In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann sits down with award-winning stop-motion animator Adam Rowland, founder of Awkward Animations, to unpack what it really takes to leave a stable corporate career and build a creative practice from the ground up.
Adam shares how a childhood fascination with film, combined with years spent in corporate retail and strategy, eventually led him to the painstaking, magical world of stop-motion animation. Working largely solo from a garage studio in New Zealand, Adam talks candidly about the financial uncertainty of freelance creative life, the reality of working without safety nets, and why problem-solving (not suffering) is at the heart of his craft.
The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of stop-motion: from live-action reference videos and puppet mishaps to nine-month commercial timelines, centimetre-by-centimetre set builds, and why 99% of his work happens in-camera. Adam also reflects on the value of hiring the right collaborators, knowing when to outsource, and how his corporate background still plays a crucial role in sustaining his creative business through consultancy work.
Equal parts practical and playful, this episode offers an honest look at creative risk, craftsmanship, and what it means to build a sustainable studio on your own terms, one frame at a time.
Adam's Socials:
➡️ YouTube: @awkwardanimations633
➡️ Website: https://awkwardanimations.com/
➡️ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/awkward.animations/
➡️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awkward_animations
Animators to check out:
Mentioned in this episode:
Adam's short film, Mother, 48 hr film festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaunLgNZVEQ&t=31s
Adam's short film, Secret Life of a Sloth, 48 hr film festival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehPhTTk0uNo
Jeremy Redmore's music videos animated by Awkward Animations can be found @JeremyRedmore