Toby has blindly jumped subways in Japan, and animated in France. He has toured windmills in the Netherlands, and swam with sharks in Belize. Tody learned to surf in Costa Rica, then rode a Vespa in Taiwan trekked on the Silk Road in Nepal. Toby has made friends in all these places. He has raised $4,000+ for the Wounded Warrior project by running through obstacles in Tough Mudder, raised $3,000+ for the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings, supports the Kids and Art Foundation yearly, and created his own artist meetup called the Doodlenauts.
indieactivity: How did you get into directing? How would you describe your style?
Toby Cochran (TC): I got into directing out of necessity, primarily. I’ve always enjoyed being able to do a little of everything, and I feel confident as a director in understanding and working with artists at all levels of the pipeline and communicating what they need. I don’t think I have a distinct “style” yet, but I do believe that my biggest strength lies in assembling the right team and collaborating with everyone, leveraging their strengths.
Do you hire a casting director, or do you like to choose the cast yourself? If so, what criteria go into your casting?
Toby Cochran (TC): Even though we didn’t work with a voice cast on this, I treat this similarly to how I find talent. I choose everyone myself. I’ll go through recommendations, but hiring the right people for the crew is vital, and having the wrong person can be detrimental to the process. I’ll spend a long time going through hundreds of portfolios, reaching out, and getting to know artists beforehand.
What went into the casting process for “LUKi & the Lights”?
Toby Cochran (TC): Casting the voice actors was easy, we didn’t have a proper budget and used internal talent. My sound designer’s wife, who’s a talented vocal performer, was the voice of Neefa, I played the lead character LUKi and one of the most special aspects of the casting was immortalizing Anjo, the person who inspired the story, as the voice of LUKi’s best friend, Theo. His deep, grounded voice was a nice contrast to my own higher-pitched, energetic delivery for LUKi.
When it came to “casting” the animators (whom I see as the actors of the film), that was a fun challenge. I reached out to industry colleagues I’ve wanted to collaborate with for years. I personally interviewed around 150 animators to narrow down the 7 new animators, out of the total of 24 animators on the crew. Due to the tight timeline, I cast senior animators for the more emotionally complex and subtle shots. Meanwhile, younger animators were assigned shots requiring their specialty, whether it was body mechanics or acting performances. My two animation supervisors and I worked closely to give the junior animators increasingly challenging shots as they progressed
Without giving anything away, tell us a little bit about the script, how did you come up with the idea?
Toby Cochran (TC): The original story concept for LUKi & the Lights came from Sascha and Anjo, who were inspired by their personal experiences with ALS. Their goal was to create a narrative that would raise awareness about the disease, particularly the impact it has on children who witness a family member’s struggle. They wanted to ensure that people, especially younger audiences, could engage with the topic in a way that felt accessible and emotionally resonant. When I came on board, I reworked their outline into a screenplay that transformed LUKi’s experience into a more cohesive journey, rather than a series of random and unfortunate events. We decided to storyboard a rough version early on, and that rough cut became our foundation. The film centers around resilience and hope, while highlighting the importance of connection, especially when facing a terminal illness like ALS.
What makes this project even more special is that it also serves to raise awareness for ALS, with LUKi’s journey symbolizing the emotional and physical struggles that come with the disease. The themes of the story reflect perseverance, friendship, and the importance of love and hope in the darkest of times.
Who is “LUKi & the Lights” for? Who do you think would enjoy it the most?
Toby Cochran (TC): LUKi & the Lights is a film for audiences of all ages who are drawn to heartfelt stories that explore themes of perseverance, friendship, and overcoming adversity. While it’s enjoyable for anyone who loves uplifting narratives, the primary goal is to raise awareness about ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and highlight the emotional toll this motor neuron disease has on families, communities, and especially children.
This is the very first time a story like this has been told in animation, and although the film centers on ALS, the story is crafted in a way that allows viewers to relate to LUKi’s journey regardless of the specific illness. My goal as a director was to ensure that people could substitute the disease with any condition or challenge, and still connect with the emotional depth and friendship dynamics as LUKi’s friends step in as his caregivers. It’s about human resilience, love, and support in times of need.
How long did it take to shoot the entire film?
Toby Cochran (TC): It took two years and seven months to complete the entire film. We began working on LUKi & the Lights in March 2021 and completed it in late September 2023. For an indie animated film made on a shoestring budget, this was quite fast, especially given the complexity of the project. A significant factor in our urgency was ensuring that we finished the film before Anjo passed away. That goal became a driving force for both myself and the whole team throughout production.
The film had a lot of talent working behind the scenes as DPs, sound designers, composers, etc. Why is diversity important both in front of and behind the camera?
Toby Cochran (TC): Diversity, for me, is all about ensuring that the most talented individuals are given the opportunity to shine, regardless of where they come from or what they look like. The quality of the artistry and storytelling has always been my top priority, and I work hard to maintain a well-balanced production.
When it came to LUKi & the Lights, nearly half of the animation crew had a direct connection to ALS—having experienced the loss of a loved one to the disease. This shared experience allowed us to pour so much authenticity and emotion into the project. Their lived experiences played a pivotal role in shaping key emotional moments in the film, ensuring that the artistry wasn’t just beautiful, but also deeply meaningful. Every frame was crafted with love, and it shows.
What are your goals with “LUKi & the Lights”?
Toby Cochran (TC): The ultimate goal with LUKi & the Lights is to raise global awareness about ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and to make a lasting impact on the ALS community, families, and children affected by the disease. I’d love for anyone that resonates with the film to visit Global Neuro Ycare.org and support them, donate on the behalf of watching LUKi! This is the first time a film of this nature has been done in animation, and I hope LUKi becomes a touchstone that inspires meaningful conversations and actions around ALS and other motor neuron diseases.
Additionally, I want this film to encourage empathy and understanding for anyone dealing with a serious illness, not just ALS. My dream is for LUKi & the Lights to reach a broad audience, potentially even making its way to the Oscars, allowing us to shine a spotlight on this disease at the highest level and honor Anjo’s goal by taking it to the big stage!
Lastly, I want this film to serve as a stepping stone for Big Grin Productions to continue creating heartfelt, original content, telling stories that haven’t been told yet, and pushing the boundaries of what animation can accomplish—particularly with smaller, independent teams taking on big challenges.
What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Toby Cochran (TC): My company, Big Grin Productions has developed about 8 different projects ranging from Young Adult, Preschool to Adult animation that spans series to feature films. Our goal is to pitch, get greenlit and start sharing new stories with the world. On a personal note, since I’ve been traveling the festival circuit this year, I’ve got the itch to direct a couple of live action short films for fun and started writing on those and an animated short film.
What would you recommend to a new director at the beginning of his/ her journey? Any special courses, workshops, helpful books they can read?
Toby Cochran (TC): There are so many damn books. I think it’s great to get your hands on them all. Devour them, take what works and toss the rest. At the end of the day, you can read a book about swimming. Or you can go jump in the damn pool and learn. I like to dive into the deep end myself.
Who is your favorite director? Why?
Toby Cochran (TC): Ridley Scott. He’s a legend and a fantastic visual storyteller. His body of work covers a variety of genres and themes. And, I’d love to make films as epic as him one day. A fast second is Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men, nuff said!!
What advice would you give directors around the world?
Toby Cochran (TC): My advice is simple: go out and make stuff with your friends. This is often said. But, it’s worth repeating because it’s so much easier to create something today, even if it’s just using your phone. The tools are more accessible than ever, so don’t overthink it—just start. Create more than you consume. Go have fun, and don’t forget to make yourself laugh along the way!
Tell us what you think of the interview with Toby Cochran. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
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