MAGNET: A Lesson in the Law of Attraction
Fort Washington, Maryland | Film Short
Animation, LGBTQ
MAGNET is a heartfelt animated short about an introverted teen whose crushes turn literal—his heart becomes magnetic, making him stick to the people he likes. When he falls for both a boy and a girl, chaos follows in this funny, visually expressive coming-of-age story about identity and attraction.
MAGNET: A Lesson in the Law of Attraction
Fort Washington, Maryland | Film Short
Animation, LGBTQ
1 Campaigns |
12 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$525
Goal: $2,500 for production
MAGNET is a heartfelt animated short about an introverted teen whose crushes turn literal—his heart becomes magnetic, making him stick to the people he likes. When he falls for both a boy and a girl, chaos follows in this funny, visually expressive coming-of-age story about identity and attraction.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
MAGNET is an intimate, character-driven animated short that explores connection, emotional vulnerability, and the quiet intensity of attraction. The film follows three young characters whose relationships shift and collide as they navigate closeness, distance, and the fear of being seen.
This film blends heart and plenty of humor—using animation to externalize feelings that are often difficult to put into words. MAGNET is about the push and pull of human connection, and how love can feel both inevitable and terrifying at the same time.
Why I’m Making This Film
MAGNET comes from a deeply personal place. The story is drawn from my experiences in high school, and the awkwardness that comes with it. As a bisexual person, I’m drawn to stories about softness, longing, and emotional intimacy—especially stories that allow queer characters to exist for younger audiences. I wanted to create a short that captures the feeling of being emotionally “pulled” toward someone before you fully understand why.
Why This Story Matters Right Now
At a time when queer stories are being challenged, erased, and politicized, MAGNET is an act of resistance. Supporting MAGNET means supporting queer joy and independent animation.
Meet the Characters
Hero Boy
Voiced by yours truly, HERO BOY is shy, awkward and cautious around people. He’s a very quiet and sensitive person who definitely gives off mama’s boy vibes. However, his nasty habit of sticking to people with his magnetic heart naturally makes him avoidant around people. And when his magnetic powers go haywire…
…he gets MAD. REAL MAD.
Hero Girl
Voiced by Jasmine Tolson, HERO GIRL is cute, sassy, opinionated, with full lips and signature buns for hair. When she discovers Hero Boy’s magnetic powers, she desperately tries to resist its pull - and its effects on her well-maintained looks!
Other Boy
Voiced by Joyson Balisamore, OTHER BOY is the model student—tall, handsome, bespectacled, and impeccably put together, with a stoic, unshakable demeanor. But when Hero Boy’s heart pines for him and the Hero Girl, that quiet façade is tested, and it will take everything in his power to keep from breaking.
MAGNET is a standalone, self-contained short. Yet it also serves as the launch title for Magnetic Stories—a larger slate of original short animated films centered on queer youth, identity, and connection. These stories are bold, character-driven, and created with younger audiences in mind—especially those who don’t often see themselves reflected in the media.
With your help, you’ll be funding:
- A finished, festival-ready animated short
- A professional calling card for future collaborators
- A foundation for future queer-themed shorts
Here's a first look at an episode from Magnetic Stories - "BOY OR GIRL?", all about a non-binary teenager who can't decide what to wear to the school dance, only for their girl and boy selves to appear and cause chaos!
By backing MAGNET, you’re helping launch a long-term creative vision that proves there’s an audience for tender, honest queer animation made outside the studio system.
MAGNET is currently approximately 50% complete and actively in production. This project has moved well beyond the concept stage. Much of the creative groundwork is finished, and several scenes are already animated in rough form. Your support helps carry the film through its final, most labor-intensive phase—polish, refinement, and completion.
What’s Already Been Done
- Storyboards and the majority of layouts
- Final character design
- Visual development and concept art
- Rough animation on multiple scenes
- Early voice recording and music development
What Still Needs to Be Completed
- Remaining layouts and rough animation
- Clean-up and Color work
- Background painting
- Compositing and final visual polish
- Sound design and music finalization
- Fair compensation for artists (and the director) completing the film
This campaign ensures MAGNET can be finished thoughtfully, ethically, and at the level of quality the story deserves.
