Li'l Toughy

🚨 BIG NEWS, MY STRAWBANIAN FRIENDS 🚨

The Strawberry Vampire Kickstarter pre-launch page is officially LIVE — and you can sign up RIGHT NOW.

This campaign is what keeps the series going.
More episode animatics. More stories. More Franny. More Strawbania.

If you’ve ever watched, shared, cheered us on, or wanted to help this little indie show grow… this is the moment.

Join the pre-launch list so you’re first to know when we go live (and get first access to rewards 👀)

🦇🍓 Sign up here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/strawberryvampire/str…

Let’s make the next chapter of Strawberry Vampire happen... together.

- Emily aka Li'l Toughy

5 days ago | [YT] | 1,287

Li'l Toughy

I’ve been experimenting with YouTube Shorts lately, and noticing patterns :)

So I made a video breaking down the 3 short-form storytelling models I see turning into real fandoms (and how I’m using them for Strawberry Vampire).

If you’re building something indie, this might help!

Watch here: https://youtu.be/N8frYcJ4Hxo

6 days ago | [YT] | 267

Li'l Toughy

What makes a character feel like the main character, and not just “a person things happen to”?

In today’s video, I break down how to build real Main Character Energy in your stories, based on what I’ve learned developing and running animated series over the past decade.

If you’re working on a pilot, pitch, or personal project, and you want to make sure your main character has the right energy — watch my new video!

If you want more expert tips and insight into my indie animation journey, subscribe to the Li'l Toughy Studio substack here: emilybrundige.substack.com/

If you want an in-depth guide to developing animated shows, check out my popular e-book, A Guide to Developing Animated Shows: www.emilybrundige.com/aguidetodevelopinganimatedsh…

Keep writing, and keep creating!

-Emily aka Li'l Toughy 🍓🧛🏼‍♀️

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 89

Li'l Toughy

Hey guys! 💛

In case you missed it, I just released this cozy Franny studying animation, featuring beautiful original music by our Strawberry Vampire composer, Freddie Wiedmann.

Feel free to leave it on in the background while you’re studying, working, drawing, or just chilling — every hour watched helps this li’l toughy channel grow and means so much to me.

Thanks for always supporting my work. 🫶
— Emily

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 82

Li'l Toughy

✨ NEW STRAWBERRY VAMPIRE VIDEO TODAY! ✨

I made a 3-hour Franny studying loop to keep you company while you work, draw, write, or procrastinate responsibly. 😌📚🦇🍓

https://youtu.be/O7dkxPUCCZU

✔️ Hand-animated by Gian Cortez Loardo
✔️ Original song by Freddie Weidmann (Strawberry Vampire composer)
✔️ Zero AI, all heart
✔️ Glarn is snoozing nearby

Put it on in the background. Let tiny vampire peer-pressure you into focusing.

My little gift to you.

Hope you love it. 💗

-Emily (Li'l Toughy)

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 747

Li'l Toughy

Hey guys!

I just published my first video where I’m offering writing advice for animation 🎉
The topic is Cozy Storytelling, something I learned a lot about while working as Head Writer on Hilda and as the showrunner of my own series, Goldie, for Apple TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puRgn...

If you have a moment, I’d really appreciate the support: watching it, liking it, giving it hype points, sharing it — whatever helps spread the love. I’m trying to grow this channel so that someday I can both support myself and help turn Strawberry Vampire into more than a one-time thing!

Thanks for being awesome, and I hope you’re having a great weekend 💛

— Emily (Li’l Toughy)

1 month ago | [YT] | 678

Li'l Toughy

12,000 subscribers.

I honestly don’t even know how to wrap my head around that number.

To everyone who has watched, commented, shared, translated, sent kind messages, made fan art, told a friend, or just quietly showed up — thank you. Strawberry Vampire started as a very small, very handmade labor of love, and you turned it into a community.

This project exists because you believed in it. You believed in Franny, in her weird little world, in a story about identity, belonging, and not sanding down the parts of yourself that make you you. Every milestone feels like a reminder that there’s room for sweet, strange, indie stories, and that means everything to me.

Whether you’ve been here since day one or just joined the Bat Watch Club 🦇 — I’m so grateful you’re here. This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to keep building this world with you.

Thank you for being part of Strawberry Vampire.
Thank you for supporting indie animation.
Thank you for making this dream feel possible. 🍓💖

— Emily

1 month ago | [YT] | 471

Li'l Toughy

Hey Strawbanians 🍓🦇

Thank you so much for all your thoughts yesterday about where to take the next Strawberry Vampire Kickstarter. I read every reply, and it genuinely gave me a lot to think about. 💛

I wanted to share something a little more personal with you.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how much my original characters have quietly supported me over the years, from Pubertina, to Goldie, to Franny.

When I was creating them, I didn’t always realize it at the time, but they were holding feelings I didn’t yet have words for. They worked through fear, loneliness, big emotions, and identity questions right alongside me. They gave me a place to be playful and brave, even during moments when real life felt… harder.

We talk a lot about characters as IP, projects, or career milestones in this industry, but for me, they’ve also been companions. Little teachers. Reminders of who I am when things get messy.

I wrote more about this in a recent Substack post about how my original characters have helped heal me through the ups and downs of a creative career. It’s free to read, and I thought some of you might really connect with it.

👉 Read it here:
emilybrundige.substack.com/p/my-original-character…

If you’re a creator (or just someone who’s ever felt seen by a character), I hope it resonates. 🥹

Thanks for being here and for supporting this strange, sweet little Strawbanian journey.

— Emily (“Li’l Toughy”) 💛🦇

1 month ago | [YT] | 546

Li'l Toughy

A big THANK YOU to those who responded to my email query. But for those who haven't responded, or aren't on my mailing list...

I’m starting to think about the next Strawberry Vampire Kickstarter, and wanted to ask you.

There are two directions I’m considering, and I’d love to know which one you’d be more excited to support:

Option A:
Two more 11-minute Strawberry Vampire episode animatics
– New stories
– New characters and moments
– Expanding the Strawbanian world

Option B:
Fully animating the original pilot
– Taking the existing pilot all the way to finished animation
– Polished visuals, motion, and final timing
– A big “this is what the show can be” statement piece

Both are exciting in different ways, and your input honestly helps guide how I move forward.

Which would you rather see next?

Thanks for your feedback!

🦇🍓
Emily (Li'l Toughy)
Creator of Strawberry Vampire

1 month ago | [YT] | 114

Li'l Toughy

Designing cute Strawberry Vampire merch is really fun and satisfying! 🍓🧛🏻‍♀️

This shirt and other juicy items are live in my Strawberry Vampire shop. Take a look and consider supporting this li'l toughy and look cute while doing it.

strawberryvampire.com/shop

Happy Sunday!

-Emily (Li'l Toughy)

#strawberryvampire #indieanimation

1 month ago | [YT] | 829