alexandergaray
@alexandergaray.bsky.social
I write animation reviews, comics, interviews and anything I can think of.
IG: @its_alexgaray
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Alexander Garay | Substack
I write animated film reviews, comics, interviews and anything I can think of. Curator of Gary VeeFriends Substack.
substack.com
Subscribe to my Substack where I post reviews of independant animation reviews and a deep dive into Gary Vee's intellectual property "VeeFriends". Link below. substack.com/@alexanderga...
Anyone who's interested in imerging IP's, VeeFriends is a great one to take note of. Below is a Substack article going into depth the VeeFriends eco-system of comics, trading cards, cartoons and NFT's.
The Foundation: How VeeFriends Reimagined Character-Based Entertainment
Welcome to Part 1 of our 12-part series examining the VeeFriends business model
veefriend.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Anyone who's interested in imerging IP's, VeeFriends is a great one to take note of. Below is a Substack article going into depth the VeeFriends eco-system of comics, trading cards, cartoons and NFT's.
I just wrote a new review on my Substack on a beautiful film titled "Chicken for Linda" (2023). Make sure to click the link and subscribe.
Chicken for Linda! (2023) Review
One Recipe, Infinite Heart
substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:33 PM
I just wrote a new review on my Substack on a beautiful film titled "Chicken for Linda" (2023). Make sure to click the link and subscribe.
80s indie animators like Bill Plympton survived on "pencil-and-paper" grit, proving that surrealism didn't need a Disney budget to find an audience. These creators bypassed the Saturday morning censors to deliver hand-drawn weirdness that paved the way for the Spike and Mike festivals.
February 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
80s indie animators like Bill Plympton survived on "pencil-and-paper" grit, proving that surrealism didn't need a Disney budget to find an audience. These creators bypassed the Saturday morning censors to deliver hand-drawn weirdness that paved the way for the Spike and Mike festivals.
Indie animation in the 80s thrived on the "tape-trading" circuit, where grainy copies of experimental shorts became the currency of a pre-internet subculture. It was a decade defined by DIY spirit, where one-man studios used 16mm film to challenge the plastic perfection of corporate cartoons.
February 10, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Indie animation in the 80s thrived on the "tape-trading" circuit, where grainy copies of experimental shorts became the currency of a pre-internet subculture. It was a decade defined by DIY spirit, where one-man studios used 16mm film to challenge the plastic perfection of corporate cartoons.
While big studios chased fluid realism, 80s indies embraced "limited animation" as a stylistic choice, using jagged lines and experimental textures to tell darker, more adult stories. This era proved that the "shaky cam" of animation could be just as emotive as a million-dollar frame.
February 10, 2026 at 7:31 PM
While big studios chased fluid realism, 80s indies embraced "limited animation" as a stylistic choice, using jagged lines and experimental textures to tell darker, more adult stories. This era proved that the "shaky cam" of animation could be just as emotive as a million-dollar frame.
Gary Vaynerchuk launched VeeFriends not just as an NFT collection, but as a "blueprint for modern intellectual property" where characters are built on human virtues. By sketching the initial 268 characters himself, Gary emphasized that the value in community and the message rather than art.
February 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Gary Vaynerchuk launched VeeFriends not just as an NFT collection, but as a "blueprint for modern intellectual property" where characters are built on human virtues. By sketching the initial 268 characters himself, Gary emphasized that the value in community and the message rather than art.
he lore of VeeFriends often focuses on Gary’s "dirty" hand-drawn sketches, which served as a filter to find true believers who valued the long-term vision over aesthetic polish.
February 10, 2026 at 7:29 PM
he lore of VeeFriends often focuses on Gary’s "dirty" hand-drawn sketches, which served as a filter to find true believers who valued the long-term vision over aesthetic polish.
Central to the creation of VeeFriends was the integration of real-world access, most notably via VeeCon, which turned digital tokens into physical keys for networking and education. This shifted the NFT narrative from speculative trading to a "social contract" between the creator and the community.