Phase 1: Final Layouts + Remaining Rough Animation (March – July 2026)
March 2026 — Reorientation & Layout Locking
- Re-open all sequences and assess what’s missing
- Lock storyboards → final layout pass begins
- Identify scenes needing revised staging or timing
- Prep animation pipeline and file organization
April 2026 — Layout Completion + Rough Animation Push
- Complete remaining layouts
- Begin rough animation on priority scenes
- Focus on emotional beats and performance clarity
- Address any story issues early (before cleanup)
May 2026 — Rough Animation Deep Dive
- Push through bulk of remaining rough animation
- Focus on continuity, pacing, and shot-to-shot flow
- Begin light internal review and revisions
June 2026 — Rough Animation Finalization
- Finish remaining rough animation
- Tighten timing and acting
- Prepare scenes for clean-up handoff
July 2026 — Transition Month
- Minor rough animation fixes
- Prep cleanup + background workflow
- Final technical organization
Phase 2: Cleanup + Background Painting + Compositing (June – October 2026)
June–July 2026 — Cleanup Begins
- Start cleanup on completed rough scenes
- Establish visual consistency
- Begin background painting
August 2026 — Full Production Mode
- Cleanup on majority of scenes
- Background painting in parallel
- Early compositing tests (lighting, color, effects)
September 2026 — Visual Assembly
- Finish cleanup on remaining scenes
- Finalize backgrounds
- Composite most scenes into near-final shots
October 2026 — Visual Lock
- Final compositing polish
- Color consistency pass
- Prep for sound + music lock
Phase 3: Sound Design, Music Finalization & Polish (September – December 2026)
September–October 2026 — Sound & Music
- Final sound effects pass
- Music scoring and revisions
- Dialogue clarity and balance
November 2026 — Final Polish
- Final visual tweaks and timing adjustments
- Quality control pass
December 2026 — Delivery & Rewards
- Final exports
- Digital rewards prep
- Backer delivery
- Festival-ready packages
If MAGNET exceeds its initial funding goal, additional support will be used to expand the film’s reach, documentation, and community engagement—without increasing production risk.
$3,000 — Festival Submissions & Artist Pay Boost
Additional funding will support festival submission fees and allow for increased compensation for the artists who helped complete the film.
$4,000 — Expanded Behind-the-Scenes Series
A multi-part behind-the-scenes video series documenting the creative process behind MAGNET, from story development, all the way to finished product.
$4,500 — Physical Copies of MAGNET Art-Of Book
A physical version of the art-of book showcasing the behind-the-scenes art and process that went into the creation of this film.
$5,000 — Limited-Edition Enamel Pins & Sticker Pack
$5,500 — Apparel & Plush Development
Production of MAGNET-themed enamel pins and sticker sets, MAGNET-themed T-shirts and a small plush prototype inspired by the film’s characters and designed exclusively for backers.
$6,000+ — Magnetic Stories Development Fund
Funding to support the development of future Magnetic Stories shorts, including writing, visual development, and early pitch materials.
Important Note About Merchandise
Merchandise stretch goals will not affect the completion or delivery of the film itself. All physical items are optional, backer-exclusive, and only produced - with limited quantities - once funding thresholds are met.
If this story resonates with you—if you believe in queer animation, indie voices, and emotionally honest storytelling—thank you for being part of this journey. 🧲✨
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT
Not able to give right now? Don't worry - we'd love for you to join us by:
- SHARING our campaign with friends, family, and beyond!
- To simplify the process, here's a message you can copy and paste!
- A boy, his magnetic heart, and two friends. What can go wrong? Help bring the LGBTQ+ story of MAGNET to life by following and supporting on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/magnet-short-film
- FOLLOWING us on Instagram via @magnetshortfilm (and this page for updates)!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Animation clean-up & artist pay
Costs $1,000
This is to help the animators receive the pay they deserve for the laborious tasks of animating roughs and cleanups.
Background art
Costs $500
Funding for this item will be used to pay background artists to work on the settings that the characters inhabit during the film.
Compositing and post-production
Costs $300
Pay for the compositors to add special visual flourishes to the final film, establishing the overall visual look.
