Matt Acuña
@acunamattata.bsky.social
Animation Writer |Previously on Disney Junior’s Ariel🧜🏿♀️ and Bob’s Burgers 🍔. | Creator of PiRATes! (Emphasis on the ‘Rat’) 🏴☠️🐀
Lit Rep: Jennifer Azantian @ Azantian Literary Agency
Lit Rep: Jennifer Azantian @ Azantian Literary Agency
Pinned
Matt Acuña
@acunamattata.bsky.social
· May 5
It's been a month since my last studio job, and I'm still on the hunt for the next!
With 5 years of professional animation writing and production experience, I'm raring to go for my next project!
Please keep me in mind for any writing/production work!
📝: mattacuna.com
📧: matt.j.acuna@gmail.com
With 5 years of professional animation writing and production experience, I'm raring to go for my next project!
Please keep me in mind for any writing/production work!
📝: mattacuna.com
📧: matt.j.acuna@gmail.com
Happy New Year, everyone!!
Hitting the ground running this year with a renewed sense of determination to GET THAT BREAD! 🍞 I'm available for work!
Looking forward to making 2026 an amazing year full of amazing opportunities!!
✉️ : matt.j.acuna@gmail.com
📝 : www.mattacuna.com
Hitting the ground running this year with a renewed sense of determination to GET THAT BREAD! 🍞 I'm available for work!
Looking forward to making 2026 an amazing year full of amazing opportunities!!
✉️ : matt.j.acuna@gmail.com
📝 : www.mattacuna.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Happy New Year, everyone!!
Hitting the ground running this year with a renewed sense of determination to GET THAT BREAD! 🍞 I'm available for work!
Looking forward to making 2026 an amazing year full of amazing opportunities!!
✉️ : matt.j.acuna@gmail.com
📝 : www.mattacuna.com
Hitting the ground running this year with a renewed sense of determination to GET THAT BREAD! 🍞 I'm available for work!
Looking forward to making 2026 an amazing year full of amazing opportunities!!
✉️ : matt.j.acuna@gmail.com
📝 : www.mattacuna.com
Baffled by Netflix’s decision to spoil the ending of their biggest show of all time on their own social media less than 24 hours after it premiered
January 5, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Baffled by Netflix’s decision to spoil the ending of their biggest show of all time on their own social media less than 24 hours after it premiered
New year, new script!!
My half-hour supernatural drama, THE MOON'S CHOIR, is now up on my website! 🐺 🌕
This animated dark fantasy is about all things werewolf.
CHECK IT OUT HERE: www.mattacuna.com/sample-work
My half-hour supernatural drama, THE MOON'S CHOIR, is now up on my website! 🐺 🌕
This animated dark fantasy is about all things werewolf.
CHECK IT OUT HERE: www.mattacuna.com/sample-work
January 4, 2026 at 7:51 PM
New year, new script!!
My half-hour supernatural drama, THE MOON'S CHOIR, is now up on my website! 🐺 🌕
This animated dark fantasy is about all things werewolf.
CHECK IT OUT HERE: www.mattacuna.com/sample-work
My half-hour supernatural drama, THE MOON'S CHOIR, is now up on my website! 🐺 🌕
This animated dark fantasy is about all things werewolf.
CHECK IT OUT HERE: www.mattacuna.com/sample-work
how I feel now that Stranger Things is over
January 4, 2026 at 1:01 AM
how I feel now that Stranger Things is over
2026 is going to be a big year for my indie series “PiRATs (Emphasis on the Rat)”!! This Spring I’ll be launching my very first ever Kickstarter for the first episode of the series.
Afterwards we’ll work towards releasing it later in the year! Excited to set sail into 2026 with you all! 🐀🏴☠️
Afterwards we’ll work towards releasing it later in the year! Excited to set sail into 2026 with you all! 🐀🏴☠️
January 3, 2026 at 11:26 PM
2026 is going to be a big year for my indie series “PiRATs (Emphasis on the Rat)”!! This Spring I’ll be launching my very first ever Kickstarter for the first episode of the series.
Afterwards we’ll work towards releasing it later in the year! Excited to set sail into 2026 with you all! 🐀🏴☠️
Afterwards we’ll work towards releasing it later in the year! Excited to set sail into 2026 with you all! 🐀🏴☠️
2026? More like 202DICKS
January 1, 2026 at 8:08 AM
2026? More like 202DICKS
Happy New Years!! 🎆🎇
If you’re looking for something fun to watch with the kids in your life today, give the New Year Bubble episode from Ariel a watch!
It has a giant bubble, and you better believe it’s gonna pop. Also written by yours truly!
If you’re looking for something fun to watch with the kids in your life today, give the New Year Bubble episode from Ariel a watch!
