STORY TIME! So back in 2013- when I was 18 and Rick and Morty only had 3 episodes out, I made a Flash Animation both parodying and promoting the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tYe-9dcuHM I made it as a last ditch effort. My interest in becoming an animator was dwindling because of my teachers all telling me my art style didn’t qualify for post-secondary animation programs. Within a couple days- the cartoon made it to the Rick and Morty offices, where a PA helped get it to Roiland himself. (Special shout outs to Starburns Industries! You guys rock!) Justin was super kind, considerate and confirmed something no one else would at the time for me: No one is stopping me from making cartoons, but me. Four years later: I’m currently working on a new animated web-series with my friends called “Waffle Johnson: FBI” (You can check the pilot out here!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xmfW2_gmiM Roiland was announced as a guest for FanExpo 2017, which meant I finally had a chance to tell him in person how much he inspired me and kept me going. So we made him a shirt with Waffle, Rick and Morty all on it. (Shout outs to my buddy Josh! Four hours well spent.) The night before, my friend Dave bumped into Justin at a bar downtown and recorded a video of a pretty drunk Justin Roiland calling me a piece of shit, then sent it to me because he knew I’d flip out (Which I totally did, it was amazing) I attended his panel the next day and got to ask him a question/reintroduce myself like a typical sweaty nerd- even calling him out for the night before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfuCJV3C2M8&t=34m45s Then the next day: I finally got to meet Justin Roiland. We talked, we laughed, I got him to sign my Speed Racer blu-ray, I told him about all the stuff we’ve been working on and gave him the shirt. He told me to never give up on my stuff and keep at it, forever. “One day, it’ll be you.” Soooooo yeah. It was basically the best day ever.