Sound and music
Costs $300
Pay for my composer to finish the rest of the music cues for film, as well as back pay for the end credit song writer/performer
Director compensation
Costs $300
Supports the time and labor required to oversee production and bring the film to completion.
Additional Funding for Festival Submissions
Costs $100
Covers festival submission fees to help the film reach festivals, audiences, and industry professionals.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet the Creator & Team
About the Director
My name is David A. Cobb Jr., and I’m an animation graduate and storyteller dedicated to furthering the art of animation through inclusive storytelling geared towards black and LGBTQ+ audiences.
I earned a bachelor's degree in animation from University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC), and was selected for an eight-week fellowship at DreamWorks Animation, in partnership with BRIC Foundation. I’ve also freelanced on many different projects.
The Team
MAGNET is being created with a small but passionate team of animators, artists, voice actors, and a songwriter who are helping bring this story to life. This campaign allows me to properly compensate them for their work and finish the film at the quality it deserves.
So far, these insanely talented individuals have put their time and effort into making MAGNET a reality:
Key Animators/Cleanup & Color Artists: Jenny Claudet, Daryl Colosi, Emma Ozark, Kiko Pablo
Key Animators: Fritz Mazzini, Tae-young Choi, Jacob Shamer, L. Matt Wiens, Catherine Frizzell
Cleanup & Color Artists: Garrett Jaeger, Chase Nickoles, Justin Gaylord, Emily Thompson
Crowd Animators: Rebecca Kam, Emma Ozark, Jalen Crymes
Crowds Character Designer/Animator: Murat Sari
Monster Character Pre-Production: Leanna Byrum
Effects Animator: Andre Patoro
Background Lead: Daryl Colosi
Background Artist: Christian Hart
Compositing Artists: Toni Olafunmiloye, Catherine Frizzell
Original Music Composed by: Heath Franklin, Luke Parrish
End Credit Song, "Magnetic Heart" Written & Performed by: Ken Stephan
Additional Story Contributions: Ezra Quemuel, Kiko Pablo
I also have some equally talented artists actively working within the animation industry who have graciously lent their time to mentor me throughout production:
Claire & Ken Morrissey ("PRINCE OF EGYPT", "SPACE JAM")
Brandon Waltman ("TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES")
Eva Grandoni(Award-winning short film, "SWOL")
Roman Laney("ANIMANIACS", "TEEN TITANS GO!")
Guillaume Blackburn ("LOONEY TUNES CARTOONS", "GREEN EGGS AND HAM")
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
MAGNET is an intimate, character-driven animated short that explores connection, emotional vulnerability, and the quiet intensity of attraction. The film follows three young characters whose relationships shift and collide as they navigate closeness, distance, and the fear of being seen.
This film blends heart and plenty of humor—using animation to externalize feelings that are often difficult to put into words. MAGNET is about the push and pull of human connection, and how love can feel both inevitable and terrifying at the same time.
Why I’m Making This Film
MAGNET comes from a deeply personal place. The story is drawn from my experiences in high school, and the awkwardness that comes with it. As a bisexual person, I’m drawn to stories about softness, longing, and emotional intimacy—especially stories that allow queer characters to exist for younger audiences. I wanted to create a short that captures the feeling of being emotionally “pulled” toward someone before you fully understand why.
Why This Story Matters Right Now
At a time when queer stories are being challenged, erased, and politicized, MAGNET is an act of resistance. Supporting MAGNET means supporting queer joy and independent animation.
Meet the Characters
Hero Boy
Voiced by yours truly, HERO BOY is shy, awkward and cautious around people. He’s a very quiet and sensitive person who definitely gives off mama’s boy vibes. However, his nasty habit of sticking to people with his magnetic heart naturally makes him avoidant around people. And when his magnetic powers go haywire…
…he gets MAD. REAL MAD.
Hero Girl
Voiced by Jasmine Tolson, HERO GIRL is cute, sassy, opinionated, with full lips and signature buns for hair. When she discovers Hero Boy’s magnetic powers, she desperately tries to resist its pull - and its effects on her well-maintained looks!