February 10, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Central to the creation of VeeFriends was the integration of real-world access, most notably via VeeCon, which turned digital tokens into physical keys for networking and education. This shifted the NFT narrative from speculative trading to a "social contract" between the creator and the community.
VeeFriends is a massive library of 283 characters defined by specific personality traits like "Patient Panda" or "Empathy Elephant." This creates a unique framework for future content, where the plot isn't just about action, but about how these specific human emotions interact in a narrative world.
February 10, 2026 at 7:29 PM
VeeFriends is a massive library of 283 characters defined by specific personality traits like "Patient Panda" or "Empathy Elephant." This creates a unique framework for future content, where the plot isn't just about action, but about how these specific human emotions interact in a narrative world.
The "Spider-Verse effect" has fully matured into a standard for indie creators, who are now blending 2D hand-drawn textures with 3D environments to achieve a high-end cinematic look on independent budgets.
February 10, 2026 at 7:28 PM
The "Spider-Verse effect" has fully matured into a standard for indie creators, who are now blending 2D hand-drawn textures with 3D environments to achieve a high-end cinematic look on independent budgets.
2025 has seen a surge in niche franchises in Helluva Boss expanding into global brands through high-quality merchandise and direct fan funding. Retaining their IP, these animators are building ecosystems that prioritize creativity over the homogenized storytelling found in corporate-led productions.
February 10, 2026 at 7:28 PM
2025 has seen a surge in niche franchises in Helluva Boss expanding into global brands through high-quality merchandise and direct fan funding. Retaining their IP, these animators are building ecosystems that prioritize creativity over the homogenized storytelling found in corporate-led productions.
In 2026, animators are increasingly producing "vertical-first" shorts to capture the massive mobile audience on platforms like TikTok expanding to 16:9 formats. This "snackable" strategy allows creators to test appeal and narratives with minimal overhead, turning viral clips into full-length series.
February 10, 2026 at 7:27 PM
In 2026, animators are increasingly producing "vertical-first" shorts to capture the massive mobile audience on platforms like TikTok expanding to 16:9 formats. This "snackable" strategy allows creators to test appeal and narratives with minimal overhead, turning viral clips into full-length series.
Following the success of the 2025 launch, the VeeFriends comic series has entered what fans call the "Canon Age," where the lore of characters like the Fearless Fairy and Patient Panda is being cemented through monthly issues.
February 10, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Following the success of the 2025 launch, the VeeFriends comic series has entered what fans call the "Canon Age," where the lore of characters like the Fearless Fairy and Patient Panda is being cemented through monthly issues.
Loved this film! Make sure to read review on its unique animation and view points.
Cryptozoo (2021) is a Polarizing Masterpiece
Director: Dash Shaw | Country: USA | Runtime: 86 minutes
open.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Loved this film! Make sure to read review on its unique animation and view points.
Anyone else think that Claude AI ad was kinda much? Just putting it out there. #SuperBowl
February 8, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Anyone else think that Claude AI ad was kinda much? Just putting it out there. #SuperBowl
Subscribe to my Substack where I post reviews of independant animation reviews and a deep dive into Gary Vee's intellectual property "VeeFriends". Link below. substack.com/@alexanderga...
Alexander Garay | Substack
I write animated film reviews, comics, interviews and anything I can think of. Curator of Gary VeeFriends Substack.
substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Subscribe to my Substack where I post reviews of independant animation reviews and a deep dive into Gary Vee's intellectual property "VeeFriends". Link below. substack.com/@alexanderga...
If you have an interest in colorful and eccentric, you'll love this film titled "Unicorn Wars." Find my review on my person Substack. Link below.
toxicbird.substack.com/p/cute-color...
toxicbird.substack.com/p/cute-color...
