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Adam Flanagan

@flanamation

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Animator and Illustrator for BBC @cbbc 🎬
Adobe Award Winner @adobeuk🏆
Animation | Motion Graphics | Illustration | GFX | VFX 💻
Manchester, UK 🇬🇧

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🔊 SOUND ON 🔊

You've got a friend in #ToonMe

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the original Toy Story!

Besides shaping my childhood it also inspired me to become an animator - so it's only fitting that I commemorate it with animation.

To me, it's more than just a film - it's been the influence of my WHOLE LIFE, I was 4 when it was first released - memorised by the incredible characters i started to draw them after (repeat) watchings, this grew into my love of the animation medium and once I found out that I could do that for a job, I knew what I wanted to do!

Now, I'm approaching 30 - I'm proud to say that I am an animator and I have this film to thank for it. I'm still inspired by it to this day, my love has only grown fonder as I've gotten older - learning the intricacies of computer animation really gives me nothing but respect to @pixar for being truly ahead of its time!

I now have the pleasure of passing on the legacy of this beautiful film to my Niece, for a new generation to be captivated and inspired.

Thank you Pixar for the lifelong inspiration, you've got a friend in me 💙

#ToyStory25 by @flanamation

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6 years ago

Rest in peace Taylor Hawkins ❤️

Fly high, Hawk. 🕊️

———————————————————————

You may know that the Foo Fighters are my favourite band, and I truly can’t comprehend the tragic loss of Taylor - the Foo’s won’t ever be the same without his INSANE and rocking drumming skills. But, he was more than just ‘the drummer from the Foo Fighters’ Taylor was a multi-talented musician and a frontman in his own right, which he displayed when they played live and cemented that he was the true King of singing Queen - and when you meet Freddie, he’s going to be so truly proud of you Taylor, just as we all are. 👑

From the very first Foo Fighters gig I saw in 2012 right through to the last time I saw them in 2018, Taylor has showcased his musical prowess: from taking centre stage and proving his abilities as a singer & frontman to those UNBELIEVABLE drum solos that I’ve been fortunate enough to witness first hand - and legitimately gave me chills! And I’m so glad I recorded it because I’m absolutely going to cherish it.

It's times like these you learn to love again and I’m sending all my love to his family, friends, the Foos and fellow fans during this absolutely heartbreaking time. 💕

There goes our hero. 🦅 by @flanamation

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5 years ago

“Dave Grohl surprises @foofighters fan at karaoke”

Of All People, that fan was me. 🤯

48 hours later and I’m still trying to process what happened.

There’s no getting over it and I know I’m going to remember this All My Life.

How many people can say they’ve sung their favourite artist’s song to that artist, been handed his drink, and then shared a stage with him moments later?

Huge shoutout to @sophie_cheekbones and @jenhuntermakeup for encouraging me to get up and sing Monkey Wrench — because without that push, none of this would have happened. 💕

And of course @bamkaraokebox.uk for hosting the karaoke at the London listening event.

So many amazing photos and videos from that night have been sent to me that I’ve lost track of who sent what, so please let me know if any of these were yours so I can make sure everyone gets credited properly. ❤️

📷: @beckypayne_1 @mermaid_captain @haha_its_joe @_maddyhowell

Still feels completely unreal. taken in Queens skate dine bowl by @flanamation

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6 months ago

PAT SMEAR TOOK MY FLAG! 😍

A month today was @foofighters second and (ONE) last (T̶H̶I̶N̶G̶) gig at Anfield

And whilst I didn’t get a Round 2 at Monkey Wrench (that stage DESERVEDLY belonged to Mentos Guy, aka @mbautim, that night!) I got a pretty perfect ending to the whole adventure...

Pat took my flag! 🤯

…if you hadn’t guessed it from the amount of times I screamed it along with “YES PAT!” as my voice slowly evolves into Mickey Mouse's... 😅

What makes it even more special for me is that, at the listening party, while I was singing Monkey Wrench TO Dave, Pat was watching and absolutely BEAMING at me on stage 😁

(which you can briefly hear me rambling about at the end 😜)

I did acknowledge him that night - "OH SHIT! THERE'S PAT!"- but I never actually got to meet him.

So, in a funny way, this feels like the perfect ending to that whole story. I'd like to think HE MUST remember me from the karaoke... which is why he specifically gestured for me to give him the flag! 🤯

What’s more surreal than the fact that Pat’s walking off stage wearing my face as a cape - is that I like to imagine he’s got my mug casually displayed up in his house… or maybe Studio 606 (🤞)

Shoutout as well to @andiktaylor for the celebratory fist bump at the end 🤜🤛 by @flanamation

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3 months ago

Oh, @foofighters... 🙏🙏

A few months ago, on George Harrison's birthday, fellow Foo fan @itsshawnaohara shared a photo of George on her story with "Oh, George" accompanying it.

