Mike Watanabe
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mikewatanabe.bsky.social
Mike Watanabe
@mikewatanabe.bsky.social
91 followers 110 following 14 posts
BrainPOP Chief Creative Officer; Creator of Moby, Voice of Tim.
Arts-Adjacent Startup-Friendly Storylistener.

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mikewatanabe.bsky.social
And if you're here looking for BrainPOP content, here's one of me and Moby from a few years back
Mike and an orange robot known as "Moby" give thumbs-up signs with their hands, indicating that everything is going to be all right. It should be noted that the photo was taken nearly 10 years in the past, and neither Mike nor Moby could have known what was to come. Could they have guessed? Maybe. But both are known to be wildly optimistic. Would the duo give a similar "thumbs-up" today? They might! It is impossible to say. Mike is wearing a name tag with his name on it.
November 18, 2024 at 12:03 AM
mikewatanabe.bsky.social
I didn't intend these to be a linear story when I made these; they were just scenes from a startup. But a story presented itself. A story always presents itself.
Startup Cat holds a broom, inspecting the nearly empty interior of a brick and mortar store. A "for rent" sign is visible in the window. Startup Cat stands in front of a whiteboard displaying a graph with the Y axis showing money and the X axis showing time. A very short green line angles up into the right. The cat looks disappointed. As startup cat receives a very important phone call, he slowly closes his laptop and stares off, wide-eyed, into the white. The series ends.
November 17, 2024 at 11:46 PM
mikewatanabe.bsky.social
I put descriptions in the alt text, probably giving too much away. It's tempting to explain the intentions of characters, and a lot easier than getting their expressions just right.
Startup Cat works late. Notes, papers, Kanban board, tea, moon are visible. Startup Cat considers smashing a Maneki Neko cat piggy bank to continue to fund his enterprise. The smaller ceramic cat waves at him. It rains on Startup Cat. Startup Cat accepts the drenching.
November 17, 2024 at 11:41 PM
mikewatanabe.bsky.social
This is a series of drawings I made in 2019 for a Maneki Neko-themed show at Fishcake, a Kakaʻako arts venue. Maneki Neko are those ceramic cats you see in shop windows, placed for good luck in business (thread).
Startup Cat works on his laptop at a coffee shop. He reaches for his coffee. Startup Cat stands on the street, staring up at a tall, successful building Startup Cat stands in front of a product comparison slide while giving a presentation into a microphone. His hand is outstretched in the classic Maneki Neko pose, beckoning investors
November 17, 2024 at 11:32 PM
mikewatanabe.bsky.social
Guess what, I just cooked all the quarter-full bags of leftover grains in my pantry, and mixed them together with some chicken stock from the freezer and it turned out pretty good.
Quinoa, farro, black rice, wheat berries; cooked and mixed together
November 17, 2024 at 10:57 PM