About R.J. Sullivan

Originally inspired to create an animated music video as a Christmas present for his niece, R.J. is an award-winning animated filmmaker, composer, and screenwriter. He creates humorous hand drawn 2D animated films for children and adults. 

In 2023, his short films were shown in 44 film festivals internationally. Notably, his short animated film, Arlo Sings the Blues (In the Middle of the Night) won Best Animation Film by audience vote for the 2023 BAMkids Film Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York.  It also was selected for Australia's biggest Oscar-qualifying short film festival, St. Kilda Film Festival, and the Oscar-qualifying Flicker's Rhode Island International Film Festival.

R.J. hand-painted watercolor backgrounds for his children's short, Pinto the Mean Bean. This film had it's West Coast Premiere at the 26th Annual Dances with Films festival in June 2023 at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatres in Los Angeles, CA. 

Both of his children shorts were included in showcases at the Hollywood Theatre at the Portland International Airport. Arlo Sings the Blues screened in the Fall 2023 program for 3 months (September - December) and Pinto the Mean Bean screened in the Winter 2024 program for 3 months (January - March).  

The Pinto Variety Hour is currently showing at the Hollywood Theatre at the Portland International Airport in the Fall 2024 program (September - December) and has won awards internationally at film festivals in Fall 2024.

R.J. grew up in Ventura, CA but lives in Portland, OR, with his wife, baby girl, and orange dog, Lucy. He earned a B.A. in Arts and Letters from Portland State University in 2004 and founded Catch and Hatch Studios in 2022. 

Currently, R.J. is seeking a production company and distribution the The Pinto Variety Hour's first season. 

WATCH INTERVIEW:  HOLLYWOOD TIMES - INTERVIEW WITH ANIMATION FILMMAKER R.J. SULLIVAN 

READ INTERVIEW:  WE ARE MOVING STORIES - INTERVIEW WITH R.J. SULLIVAN