Welcome to
An upcoming cartoon pilot
directed by Avital Shtapura!
Plot!?
LWe can go straight to the meat of the story! Chasing Gracie features mysterious sideplots and arcs while maintaining a balance of comedy and drama throughout. There is plenty of thought-out symbolism and lore in the names, props, and character designs, which I would be happy to tell you about!
Characters & Cast!
Characters are the key to any story. Our fun, realistic, and strong characters were designed by Avital Shtapura, with help from Russian storyboard artist Finetz and Nickelodeon animator Michael Chin. You'll also see the talented actors who brought these characters to life!
The Upcoming Pilot...
In the pilot episode, we witness a deep-rooted, intimate fight about eggs and toast...
that ends a marriage. The marriage of two notorious criminals of 1920s Arizona, that is.
And, of course, it's interrupted by their adorable daughter Gracie, who holds up a wanted poster and proclaims, "Guys, look what I found! I'm still a baby here!"
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As Gracie grows up, she's juggled between her divorced parents' care; the rambunctious adventures of Eagle Eyes versus Sidewinder's quiet and depressed world - and the dreaded "third place" being her Aunt's house, who is a small-town teacher and college attendee who shares nothing in common with Gracie besides a first name.
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When Sidewinder's gunshot stirs the empty town of Rye, Arizona, it is revealed that Sidewinder has wounded a visiting innocent youth. Why? Simultaneously, Gracie's mom disappears. What's going on?
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Armed with the help of bumbling Sheriff Cabazos, Gracie goes on an adventure to find her parents, meeting dozens of diverse Midwestern characters along the way (a magician turned highwayman, a fangirl and singer of Navajo descent, a retired saloon owner, and many more)...who will all coincidentally come back at the end of the tale, to serve a unique purpose and complete their character arc.
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Like It!
I HOPE YOU
The script
is full of motifs, foreshadowing, and symbolism - tied into fast-paced comedy-drama scenes!
OUR CHARACTERS...
Gracie Streckery-Spitz
Gracie
Gracie's a kid with crazy dreams and a stubborn nature, who's never afraid to start a ruckus! Unbeknownst to Gracie, she is a prisoner of a bad family, and lonelier than any other kid. Even so, she is happy and free in her world. Her parents attempt to hide violence from her, but she has secrets too; like her lifelong dream of being the toughest sheriff in the West (or a cop - she doesn't know the difference. Whichever one has the cooler hat).
As the show develops, Gracie will grow. She will realize she wants her parents to get married again. Her wardrobes will reflect her character development. For example, she will refuse to take off the bandanna (which symbolizes her life of denial and romanticism) when she idolizes her parents. However, after being made aware that they aren't the "good guys" after all, she might be free from the bandanna...
The question is: why continue the search, if she no longer wants her parents to get married again? You shall see...
Sheriff Cabazos
Carlos Hernando Ruiz y Cabazos
Sheriff Cabazos is brave, tough, and ready for action...with nothing to do all day.
Until Gracie's big mission!
Cabazos has a heart of gold and always puts others before himself. He loves puzzle games, cozy restaurants, and his family back in Mexico City.
At first he accepts Gracie's mission for the reward and glory...but soon discovers a bigger purpose in helping the kid.
Aunt Gracious
Gracious Ann Streckery
Gracious's life was ruined by Samson's mistakes.
At 14, she had to clean up all his messes - housekeeping, the family's reputation, and comforting her poor old mother, Liz.
All of her dreams were put on hold thanks to Samson's disappearance; meanwhile, she constantly has to take care of his kid.
Gracie reminds her of the childhood she lacked; AND she's another responsibility that Samson couldn't handle. Despite her plans to earn a degree and live in the big city, she's been trapped in the small-town life, teaching at the church and working towards dreams that have already been shattered by her brother's mistakes. She longs to find a friend who understands.
MAIN VOICE CAST
LAUREN
GRAUER
Why We're Great >
BONNIE MARIE WILIAMS
Why We're Great >
LUKE
ALPHONSO
Why We're Great >
CARLOS XAVIER
CASTRO
Why We're Great >
AVITAL
SHTAPURA
as Gracie
as Margarine Spitz
as Samson Streckery
as Sheriff Cabazos
as Aunt Gracious
TALENTS & CREW
FRANK
GRESHAM
DARYA
BATUEVA
JIM
NOIR
WHISKEY
SHIVERS
EMMA
TRAN
Logo Designer
Featuring Music By...
Featuring Music By...
Character Design Consultant
Storyboard Critique
WHY IT'LL MAKE $$$
Deep, Emotional Stories
Successful stories evoke emotion. A mystery, a comedy, and a drama all rolled into one - this show has an endless possibility of directions. It strays from cliches and simplifications, aiming to show that heroes AND villains come in all shapes and size. Chasing Gracie is a show unafraid to delve into serious topics such as crime and familial abuse - in appropriate and respectful ways.
As such, it can be a daring, fun, realistic kids' show - or an incredibly deep, dark, and heartfelt show for young adults.
Diverse Cast and Cultures
Besides our female and minority protagonists, characters of all different backgrounds will be revealed, rich and poor, white and black/latinx/Tonto Apache, to reflect a realistic portrayal of 1932 Arizona. Each character will be handled with care, and cultural consultants will be hired for minorities. In a world of insensitive, ignorant, or generic kids shows, Chasing Gracie is an excellent example of a natural diversity. As such, it's sure to gain support and media attention from minority news sources and young progressive crowds.
Memorable Songs
Scored partially by Jim Noir, the Whiskey Shivers, and many other bluegrass musicians, Chasing Gracie will be a show with a memorable soundtrack. Like Steven Universe, Chasing Grace will feature songs that progress its plot. Each character has a musical motif based on personality - Grace, a prisoner's harmonica; Sidewinder, a rattlesnake rattle; Cabazos, a Spanish guitar, etc. Characters will sing to reveal deep emotional vulnerabilities, while creating a great selling point for new fans. A vinyl or EP release will easily be a financial success.
Unique World and Characters
There is always room for education in media. Today, there are no cartoons that are true-to-life historical fictions - much less based on the Great Depression! Most children and young adults haven't seen any show like this before. The 1930s is a fascinating example of solidarity and heartbreak in American Dream; an unexplored era in animated media. Children deserve great stories in new settings, to develop their empathy and broaden their minds. Our characters exist in a fascinating, explorable world ripe with educational opportunities.
Check out the IMDb
for cast & crew!