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Toby

@tobycochran

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Founder of @biggrinproductions 🎬
Creating original IP 🦖🦥🦜🐶
Director of LUKi & the Lights 🤖
🔜 Cannes Film Festival

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Dear Mateo,

It’s been an incredibly overwhelming and sleep-deprived month since you came into our lives. We had no idea what to expect, and the mix of emotions we felt as we awaited your arrival was indescribable. Especially when you arrived not making a sound and only to grin at us the very next day (like just you two wait...🤪)

I can already tell that you’re going to be a little prankster, giving me a mischievous side-eye and waiting for me to change your diaper, only to have BLOW OUT 💩after blow out making a mess on the changing table again and again! It’s all part of the fun, buddy. Just remember, what goes around comes around, I’ll remember that when I’m in a diaper🙊😆

We are so grateful to have you in our lives, and even though you’re currently just screaming and crying at us…😭 I can’t tell you how important it is to choose your partner wisely, and I couldn’t do this without your amazing mom. 🥰 I am in complete awe of her strength and resilience every day. We are also excited to introduce you to our parents, family, and friends. We are pretty lucky to have such great people in our lives. 🙌

I’m not sure if you’ll ever read this on a future app or platform, but it’s here in this crazy AI tech world for you. I promise to make sure we spend plenty of time outside playing in the grass, away from all the technology.🏕️

As I finish writing this, I’m watching you and Mom rest before your next feeding. Please know that we are doing our best, and you can expect nothing less from two type-A personalities for the rest of your life. Sorry, not sorry in advance, haha. 👌😊

P.S. Mateo would like to express his gratitude to those who have sent gifts, donated clothes, and send delicious food to keep Mom well-fed, so he can enjoy good food too. 🤌👩‍🍳

much love,
sleepy dad & very sleepy mom

#DaddiesGotWorkToDo #FutureBabyModel #RentStartsNow #sosquishyimgonnadie #DadbodisReal #DiapersCostHowMuch #lifeupdate taken in Beverly Hills, California by @tobycochran

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2 years ago

Sunday Oct 25th join us for a fun discussion!

Indies are on the Rise 🔥

#lighboxexpo #LBX2026 taken in Pasadena, California by @tobycochran

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a month ago

A few sketches & paintings from my @festivaldecannes @americanpavilion trip. 🙌🎨🫟

#filmfestival #cannes2026 #animation by @tobycochran

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4 months ago

Dive into the art of animated storytelling with our latest videos. #writeforanimation by @tobycochran

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5 months ago

What a way to close out a short film
journey. 👏

LUKi & the Lights has been selected for the
Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the American Pavilion in Cannes! My final festival.

To be part of a showcase that highlights emerging voices from around the world at the Cannes Film Festival is something pretty wild and was not on my bingo card this year. Only 20 short films were selected, and 3 are animated! Congrats to everyone!!

For anyone attending, drop me a message!

Congrats to my crew! I’m going to eat a croissant for each and every one of you. 🥰🥐
(*that’s OVER a 100 croissants)

#OneLastRide #BigGrinProductions #ShortFilms #IndieAnimation by @tobycochran

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6 months ago

Getting famous for the wrong reasons #toddlerlife
😝

#friendlyneighboor #TiredDad #DadLife #LA taken in Los Angeles, California by @tobycochran

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6 months ago

Good Bye ‘25 👋

If I’m being real,
I’m glad to see this one end.

Some years take.
Some years give.

This one asked me to sit in winter,
a winter I’d been preparing for,
for years.

No work.
No forward-facing grind.
No calendar screaming my name.

Just empty days
and a tired mind
the quiet aftermath
of running at full throttle
for far too long.

My cup, once bone-dry, filled again.
Not with certainty, but with ideas.
With sketches.
With small sparks whispering, not yet, but soon.

A year learning how to be a father
while the past and future pulled at my sleeves.
A full year with Mateo
A gift, wearing the disguise of loss.

All the while, death brushed close to my parents
as I tried to raise a child.
caught in the middle,
squeezed tight like Cena in a chokehold.

And just when the year could’ve faded out,
it chose to leave in a bang.

Winter will end.
ICE will melt.
And in ’26, I’m bringing the heat.

#HappyNewYear 🔥 by @tobycochran

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10 months ago

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10 months ago

@ctnexpo @ctnhappenings this past weekend was a blast. This year, I wanted to help bring some new voices to the event, so I moderated a few panels and had several enriching conversations. 💯

Finally caught up with Aaron Blaise, he’s working with the same rep we had for the Oscar race. I’ve got a good feeling for him. His film has 11,000 drawings, took 3 years and he pretty much by himself!! 🤯

Benoit Therriault, my Canadian brother was down creating an a fun intimate moment to sit and draw with him as they opened up sharing their hopes, fears and ambitions. I’m so stoked for his new adventure working with the NFB on his next short.

Nicolás P. Villarreal shared his latest short film, Courage or Destiny! We first met 17 years ago at the inaugural CTN, crazy amazing how time flies.👴🏻🤣

Emily Brundige also shared her journey to a packed audience and sold some of her books to support indie creators and help them develop their own shows. Then Mark Andrews and I enjoyed a fireside chat, discussing the highs and lows of the industry and giving a sneak peek at his new show, DogStar! 🐶⭐️

I caught up with old friends and finally met a few people in person after years of online conversations. To me, this truly captures what CTN is all about, it’s not Lightbox, nor does it need to be. There’s room for both. CTN now offers a more intimate space for connection and deeper conversations. 👏 And my old ass enjoys that more than being in a sea of people, ha!

Let’s see what we can cook up for next year’s event! 🧑‍🍳 #CTNhappenings #Community #NoArtistLeftBehind taken in Burbank, California by @tobycochran

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a year ago

This weekend I’ll be at CTN with some friends! 💯

There will be some don’t miss panels, master classes and fireside chats!

Fri - Today at 3:30 pm - Fireside Chat w/ @nicolaspvillarreal screening his latest film!

Sat - 11:30 am - Secrets to Successful Co-Writing Partnerships w/ @jeannettelara.pro @michael_j_beall

12 pm - @mandrookz Mark Andrews Master Class

2:30 pm - Defining Success going Indie w/ @emilybrundige

7 pm - Fireside Chat w/ Mark

Sun - Time TBD - don’t miss Small stories Bigger Impact!
w/ @angelamsanchez.writer & @_ernesto_alonso_ @artsypabster

Stop by and say hi and get out of the rain! ☔️ taken in Burbank, California by @tobycochran

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a year ago

Today is THE DAY! Kuku Studios film In Your Dreams 🛌 is out on Netflix!

I’d love to share on Monday that In Your Dreams is the top streaming film (especially over Frankenstein 🤣), so let’s make it happen! Watch it once or twice, and more importantly, share it. 🙌

BTW, this scene was super fun to storyboard and I loved how the final shot turned out and the fact that Baloney Tony appears in the final version. 😂 Congrats team!

#Animation #InYourDreams #Dreams #SweetDreams #Netflix by @tobycochran

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a year ago

My short animated film, "Claire & The Keys" will premiere on YouTube Tuesday, November 11 at 7pm EST. Come and watch it with me!
Link in Bio.
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#animation #shortfilm #color #b&w #indie #cartoon #music #johnludwick by @tobycochran

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a year ago