Until then, I genuinely had no idea that "Oh, George" was a tribute to @georgeharrisonofficial by Foo Fighters! 🤯

As it turns out, George is allegedly Dave Grohl's favourite Beatle... and he's mine too.

So, when the Foos announced they were returning to Liverpool, I knew I had to make this flag in the hope that Dave might spot it and play "Oh, George" in George's hometown.

Especially considering they haven't played it live since 1999 😅

Then, thanks to fellow Foo fan @macainconcerts, I also discovered that yesterday was #GlobalBeatlesDay, so taking this flag to Night 1 at Anfield felt only fitting.

Sadly, it didn't get noticed "Yesterday"... 😉

...but there's always Night 2.

Here's hoping Liverpool finally gets to hear Dave's tribute to a mutual favourite Beatle 🤞🎸

@shifty71 @natemendel @theramilama @ilanrubin @thebeatles taken in Anfield Stadium, Liverpool by @flanamation

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4 months ago

🗣️ ONE LAST THING BEFORE... ANFIELD! 🗣️

A few months ago, I got up to sing Monkey Wrench at the @foofighters London listening event.

Halfway through the screamy verse, Dave Grohl walked in, handed me his drink, watched me sing and joined me on stage.

So, in preparation for Anfield this week, I've had this flag made in the hope that Dave spots it during band intros, remembers his karaoke friend and invites me up to finish what we started. 🤘

Is it a ridiculous long shot? Absolutely.

Do I care? Absolutely not.

After everything that happened in London, I've learnt that sometimes the most unbelievable things can happen when Foo Fighters are involved.

So, here's hoping my karaoke friend spots this in the crowd... 👀🍷

See you on the rail, Foos. 🤘

#Flanfield taken in Anfield Stadium, Liverpool by @flanamation

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4 months ago

NEW EPISODE: Imagine singing a song by your favourite band - in front of the man who wrote it!

That’s exactly what happened to this week’s guest @flanamation, who joins us to discuss his viral karaoke moment at the recent @foofighters London listening party for ‘Your Favorite Toy’.

Hear from Adam about how he was caught off guard by Dave Grohl’s surprise appearance during his performance of Monkey Wrench.

🎧 Foos Files: A Foo Fighters Podcast is available now wherever you get your podcasts

…

#foosfiles #yourfavoritetoy #davegrohl #newepisode #musicpodcast by @flanamation

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5 months ago

My Favourite Joy 🥹 @foofighters taken in O2 Ritz Manchester by @flanamation

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7 months ago

Foo Fighters at The Ritz was THE BEST! THE BEST! THE BEST! THE BEST! of Foo! 🤘

A week later and I’m still reliving it… well, there’s no getting over it.

Four feet from Dave Grohl at the most ridiculously intimate gig at the O2 Ritz Manchester… and somehow Walk(ed) away with the setlist too.

Best. Night. EVERlong. 👏 taken in O2 Ritz Manchester by @flanamation

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7 months ago

#TopNine

2025 was a largely work-focused year, so instead of personal projects, this Top 9 shines a light on my day-to-day craft.

Nine YouTube thumbnails I designed for videos I also edited, published on the CBBC YouTube channel throughout 2025.

They aren’t just “pretty pictures” — thumbnail design is storytelling in a single image. Built to stop the scroll, set tone, and sell the story before a single frame plays.

So yes, I’m showing these off — especially when feedback like this lands from my former producer @liamjordanrichards:

“It’s like something out of Netflix!! 🔥”

Proud of the work. Proud of the standard. On to the next level.

⚠️ ARACHNOPHOBIA WARNING ⚠️
Slide 6 contains a very large spider 🕷️

#YouTube #YouTubeThumbnails #ThumbnailDesign #ContentCreator by @flanamation

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9 months ago

Franz McBangyhands

@flanamation

I cannot tell you how many times I have watched this video. It even plays rent-free in my head. by @flanamation

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10 months ago

#ToyStory30

Happy 30th Anniversary to Toy Story — three decades of a film that changed everything: for animation, for storytelling, and for me personally.

Toy Story has been a constant source of inspiration, shaping my creative journey and continuing to push my creativity to infinity and beyond.

This is actually the opening to a larger project I’m creating for the UK 30th anniversary in March. Stay tuned! 👀

@Pixar @ToyStory

#ToyStory #Pixar by @flanamation

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a year ago