‘Unicorn Wars’ (2022)
Cute, Colorful, and Completely Terrifying
toxicbird.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:36 PM
If you have an interest in colorful and eccentric, you'll love this film titled "Unicorn Wars." Find my review on my person Substack. Link below.
toxicbird.substack.com/p/cute-color...
toxicbird.substack.com/p/cute-color...
Check out my latest Substack recap on Issue #1 of the VeeFriends comic book series!!!
veefriend.substack.com/p/comic-book...
veefriend.substack.com/p/comic-book...
Comic Book #1 Recap: The Battle for Balance
Breaking Down the Debut That Started It All
veefriend.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Check out my latest Substack recap on Issue #1 of the VeeFriends comic book series!!!
veefriend.substack.com/p/comic-book...
veefriend.substack.com/p/comic-book...
Disney’s Snow White was once mocked by industry insiders as "Disney’s Folly" because they believed no one would sit through a feature-length cartoon. It went on to become the highest-grossing film of its time, proving the commercial power of the medium.
February 8, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Disney’s Snow White was once mocked by industry insiders as "Disney’s Folly" because they believed no one would sit through a feature-length cartoon. It went on to become the highest-grossing film of its time, proving the commercial power of the medium.
In 2001, Shrek didn't just win the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature; it fundamentally shifted the industry toward celebrity voice casts and pop-culture satire. This "DreamWorks Formula" redefined what a commercial animated film looked like for the next two decades.
February 8, 2026 at 6:34 PM
In 2001, Shrek didn't just win the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature; it fundamentally shifted the industry toward celebrity voice casts and pop-culture satire. This "DreamWorks Formula" redefined what a commercial animated film looked like for the next two decades.
Early 2000s saw the rise of Macromedia Flash, which allowed independent creators to bypass studios and distribute animation directly to audiences online. This era birthed a specific limited animation aesthetic that eventually influenced mainstream TV hits like Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
February 8, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Early 2000s saw the rise of Macromedia Flash, which allowed independent creators to bypass studios and distribute animation directly to audiences online. This era birthed a specific limited animation aesthetic that eventually influenced mainstream TV hits like Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
Between Monsters, Inc. and The Incredibles, Pixar perfected the art of "subsurface scattering," which allowed digital characters to have realistic, skin-like transparency. This technical leap moved CGI away from the shiny, plastic look of the 90s and toward believable organic textures.
February 8, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Between Monsters, Inc. and The Incredibles, Pixar perfected the art of "subsurface scattering," which allowed digital characters to have realistic, skin-like transparency. This technical leap moved CGI away from the shiny, plastic look of the 90s and toward believable organic textures.
Before Pixar became the industry standard, a 2001 film called Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within attempted "photorealistic" CGI and nearly bankrupted its studio. It was the first time an animated character was treated like a real-life actress.
February 8, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Before Pixar became the industry standard, a 2001 film called Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within attempted "photorealistic" CGI and nearly bankrupted its studio. It was the first time an animated character was treated like a real-life actress.
The VeeFriends animated series, produced by Moonbug Entertainment, features characters facing off in the "VeeDome" to tackle real-world emotional hurdles. Unlike typical cartoons, each episode is designed as a three-minute short to help kids build empathy and self-awareness.
February 8, 2026 at 6:33 PM
The VeeFriends animated series, produced by Moonbug Entertainment, features characters facing off in the "VeeDome" to tackle real-world emotional hurdles. Unlike typical cartoons, each episode is designed as a three-minute short to help kids build empathy and self-awareness.
The 2026 VeeFriends Trading Card Game season officially kicks off this March with the Texas Meetup Qualifier in Lufkin. This event starts the leaderboard race toward the 2026 Championship, with a significantly increased prize pool for top-tier players.
February 8, 2026 at 6:32 PM
The 2026 VeeFriends Trading Card Game season officially kicks off this March with the Texas Meetup Qualifier in Lufkin. This event starts the leaderboard race toward the 2026 Championship, with a significantly increased prize pool for top-tier players.