It has a giant bubble, and you better believe it’s gonna pop. Also written by yours truly!
December 31, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Happy New Years!! 🎆🎇
If you’re looking for something fun to watch with the kids in your life today, give the New Year Bubble episode from Ariel a watch!
It has a giant bubble, and you better believe it’s gonna pop. Also written by yours truly!
If you’re looking for something fun to watch with the kids in your life today, give the New Year Bubble episode from Ariel a watch!
It has a giant bubble, and you better believe it’s gonna pop. Also written by yours truly!
Before we jump into 2026, here's my last Substack of the year!
I wanted to highlight some of the amazing indie animatics that released this year, the ones that inspired me to make the jump into creating my own with "PiRATs! (Emphasis on the Rat)".
Check it out here!
I wanted to highlight some of the amazing indie animatics that released this year, the ones that inspired me to make the jump into creating my own with "PiRATs! (Emphasis on the Rat)".
Check it out here!
2025: The Year of Indie Animatics
You don't need to be fully animated to stand out.
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Before we jump into 2026, here's my last Substack of the year!
I wanted to highlight some of the amazing indie animatics that released this year, the ones that inspired me to make the jump into creating my own with "PiRATs! (Emphasis on the Rat)".
Check it out here!
I wanted to highlight some of the amazing indie animatics that released this year, the ones that inspired me to make the jump into creating my own with "PiRATs! (Emphasis on the Rat)".
Check it out here!
Going to be real here - 2025 has been one of the most difficult years of my life.
It’s been a big year of change. Leaving my animation job, saying goodbye to my childhood home, as well as my grandparents house.
It’s been a big year of change. Leaving my animation job, saying goodbye to my childhood home, as well as my grandparents house.
December 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Going to be real here - 2025 has been one of the most difficult years of my life.
It’s been a big year of change. Leaving my animation job, saying goodbye to my childhood home, as well as my grandparents house.
It’s been a big year of change. Leaving my animation job, saying goodbye to my childhood home, as well as my grandparents house.
Check out the song from my Ariel episode “The Marvelous Mahi-Mahi Brothers”! It was a ton of fun getting to come up with all these characters and then hearing such an amazing song written about them all. 🐠🐠🦐🤡
youtu.be/xaUtVEoheis?...
youtu.be/xaUtVEoheis?...
"The Marvelous Mahi-Mahi Brothers" Song from Disney Jr. Ariel - The Little Mermaid! 🐚🎵 | @disneyjr
YouTube video by Disney Jr.
youtu.be
December 28, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Check out the song from my Ariel episode “The Marvelous Mahi-Mahi Brothers”! It was a ton of fun getting to come up with all these characters and then hearing such an amazing song written about them all. 🐠🐠🦐🤡
youtu.be/xaUtVEoheis?...
youtu.be/xaUtVEoheis?...
Stranger Things S5:
“Wait, guys… we’ve got this wrong. Okay, let’s say this Cabbage Patch Kid is Vecna, and this Ecto Cooler (1987) is the supernova. If we hack the straw, then-“
“We can send a transmission across the Upside Down. Like in ET.”
“Bingo. Buckle up, kiddos. It’s time to phone home.”
“Wait, guys… we’ve got this wrong. Okay, let’s say this Cabbage Patch Kid is Vecna, and this Ecto Cooler (1987) is the supernova. If we hack the straw, then-“
“We can send a transmission across the Upside Down. Like in ET.”
“Bingo. Buckle up, kiddos. It’s time to phone home.”
December 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Stranger Things S5:
“Wait, guys… we’ve got this wrong. Okay, let’s say this Cabbage Patch Kid is Vecna, and this Ecto Cooler (1987) is the supernova. If we hack the straw, then-“
“We can send a transmission across the Upside Down. Like in ET.”
“Bingo. Buckle up, kiddos. It’s time to phone home.”
“Wait, guys… we’ve got this wrong. Okay, let’s say this Cabbage Patch Kid is Vecna, and this Ecto Cooler (1987) is the supernova. If we hack the straw, then-“
“We can send a transmission across the Upside Down. Like in ET.”
“Bingo. Buckle up, kiddos. It’s time to phone home.”
This season of Stranger Things feels like everybody saying everything they’re thinking and planning out loud, zero room for nuance.
December 26, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This season of Stranger Things feels like everybody saying everything they’re thinking and planning out loud, zero room for nuance.
Time for another #fanartfriday!! Check out this adorable art of our very own Izzy T. Rat, drawn by @evyatar.olami.
Have some PiRATs fan art? Tag or DM us, and we’ll feature it at our next Fan Art Friday!
#indieanimation #animation #pirate #fanart
Have some PiRATs fan art? Tag or DM us, and we’ll feature it at our next Fan Art Friday!
