How a $30K Animated Indie Scored a Theatrical Run — Then Landed on HBO

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with animator and director Julian Glander about making his microbudget animated feature Boys Go to Jupiter for just $30,000, premiering it at Tribeca, building momentum through a 50-festival run, and eventually landing theatrical distribution and a streaming home on HBO Max.

Glander breaks down the realities of producing an animated feature outside the studio system, from teaching himself new tools in Blender to embracing the scrappy story behind the film, negotiating festival fees, navigating distribution conversations, and figuring out what comes next after a breakout first feature.

In this episode, we****discuss:

• How Glander and producer Payson made Boys Go to Jupiter with a tiny team and a $30,000 budget
• Why Blender and open-source communities made an indie animated feature possible
• What surprised Glander most about audience reactions to the film’s scrappy origins
• The reality check of premiering at Tribeca without an instant splashy acquisition
• How a long festival run helped the film build momentum and recoup its budget through screening fees and prizes
• Why showing up in person for festival screenings and Q&As can make a lasting impact
• How Cartuna helped shape the film’s theatrical rollout
• The role of PR, timing, and critical response in helping the film break out theatrically
• What it means to let go of control during distribution while still protecting the work
• How Glander is thinking about a second feature and resisting the pressure of “heat”

Guests:

• Julian Glander****

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