On March 23, the new HBO Max original series Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection went to air featuring eight films created by 12 underrepresented artists responding to the prompt “What’s a story only you can tell?”

The directors all took part in the year-long HBO Max x Warner Bros. Discovery Access Animated Shorts Program during which they were given a production budget, training, and tools to complete their original five-to-seven-minute adult animated short.

Participants were paired with executive mentors from across WBD brands including HBO Max, Adult Swim, Warner Animation Group and Rooster Teeth, and all films were overseen by Producer Amanda Miller (Christopher at Sea).

The creators also participated in masterclasses from award-winning writers, producers, and artists including Justin Halpern & Patrick Schumacker (Harley Quinn), Erica Rivinoja (Clone High), Dan Dominguez (Seis Manos, VP Powerhouse Animation), Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love), Noëlle Raffaele (DC Super Hero Girls), Ron Kurniawan (Puss in Boots) and Teddy Newton (The Incredibles).

Episodes/Creators:

Episode 1 – BURNING RUBBER by Chris Fequiere (he/him)

Episode 2 – WELCOME TO 8TH STREET by Yoo Lee (she/her) & Xin Li (she/her)

Episode 3 – KENT HAMMER by Dominick Green (he/him)

Episode 4 – YELLOWBIRD by Tsvetelina Zdraveva (she/her) & Jerred North (he/him)

Episode 5 – MONSTR by Tank Standing Buffalo (he/him) & Xstine Cook (she/her)

Episode 6 – AROON by Miriam Presas (she/her)

Episode 7 – KIMOTIWIN: THE ACT OF STEALING by Keara Lightning (she/her) & Caeleigh Lightning (she/they)

Episode 8 – LEECH by Aalaa Mohamed (she/her)

Suzanna Makkos, EVP, Original Programming, HBO Max & Adult Swim: “One of the best parts about working in animation for 20 years is the feeling when you find a truly original artistic voice, someone who can tell a story with a visual style that is wholly unique.

“I’m thrilled to say that the inaugural HBO Max X WBD Access Animated Shorts Program has not only yielded an impressive slate of content but has set a high bar for how we discover and develop new voices in primetime animation.”