Other Boy
Voiced by Joyson Balisamore, OTHER BOY is the model student—tall, handsome, bespectacled, and impeccably put together, with a stoic, unshakable demeanor. But when Hero Boy’s heart pines for him and the Hero Girl, that quiet façade is tested, and it will take everything in his power to keep from breaking.
MAGNET is a standalone, self-contained short. Yet it also serves as the launch title for Magnetic Stories—a larger slate of original short animated films centered on queer youth, identity, and connection. These stories are bold, character-driven, and created with younger audiences in mind—especially those who don’t often see themselves reflected in the media.
With your help, you’ll be funding:
- A finished, festival-ready animated short
- A professional calling card for future collaborators
- A foundation for future queer-themed shorts
Here's a first look at an episode from Magnetic Stories - "BOY OR GIRL?", all about a non-binary teenager who can't decide what to wear to the school dance, only for their girl and boy selves to appear and cause chaos!
By backing MAGNET, you’re helping launch a long-term creative vision that proves there’s an audience for tender, honest queer animation made outside the studio system.
MAGNET is currently approximately 50% complete and actively in production. This project has moved well beyond the concept stage. Much of the creative groundwork is finished, and several scenes are already animated in rough form. Your support helps carry the film through its final, most labor-intensive phase—polish, refinement, and completion.
What’s Already Been Done
- Storyboards and the majority of layouts
- Final character design
- Visual development and concept art
- Rough animation on multiple scenes
- Early voice recording and music development
What Still Needs to Be Completed
- Remaining layouts and rough animation
- Clean-up and Color work
- Background painting
- Compositing and final visual polish
- Sound design and music finalization
- Fair compensation for artists (and the director) completing the film
This campaign ensures MAGNET can be finished thoughtfully, ethically, and at the level of quality the story deserves.
Phase 1: Final Layouts + Remaining Rough Animation (March – July 2026)
March 2026 — Reorientation & Layout Locking
- Re-open all sequences and assess what’s missing
- Lock storyboards → final layout pass begins
- Identify scenes needing revised staging or timing
- Prep animation pipeline and file organization
April 2026 — Layout Completion + Rough Animation Push
- Complete remaining layouts
- Begin rough animation on priority scenes
- Focus on emotional beats and performance clarity
- Address any story issues early (before cleanup)
May 2026 — Rough Animation Deep Dive
- Push through bulk of remaining rough animation
- Focus on continuity, pacing, and shot-to-shot flow
- Begin light internal review and revisions
June 2026 — Rough Animation Finalization
- Finish remaining rough animation
- Tighten timing and acting
- Prepare scenes for clean-up handoff
July 2026 — Transition Month
- Minor rough animation fixes
- Prep cleanup + background workflow
- Final technical organization
Phase 2: Cleanup + Background Painting + Compositing (June – October 2026)
June–July 2026 — Cleanup Begins
- Start cleanup on completed rough scenes
- Establish visual consistency
- Begin background painting
August 2026 — Full Production Mode
- Cleanup on majority of scenes
- Background painting in parallel
- Early compositing tests (lighting, color, effects)
September 2026 — Visual Assembly
- Finish cleanup on remaining scenes
- Finalize backgrounds
- Composite most scenes into near-final shots
October 2026 — Visual Lock
- Final compositing polish
- Color consistency pass
- Prep for sound + music lock
Phase 3: Sound Design, Music Finalization & Polish (September – December 2026)
September–October 2026 — Sound & Music
- Final sound effects pass
- Music scoring and revisions
- Dialogue clarity and balance
November 2026 — Final Polish
- Final visual tweaks and timing adjustments
- Quality control pass
December 2026 — Delivery & Rewards
- Final exports
- Digital rewards prep
- Backer delivery
- Festival-ready packages
If MAGNET exceeds its initial funding goal, additional support will be used to expand the film’s reach, documentation, and community engagement—without increasing production risk.
$3,000 — Festival Submissions & Artist Pay Boost
Additional funding will support festival submission fees and allow for increased compensation for the artists who helped complete the film.
$4,000 — Expanded Behind-the-Scenes Series
A multi-part behind-the-scenes video series documenting the creative process behind MAGNET, from story development, all the way to finished product.
$4,500 — Physical Copies of MAGNET Art-Of Book
A physical version of the art-of book showcasing the behind-the-scenes art and process that went into the creation of this film.
