are women.

  • - The leadership at the studio is comprised of mostly women and it deeply influences the way that we hire, and the way that we identify material, and empower other women.

  • - I love being able to be that person that can bring another woman into the industry.

  • - I have worked with so many amazing women.

  • They've created such a beautiful community at Nickelodeon, and I think that community has really helped me to grow as an artist and helped me to feel really comfortable in the industry.

  • - There's just something so gratifying working with the team of people who are so passionate about what they're putting out into the world.

  • - I really don't care what we do, as long as we do it together!

  • - Me too!

  • - I love animation.

  • It is one of the most amazing, open and creative storytelling mediums.

  • - Animation is such a collaborative experience, so it's always so amazing to start off with a vision and then let go a little bit, and see how that idea evolves amongst so many talented work colleagues.

  • - I'm the bestest artist I know!

  • Better than Pink-casso and Van-goo!

  • - From a woman's perspective, this is a great home for us.

  • The level of creativity that you can do, from a simple color palette to creating a fully developed, emotional character, is all at your finger tips.

  • - Home is where you're surrounded by other critters that care about ya. (running footsteps)

  • - I grew up a military kid and no matter where I was in the United States, I could just turn on the TV and watch Nickelodeon after school, and all of my friends were there.

  • (white noise) - The next thing you gotta do is stop saying you're scared!

  • You're big and you're brave!

  • Like a big, brave dog!

  • - Female Nick character that inspires me the most, would definitely have to be Susie Carmichael.

  • She was just the radist!

  • She was the first character, I think I ever saw, in cartoon form, that looked like me.

  • - Kimi Finster, it was really great to see another Asian on TV.

  • I never realized how important that was to me, until I grew up.

  • - No way am I apologizing to a sour old man, like you!

  • (ice cracking) (whooshing water)

  • - I drew a lot of inspiration from seeing Katara grow in season one.

  • - She had flaws and she was trying to improve herself.

  • - She has all these traits that are so traditionally feminine.

  • Like she's very compassionate and very caring, but she's still tough and can save the day, which you don't see a lot and I really love that.

  • - Okay, I'm sorry!

  • I'm new at this, gimme a break!

  • - Eliza Thornberry, she's a bit of a nerd, like I was back in the day. (laughs)

  • And probably still am.

  • - Let's do this!

  • - April O'Neil!

  • - April O'Neil, literally day one, jumps in.

  • I love that kind of fight that she has behind her.

  • - You gonna have to step to me!

  • Okay? (grunts)

  • (white noise) (electronic music)

  • (quick knocking)

  • (drum roll)

  • (loud trumpet)

  • - Hey Danny!

  • - I love Danny and Sam's relationship too, because it wasn't a romance.

  • I know people really wanted them to date, but Sam's an independent woman, she does what she wants.

  • - Really like Helga, she's also, is like not afraid to be herself, even if she might not always be the most popular person for it.

  • - I'm pretty, I'm feminine, I'm delicate!

  • - Oh, excuse me young man.

  • (drum beat) - I'm a girl!

  • - I'm not nervous, I'm soaking up this powerful moment,

  • whereby I take matters into my own hands and, you know?

  • - I wanna be a part of that magic for someone else.

  • - I love that I get to tell stories about my community.

  • We get to give voice to people who had no voice before, so I think that's awesome!

  • - So you almost done?

  • 'Cause it looks good to me Tia Frida.

  • - What are you talking about?

  • Maria doesn't even have a face yet!

  • I'm waiting for the right expression.

  • - For awhile, there was one perception of what a woman looks like and that's just not true.

  • I want all the women to be heard.

  • - She is blind and tiny, and helpless and fragile!

  • She cannot help you!

  • - Yes, I can!

  • (earth rumbles)

  • (loud explosion)

  • - I'm most hopeful that there'll be more female show creators in the future.

  • - There weren't as many female creators back in the nineties.

  • Over time, where you're looking at Dora and now you're looking at Santiago, you can see this progression of more women coming into the field.

  • - Even just in my time, working here since 2004, there's been such an increase of women in the studio.

  • - There's more women coming into the workplace, in animation, than ever.

