Digital-first animation company Aha Media announces the release of the next installment of Frames Per Second, an animated anthology of short films highlighting the career journeys of creative professionals. The new short tells an autobiographical story from producer and Surviving Animation host, Eric Calderon, reflecting on resilience, creative identity and perseverance through the unpredictable challenges of the entertainment industry.
“It was amazing to see that part of my life depicted in such high-quality full animation,” said Calderon. “The fun design aesthetic, the Dragon Ball homages (Yamcha!), and even the sound design all worked together to create something that was whimsical and even epic — but still grounded and emotional. I was pleasantly astounded!”
Over the past 30-plus years, Calderon has worked across many facets and roles in the animation industry, working as an executive, writer, showrunner and producer on award-winning projects produced out of the U.S., Canada, Southeast Asia and Japan. Since 2020, he has been EVP of Creative Development for Falcon’s Beyond, focusing on location-based entertainment ventures like the upcoming Dragon Ball theme park as well as film, TV, games and L&M. He is also the writer and host of the ongoing YouTube series on the toon biz, Surviving Animation.
Calderon has previously served as the SVP of Development for Octopie Productions, helping set up Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering animated series; as a freelancer with Warner Bros. Animation with credits including Transformers: Titans Return, Alien vs. Predator: Annihilation and the screenplay for the unproduced Teen Titans anime; as founder-owner of the indie prodco Wild Boar Media; as a pioneer of anime co-productions such as Afro Samurai; and overseeing development on MTV adult animation classics like Celebrity Death Match and Daria.
Produced through Aha Media’s Immersive Internship Program in collaboration with Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), the new Frames Per Second short blends student artistry with professional mentorship and experiential learning, giving emerging animators real-world experience on a professional animation production.
“The internship with Aha Media was an incredible experience! It really felt like I was on a real production team,” said CCAD Student Natalya Sutarto. “It helped me better understand how the animation pipeline works as well as how to communicate with my peers and potentially make more connections and friends. Aha Media also helped me find other strengths I never thought I had.”
CCAD Animation Department Chair Charlotte Belland commented, “The CCAD Animation Department is proud to partner with Aha Media because their mentorships and internships provide an immersive and nimble educational experience. This innovative model allows students to develop production skills critical for career success after graduation, and deploy and grow those skills under the supervision of working professionals.”
Aha Media is a digital-first animation studio and media company that develops original IP and short-form content that merges meaningful storytelling with virtual production pipelines. Through its Immersive Internship Program, the studio partners with leading art institutions like CCAD to provide hands-on opportunities that bridge education and career pathways.
The new short will premiere on Aha Media’s YouTube channel. Additional viewing options will be available on Calderon’s Surviving Animation YouTube channel.
The Frames Per Second series has previously spotlighted Maya and the Three creator Jorge R. Gutierrez (watch here).