#indieanimation #animation #pirate #fanart
December 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Time for another #fanartfriday!! Check out this adorable art of our very own Izzy T. Rat, drawn by @evyatar.olami.
Have some PiRATs fan art? Tag or DM us, and we’ll feature it at our next Fan Art Friday!
#indieanimation #animation #pirate #fanart
Have some PiRATs fan art? Tag or DM us, and we’ll feature it at our next Fan Art Friday!
#indieanimation #animation #pirate #fanart
Meta AI recreated a photo of my deceased grandmother without our consent. Just took it from my mom’s Facebook and showed it to her in her story as if we should be impressed. Makes me feel sick to my stomach. That’s not my grandma.
December 25, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Meta AI recreated a photo of my deceased grandmother without our consent. Just took it from my mom’s Facebook and showed it to her in her story as if we should be impressed. Makes me feel sick to my stomach. That’s not my grandma.
My mother loves to put decorative hand towels in the bathrooms for Christmas that we’re not actually allowed to use, but doesn’t put any actual towels anywhere, so I’m just continuously left with SOPPING WET HANDS
December 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
My mother loves to put decorative hand towels in the bathrooms for Christmas that we’re not actually allowed to use, but doesn’t put any actual towels anywhere, so I’m just continuously left with SOPPING WET HANDS
This really bothers me for some reason
December 24, 2025 at 1:38 AM
This really bothers me for some reason
Honestly, that’s the best gift Grease could receive…
From our crew to yours, Happy Holidays!!
Art by @looshart.bsky.social
From our crew to yours, Happy Holidays!!
Art by @looshart.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Honestly, that’s the best gift Grease could receive…
From our crew to yours, Happy Holidays!!
Art by @looshart.bsky.social
From our crew to yours, Happy Holidays!!
Art by @looshart.bsky.social
If 2025 was a shirt
December 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
If 2025 was a shirt
Food prices at the Burbank airport should be illegal
December 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Food prices at the Burbank airport should be illegal
Really need companies to stop asking multiple questions about what I like about their company and what my favorite thing about them is on applications. Why are we expecting early careers assistants and coordinators to be fans of your credit union? Hire someone that can do the job.
December 19, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Really need companies to stop asking multiple questions about what I like about their company and what my favorite thing about them is on applications. Why are we expecting early careers assistants and coordinators to be fans of your credit union? Hire someone that can do the job.
That’s no ordinary rat!!
December 19, 2025 at 3:53 AM
That’s no ordinary rat!!
Deeply sad about the traumatic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite films of all time, and deeply influenced how I write and create. So devastating.
December 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Deeply sad about the traumatic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite films of all time, and deeply influenced how I write and create. So devastating.
Reposted by Matt Acuña
SETTING SAIL SPRING 2026
🐀🏴☠️🧀
Keep an eye on our official Instagram account for all announcements and sneak squeaks of our upcoming crowdfunding campaign for ‘PiRATe’s! (Emphasis on the Rat)’
www.instagram.com/emphasis_on_...
🐀🏴☠️🧀
Keep an eye on our official Instagram account for all announcements and sneak squeaks of our upcoming crowdfunding campaign for ‘PiRATe’s! (Emphasis on the Rat)’
www.instagram.com/emphasis_on_...
November 28, 2025 at 6:45 PM
SETTING SAIL SPRING 2026
🐀🏴☠️🧀
Keep an eye on our official Instagram account for all announcements and sneak squeaks of our upcoming crowdfunding campaign for ‘PiRATe’s! (Emphasis on the Rat)’
www.instagram.com/emphasis_on_...
🐀🏴☠️🧀
Keep an eye on our official Instagram account for all announcements and sneak squeaks of our upcoming crowdfunding campaign for ‘PiRATe’s! (Emphasis on the Rat)’
www.instagram.com/emphasis_on_...
If you're an Animation Guild member (or not, it's open to anybody really!) that's unemployed due to the current state of the industry, I highly HIGHLY recommend signing up for the next round of the TAG Foundation Mentorship Program.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
December 10, 2025 at 11:39 PM
If you're an Animation Guild member (or not, it's open to anybody really!) that's unemployed due to the current state of the industry, I highly HIGHLY recommend signing up for the next round of the TAG Foundation Mentorship Program.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Very sad to hear about the passing of Jeff Garcia. His performance as Sheen was such a big part of my childhood. 50 is way too young.
Jeff Garcia, Voice of Sheen on ‘Jimmy Neutron,’ Dies at 50
Jeff Garcia, the voice actor best known for playing Sheen in the 'Jimmy Neutron' franchise, died following various medical complications. He was 50.
variety.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Very sad to hear about the passing of Jeff Garcia. His performance as Sheen was such a big part of my childhood. 50 is way too young.