an animated comedy exploring anger, bullying, and the triumph of self-reflection.

When an introverted teenage gamer is called ‘non-playable’ by the school bully, his inner rage, personified by multiple versions of the gaming character he’s creating, plot their revenge.

our take on anger

We live in an age where the fury of a boy feels dangerous and unpredictable.

An angry kid can walk into a school and execute everyone he associates with his pain. A moment of humiliation can lead to suicide. A digital bully can follow him home -- stoking isolation and rage well past the public stage and into his inner sanctum.

At the same time, ANGER can be a powerful force of transformation and forward movement. Resentment, rage, rumination and other nuanced emotions serve a purpose in our lives. They are protective instincts that we muster on our behalf. But stories that walk through an experience of anger and reveal how it moves within us are SERIOUSLY LACKING.

By telling a story focusing on boys' mental health struggles, Release the Beast helps break down the stigma surrounding anger and creates a space for boys to explore how their emotions play a part in their lives.

Activate

This is an impact franchise.

Our films open the door into a multitude of character-driven activations where audiences can explore themes and practical tools that help them take action in their lives.

For Release The Beast, we are producing an activation and education campaign that will take place on Roblox, TikTok, and YouTube, providing a fun way to unpack self-talk, anger management, and navigating relationships, both in real life and digitally.

SUPPORT

Committed to expanding the conversation around boys’ mental health?

You can contribute to ongoing activations leveraging the film in digital and IRL engagements, including Roblox, YouTube, and a North American screening series through a tax-deductible donation using our fiscal sponsor, The Film Collaborative.
Or message Erica or Todd here about other ways you’d like to support the projects.

the team

Written and directed by Erica Milsom, and produced by Todd Shaiman, both former Pixar Leaders, this story results from a collaboration between gamers, animation nerds, artists, technical adventurers, and a clinical psychiatrist.

It’s our way of exploring anger -- what it feels like, how to move through it, and how it manifests in the modern-day landscape of teenagers' lives, where multiple planes of existence are the norm.