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Allie/Van

@vanamation

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Wearer of many hats and lover of many cats
Also the creator of @bleatingheartseries
📬 [email protected]

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One week ago today, we made the difficult decision to help Scooter cross the rainbow bridge. Our last night together, she slept on my chest from dusk till dawn—something she’d never done before. I truly believe she knew her time was coming to an end before I did, and this was her way of saying goodbye, with her heartbeat against mine the entire night. The next morning, at an emergency trip to the vet, I learned that what the vet had diagnosed as a swollen tooth abscess only 5 days earlier was actually a rapidly-growing tumor. At 19 years old and already fighting other health battles, we chose for her to leave this world with dignity, peace, and comfort, and surrounded by her whole family. She spent her last day at my side, resting with a belly full of her favorite cat-milk while I petted her and drew her in my sketchbook for the final time.

Scooter was in my life for more than half of it; my family got her as a kitten when I was only ten, and I’m 29 now. She was picked out of her litter by my younger sister and named by my older sister, but she chose me as her “person.” We grew up together. She was my constant companion through many big life changes, including the deaths of family members, multiple moves between two cities, and a global pandemic. I feel so lucky to have had her with me through it all. 19 years is a tremendous blessing, and not a single day together was wasted. She was showered with so much love from beginning to end, and she gave so much of it in return.

One of the “rules” I made for myself a long time ago was that whenever I came across a post about the passing of a pet cat, I would immediately stop scrolling, go find Scooter, and give her a big hug and a kiss in that cat’s honor. My only ask is that if you are reading this and you have a pet, you’ll do the same right now for Scooter. Cherish your time with them and hold them close, every day, even when they pee on your new rug or leave a dead mouse in your bed.

Goodbye, my Scooter-Booter. Feisty but gentle, sour-faced but sweet-natured, there will never be another like you. You were everything to me, and I’ll miss you forever. ❤️ 04/16/06-07/14/25 by @vanamation

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a year ago

Happy Howl-oween!! Watch the latest teaser trailer for Bleating Heart episode 1 NOW! 🐺🪻🐑
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#bleatingheartseries #indieanimation #webseries #werewolf #supportindieanimation #sheep #2danimation #halloween #teasertrailer by @vanamation

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2 years ago

Happy almost-Easter! It’s time for the first Bleating Heart Ramble, where I round up everything I accomplished throughout the month and talk about it. This one is going public immediately, but in the future, Ko-fi subscribers will get early access to these blog post updates. If you like what you see, please consider becoming a subscriber to help support the show!
In March, I introduced Bleating Heart seasonal stickers, re-launched my Ko-Fi page, designed and 3D-modeled Marsha’s flower shop, and—with the invaluable help of @sidneygale—completed this style test for episode 1! A lot of hard work went into the creation of this scene and we’re very proud of the result. Cleanup, color, lighting, and compositing were done by Sidney Gale. Storyboard, rough animation, color design, and background were done by me (@vanamation).
You can read the update in full and see additional production materials on my Ko-fi page (link in bio).
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#2danimation #2D #teasertrailer #webseries #independentanimation #indieanimation #kofibutton #sheep #lamb #artistsoninstagram #characterdesign #cartoon #supportindieanimation #bleatingheartseries #werewolf #werewolfoc #lycanthrope #toonboomharmony #toonboomanimation #characterdesigner #characteranimation #digitalanimation #background #backgroundart #BleatingHeart by @vanamation

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3 years ago

Scooter and her “Baby.” She got this cheap, carnival-prize type cat plush when she was a kitten, though I can’t remember if we gave it to her or if she found it on her own somewhere in the house and claimed it. Either way, it became her favorite toy her entire life. She’d carry it around from room to room and do what I called her “Baby Siren,” where she’d yell at the top of her lungs for everyone to hear. She’d also fling it across the floor and wrestle with it. It’s one of my favorite memories.
Today marks one year without her. I’ve come a long way in my grief journey, but today was especially hard and the memories of her last day with me feel abnormally fresh. The most important thing I’ve learned over the past year is that the joy always comes back around, even when you think you’ll never see it again. The second most important thing is that I CAN love more than one cat, and while today I’m grieving Scooter, I’m also looking forward to celebrating Pogo’s Gotcha Day soon. I wouldn’t have rescued him if it wasn’t for the love and companionship Scooter gave me over her lifetime of 19 years, and for that I’ll always be grateful.
Thank you @jamierayee for the beautiful orchids 🤍 They remind me of her yellow eyes and white markings!
And the paper Scooter portraits on her “shrine” were gifts from my talented friend @alexfalconeart 💛 by @vanamation

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3 months ago

We’re cleaning things up around here… 👀 🧹

Happy to share that we’ve started cleanup animation and color on Bleating Heart ep 01! Keep an eye on our socials for exciting news coming soon!

Rough anim: @vanamation
Cleanup/color: @sidneygale

#indieanimationday #bleatingheartseries by @vanamation

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5 months ago

Summer dreams 🌼🌼
#bleatingheartseries #indieanimation by @vanamation

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6 months ago

Today would have been Scooter’s 20th birthday, so I couldn’t pass up on an “Annual Scooter Birthday Post.” I scoured my sketchbook for a couple old drawings of her I don’t think I’ve ever shared. She still shows up a lot in the blank spaces between other drawings—the last four were done from memory after she passed. I drew her so much when she was alive, I know every curve of line that makes her silhouette, as if she’s still sitting in my bedroom window, just a gray shadow against the sunlight. I hope I never forget how to draw her.
Also included are two of the last film photos I took of her—I got a roll developed a couple months ago and was pleasantly surprised to find her in there. Drawing her helped me slow down and appreciate the present, but taking photos helps me hold onto the past and preserve her memory. ❤️‍🩹 by @vanamation

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6 months ago

Happy #indieanimationday! Here’s a peek at some in-progress animation on Bleating Heart episode 1! Marsha is voiced by the talented Nola Klop! @nolaklop 🐑💐
#bleatingheartseries #indieanimation #webseries #supportindieanimation by @vanamation

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8 months ago

Anyone else feeling hungry?
Edit for context:
Sometimes you witness an injustice so sickening you can’t help but want to retaliate with violence. I think anger is a rational response, and feeling it doesn’t automatically make you a violent person. What we decide to do with our anger is the true test of our morality. Anger is a craving: for justice, for change, for hope. We can let it push us to do harm, let it burn us out and leave us numb, or use it to fuel productivity. If anger is a hunger of the soul, we must satisfy it through acts of service.

Let your rage motivate you to volunteer at your local soup kitchen. Utilize your public library’s resources. Find a family-owned business to patronize. Say hello to your neighbors and learn their names. Make the journey to the store instead of relying on delivery. Create art and find a way to share it. This is how you get in touch with your community, understand their needs, and begin the work to fulfill them.

Under a regime that demands we shed our empathy, kindness is radical resistance. My kindness is not a sheep; it is fierce and loyal and brazen. by @vanamation

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

Celebrating Pogo’s first Christmas in his forever home 🤍
Have a Meowy Christmas!
(Original postcard illustration by Helena Maguire) by @vanamation

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9 months ago

“Suddenly, a man staggered through the saloon’s batwing doors. ‘There’s somethin’ out there,’ he said between gasps, ‘in the alley. I didn’t get a good look, but it riled up my horse. Nearly threw me sky-high!’”
Yeehawgust day 14: Riders in the Sky
#yeehawgust2025 #yeehawgust #ocs by @vanamation

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a year ago