  • - And I find that to be incredibly encouraging, especially after having seen the landscape shift over the past twenty years.

  • - It already makes me so hopeful for future generations to come, because it's already so powerful now, so I can only imagine it's just gonna get up from here.

  • - I feel like before, it wasn't safe to share our true feelings about things and I think now that there is a space to talk about our dreams and our goals, and not really be shutdown.

  • I think is why there's hope.

  • - As long as we empower each others voices, we have nothing to worry about.

  • - I am hopeful for the women in animation that we don't actually have to call it women in animation, that we will just be women and men, and everyone, in animation.

  • - I just look forward to seeing the animation world looking more like the world around us.

  • - We need more female executives.

  • We need the women at the top.

  • We need the women that own the company.

  • We need those!

  • - Does everyone here have to do everything you say?

  • - Yes honey, I'm the boss.

  • - I just hope to see more women in animation and in creative leadership, supervisor roles.

  • As I've kind of moved up the CG pipeline, there's been fewer and fewer women, and I know that's something we're all actively trying to look at and address, and make sure there's open opportunities for everyone.

  • - I think some of the steps that we can take to make sure that there are more women in the industry, is first of all, I think it's showing up, being present and being available.

  • - Just go to the coffee.

  • If you're a pond and no water's rushing in or out, no energy's going in or out, I feel like you get stagnant.

  • When you're constantly putting out good things and helping this person, helping that person, they help you, you help them.

  • It's like a thriving ecosystem of jobs and algae.

  • Would you like another cheese sandwich?

  • I've got one right here!

  • - It's up to us to look after one another and make sure that we encourage each other to thrive.

  • - And if you meet someone who's new to the industry, or struggling, reach out and just listen, and offer whatever advice that you can.

  • - If I could talk to a younger me, I would probably tell them to not be afraid to step up.

  • - Don't be afraid to speak up and use your voice.

  • - Just say what you gotta say.

  • The worst thing that could happen is someone says no.

  • Big deal!

  • And everyone has an idea and every idea is valid.

  • - You have a viewpoint that's valid, a background that's unique and experiences that are interesting.

  • - Don't be afraid to talk about what you are capable of doing and what you want to take on next.

  • - Put yourself out there, be willing to get at least three no's.

  • - Keep at it.

  • You have historical facts that women keep fighting for what they want and they get it.

  • - Always accept new challenges.

  • They're only there to help you.

  • - The little struggles you meet along the way in your life, are kind of important to get where you are.

  • - You will get there, even if it's a long and windy road.

  • - Don't worry about what other people are doing, you have to do what is really the best for you and what you love.

  • - Sometimes you just wanna do Danny Phantom fan-art all day, and that's fine!

  • Drawing something is better than drawing nothing.

  • - Keep creating worlds and stories, they will matter one day, they will make a difference.

  • - Always aim high.

  • - Don't be so afraid of failure and embrace growth.

  • - Nothing stays the same.

  • Things are always evolving and ever changing.

  • - Don't be swayed by other people's opinions of you.

  • You know who you are and you know what you can do.

  • Don't let them tell you otherwise.

  • - I've found that I am at the strongest when I am truly, 100% myself.

  • - And don't try to be other people.

  • - Be goofy, be silly and have fun. (laughs)

  • I am the creator and executive producer of Santiago of the Seas.

  • - I am Vice President of Animation, Originals Development.

  • - EVP of Animation.

  • - A staff writer at The Casagrandes.

  • I'm a CG Supervisor on the new Rugrats.

  • - I am a Senior Vice President of Animation Development for Nickelodeon.

  • - I am evolving!

  • - I am adventurous.

  • - Creative. - Courageous.

  • - Tenacious.

  • - One of a kind.

  • - Still a child.

  • - Tiny and mighty.

  • - Clever.

  • - Nervous. (laughs heartily)

  • - Brave.

  • I was scared to do this so then I said, "Let's go do it!"

  • - Doing okay.

  • Doing my best anyway.

  • (white noise)

  • (white noise) (click)

- Nickelodeon was historically run by women, created by a woman, a mother.

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