Titmouse celebrated SDCC in style with their unique Dungeons and Dragons themed RV. Titmouse is the animator studio known for smash hits such as The Legend of Vox Machina, Beavis and Butthead, Rick and Morty, The Legend of Vox Machina, and much more.

Titmouse RV at SDCC

In a way that perfectly matches their vibe, Titmouse opted out of a traditional presence at SDCC and instead brought their famed Titmouse RV. There, they transported media and talent around downtown, provided drinks, snacks, Titmouse swag and quality conversations around all of their upcoming projects.

The outside of the RV was decorated with vinyl stickers of the last leather shoe Dungeons and Dragons founder, Gary Gygax, created as a cobbler. The inside of the RV also paid homage to the iconic TTRPG game, with themed curtains, posters, and other decor.

Interview with Titmouse Creative Director

Alexei Bochenek, Creative Director, sat down with Jenna Wrenn inside the Titmouse RV at SDCC on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Bochenek discussed his journey into animation, starting from his childhood love for comic books to his current position at Titmouse.

When I was a kid, I used to love comic books and I used to draw superheroes on the envelopes and send the fan mail to Wizard magazine hoping to get my envelope printed in the magazine (which it never happened). And honestly, I’m not sure how many of them I put in the mail, because you get really hyped about doing it, then nervous about sending it.

I never consider myself an artist. So I ended up on a really circuitous route into animation, where I’ve done a jillion jobs. I was working at Disney for a little while in there, and then I moved into directing animated TV commercials. Then, I ended up [becoming] creative director, helping figure out what new shows are going to look like, landing the the visual style and tone of a new show and/or developing a slate of original shows to then try and sell out to these TV networks, streaming networks, and try and bring them their next big cartoon.

Bochenek also provided insight into the creative process of an animated series, from idea to screen. Oftentimes, one of the most difficult parts of the process is finding an artist who captures the feel of the project. Bochenek works with artists to find that happy blend between an intangible idea and the finished animated result. 

Jenna: How do you manage trying to find the right fit for each sort of feeling?

Alexei: It’s really crazy task. Because, as you said, we don’t have a house style. So as an animation studio, sometimes if it’s a small company started by a creative person, everything might look like it came from them. But as we’ve grown as a studio, we’ve appropriated so many different styles, that we just kind of have to play with each with each idea until it feels right.

What we try and do is we try and match the look with whatever the kind of authentic feeling of the show or project is. And that can be a challenge because authenticity is a somewhat abstract concept to try and capture. Buy it’s also a little bit of like, you know it when you see it. And so there’s a lot of play that happens early on, right where you’re exploring and experimenting until it locks in and you have this moment and you realize, oh, I’m looking at it now, this is it. And then you’re there. And then you, you have the confidence to move forward.

Titmouse and the Gary Gygax Sandal

Inside the Titmouse RV was more than great conversation and decor. While the outside of the RV displayed the image of the last shoe Gary Gygax made as a cobbler before he created Dungeons and Dragons, the actual sandal was onboard inside.

As described by Bochenek:

Before Gary officially created Dungeons and Dragons, he was a cobbler. Making shoes was his profession and how he paid his bill. Eventually, Dungeons and Dragons would become his career. But this was the last sandal he made as a cobbler. And, at a convention dedicated to Gary and Dungeons and Dragons called “Gary Con,” every year this sandal is auctioned to a Dungeons and Dragons super fan. Then at the end of the year, it’s donated back to be re-auctioned again, and the proceeds of the auction are given to charity to benefit the fight against children’s cancer.

And so, Chris Prynoski [Titmouse founder], I believe this is the second time taking care of the sandal for a year. And he loves taking care of the sandal. Then every year, someone adds something to the process. So the boxes have been added with nameplates now to commemorate who has cared for the sandal. Joe Manganiello added the foot inside last year when he was caring for it. He’s also a big fan. So […] Chris has it this year and is very excited to show it off.

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