Kayla Davis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Kayla, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Skelly moments: Even though it’s been stressful, you’ve built an entire animated world from scratch, and you just pitched it in NYC. That’s huge. Many creators never even get that far.
Creative wins: Any time you’ve finished a scene, created a mockup, or seen your characters come to life—that’s something to be proud of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kayla M. Davis, and I’m a multi-award-winning animator, motion graphics designer, and Creative Director. I’m also the creator of Skelly, an indie animated series that blends dark humor, surrealism, and sharp social commentary to explore themes like corporate burnout, mental health, and the “skeletons in our closet.”
What makes Skelly unique is that it isn’t backed by a big studio—it’s built by an independent team of passionate creatives who believe in telling authentic, off-beat stories. I launched Good Bones LLC to not only push Skelly forward, but to create a platform where indie creatives and underrepresented voices can thrive.
Right now, I’m working on completing the Skelly pilot, developing merchandise and community events, and building pathways to make indie animation more accessible and sustainable. My story is one of resilience: balancing financial hardship, setbacks, and rejection while continuing to create something that inspires, connects, and represents those who don’t often see themselves in mainstream animation.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was simply a storyteller at heart. I was a kid who loved drawing, making up characters, and getting lost in my imagination without worrying about whether it was “good enough” or “practical.” I dreamed big and wasn’t afraid to be different.
Over time, life, responsibilities, and expectations tried to box me in—but that early version of me never went away. She’s the reason I create Skelly today, and why I continue to fight for a space where indie voices can thrive.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the defining wounds of my life have been feeling unseen, unheard, and underestimated—both personally and professionally. Growing up, I often felt like my creativity and ideas didn’t fit the mold, and later in adulthood I carried the pain of financial hardship, rejection, and relationships that made me question my worth. Those experiences left me with self-doubt and a tendency to shrink myself to make others comfortable.
I’ve been healing by reclaiming my voice through my art. Skelly became more than an animated series—it became a way to process the skeletons in my own closet and turn them into something that resonates with others. Therapy, community, and self-compassion have also been essential, reminding me that my wounds don’t define me, but they can inform the stories I tell and the spaces I create for other indie creatives.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the animation industry tells itself is that only big studios with massive budgets and gatekeepers can create work that matters or reaches people. That mindset leaves little room for indie creators who are building powerful, resonant stories outside the mainstream system.
Another lie is that success in this industry looks the same for everyone—that it’s about hitting a certain title, working at a certain studio, or following one narrow path. In reality, animation thrives on diverse voices, unconventional routes, and stories that break the mold.
Indie creators like me are proving that audiences crave authenticity and are willing to rally behind projects that reflect their lived experiences. The industry’s biggest blind spot is still underestimating how much innovation, impact, and heart comes from the margins.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had only 10 years left, I would stop apologizing for taking up space and stop chasing validation from people who were never going to see me anyway. I’d stop putting my energy into relationships, jobs, or systems that drain me, and instead pour everything into creating, storytelling, and building community.
Life is too short to keep trying to prove yourself to people who don’t believe in you. I’d stop living for their approval and double down on living for my own purpose.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: skelly.animation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-davis-74ba9612/
- Twitter: skelly_crew
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/kaylageth
Image Credits
Images created by Morghan Gill
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