$5,000 — Limited-Edition Enamel Pins & Sticker Pack
$5,500 — Apparel & Plush Development
Production of MAGNET-themed enamel pins and sticker sets, MAGNET-themed T-shirts and a small plush prototype inspired by the film’s characters and designed exclusively for backers.
$6,000+ — Magnetic Stories Development Fund
Funding to support the development of future Magnetic Stories shorts, including writing, visual development, and early pitch materials.
Important Note About Merchandise
Merchandise stretch goals will not affect the completion or delivery of the film itself. All physical items are optional, backer-exclusive, and only produced - with limited quantities - once funding thresholds are met.
If this story resonates with you—if you believe in queer animation, indie voices, and emotionally honest storytelling—thank you for being part of this journey. 🧲✨
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT
Not able to give right now? Don't worry - we'd love for you to join us by:
- SHARING our campaign with friends, family, and beyond!
- To simplify the process, here's a message you can copy and paste!
- A boy, his magnetic heart, and two friends. What can go wrong? Help bring the LGBTQ+ story of MAGNET to life by following and supporting on @seedandspark: https://seedandspark.com/fund/magnet-short-film
- FOLLOWING us on Instagram via @magnetshortfilm (and this page for updates)!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Animation clean-up & artist pay
Costs $1,000
This is to help the animators receive the pay they deserve for the laborious tasks of animating roughs and cleanups.
Background art
Costs $500
Funding for this item will be used to pay background artists to work on the settings that the characters inhabit during the film.
Compositing and post-production
Costs $300
Pay for the compositors to add special visual flourishes to the final film, establishing the overall visual look.
Sound and music
Costs $300
Pay for my composer to finish the rest of the music cues for film, as well as back pay for the end credit song writer/performer
Director compensation
Costs $300
Supports the time and labor required to oversee production and bring the film to completion.
Additional Funding for Festival Submissions
Costs $100
Covers festival submission fees to help the film reach festivals, audiences, and industry professionals.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Meet the Creator & Team
About the Director
My name is David A. Cobb Jr., and I’m an animation graduate and storyteller dedicated to furthering the art of animation through inclusive storytelling geared towards black and LGBTQ+ audiences.
I earned a bachelor's degree in animation from University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC), and was selected for an eight-week fellowship at DreamWorks Animation, in partnership with BRIC Foundation. I’ve also freelanced on many different projects.
The Team
MAGNET is being created with a small but passionate team of animators, artists, voice actors, and a songwriter who are helping bring this story to life. This campaign allows me to properly compensate them for their work and finish the film at the quality it deserves.
So far, these insanely talented individuals have put their time and effort into making MAGNET a reality:
Key Animators/Cleanup & Color Artists: Jenny Claudet, Daryl Colosi, Emma Ozark, Kiko Pablo
Key Animators: Fritz Mazzini, Tae-young Choi, Jacob Shamer, L. Matt Wiens, Catherine Frizzell
Cleanup & Color Artists: Garrett Jaeger, Chase Nickoles, Justin Gaylord, Emily Thompson
Crowd Animators: Rebecca Kam, Emma Ozark, Jalen Crymes
Crowds Character Designer/Animator: Murat Sari
Monster Character Pre-Production: Leanna Byrum
Effects Animator: Andre Patoro
Background Lead: Daryl Colosi
Background Artist: Christian Hart
Compositing Artists: Toni Olafunmiloye, Catherine Frizzell
Original Music Composed by: Heath Franklin, Luke Parrish
End Credit Song, "Magnetic Heart" Written & Performed by: Ken Stephan
Additional Story Contributions: Ezra Quemuel, Kiko Pablo
I also have some equally talented artists actively working within the animation industry who have graciously lent their time to mentor me throughout production:
Claire & Ken Morrissey ("PRINCE OF EGYPT", "SPACE JAM")
Brandon Waltman ("TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES")
Eva Grandoni(Award-winning short film, "SWOL")
Roman Laney("ANIMANIACS", "TEEN TITANS GO!")
Guillaume Blackburn ("LOONEY TUNES CARTOONS", "GREEN EGGS AND HAM")