Duke & Duck

We are Duke & Duck, an Emmy award-winning content studio focused on brand, editorial, and documentary animation and motion graphics. We work with some of the biggest non-profit and corporate brands in the world to drive social change, promote products, raise money, and connect people through effective storytelling.

Founder & Managing Director

Double Scoop Studio

At Double Scoop Studio, we are serving up delicious animated content for kids that make a social impact.

Head of Studio

Voxiva

Marketing, research, and more at a small, socially-focused software startup.

Marketing Manager

The Bike Project of Urbana Champaign

The Bike Project co-op offers a space, tools, and community to repair bikes, share knowledge, hold classes, and advocate for bikes in Urbana-Champaign.

Co-Founder

ACTS Clinic

I went to ACTS to help them however I could.  What I ended up doing was helping them to upgrade their network infrastructure to link the main clinic with the pharmacy as well as to other local health resources.  I also won them grants from Microsoft and Dell for new software and computers.

Volunteer

Since 2009, I've been using animation to tell stories that matter. Stories are powerful. They tell us who we are, what we believe in, and how we should relate to the world around us. My life is dedicated to using that power to make the world a better place for everyone in it.

Duke & Duck is the Emmy award-winning content studio I started with my best friend Dave back in 2009. We produce brand videos, social content, explainers, advocacy campaigns, and animation for documentaries. Most of our work is direct to clients where we serve as strategic advisors and content creators, but we also work with select agencies as partners. We have years of experience creating award-winning animated content for household brands, including: Capital One, the ACLU, Nestlé, Patagonia, and National Geographic.

In 2022, I founded Double Scoop Studio with a single goal: To make sure that the next generation has access to stories that put as much emphasis on positive social values and impact as they do on entertainment and turning a profit. We make proprietary content for non-profits who want to reach kids, and develop and produce our own original IP. Our partners include the American Red Cross and PBS Kids.

Alex Herder

Guerrilla

Freelance Marketing Producer

Cowboy Anime

We help brands stand out and reach younger audiences by creating premium anime-style content.
www.cowboyanime.com

Founder, Executive Producer

Moth Studio

Led production on Monument Valley 3 Animated Short (Moth Studio / ustwo / Netflix Games)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR6Pf-8i6lw&t=7s

Animation Producer

Media.Monks

- Creative Production Lead: led production for a variety of disciplines, from films to animation,
immersive web & digital platforms, experiential, social media, and digital assets.
- End-to-end Project & Stakeholder Management: Successfully delivered dozens of campaigns ranging
from 50K to 1 million in scope by building budgets, planning, sourcing and managing creative talent,
cross-functional teams, overseeing strategic development, execution, delivery, and identifying
upselling opportunities.
- Marketing & Content Advisory: advising on best content production practices (channels, user
journeys, formats, specs, trends, tools). Worked closely with the strategy team to develop content and
communications plan for Nike’s 1st EMEA esports tournament with peak viewership of 60K.
- Creative Operations: introduced a new process at M.M Paris to improve intake, communication and
stakeholder collaboration, increasing visibility on new business and talent needs by 80%.
- Account Management: led new project intake, project and progress status updates,
retrospectives. Helped grow Nike account as part of a dedicated team by leading creative production and delivering successful campaigns.
- Coaching & Training: designed and led coaching for producers, project and account managers to
level up the quality of integrated production and delivery.
- Brands include Nike, Red Bull, Pernod Ricard, Nestle, Philips, and others.

Senior Integrated Producer

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

- Content Strategy & Planning: Ensured seamless 24/7 on air operations by leading editorial strategy
and planning, content development and execution for Current Time TV's flagship live news
programming.
- Team Leadership: Managed production teams and talent (25+ people) across Current Time TV's
broadcast region.

Executive Producer, Planning & Bureaux

- Content Production & Operations: Oversaw the day-to-day and special events coverage and
production planning for TV and digital operations. Our special live coverage of the Belarusian protests
2020 received over 300 million views across platforms.
- Content Strategy & Planning: Designed and implemented a comprehensive planning system for
RFE/RL's 24-hour Current Time TV channel by analysing content gaps, target audiences, and
streamlining process and distribution.

Senior Planning Producer

Google

- Curated playlists for Google Play Music Russia.

Freelance Playlist Curator

Reuters

- Organised an event for 40 potential clients to promote the broadcasting facilities in Moscow.
- Developed strategy for marketing new facilities and services, liaised with clients, managed the Moscow studio operations.
- Coordinated the Brexit referendum coverage in the field for dozens of international media clients.

Director of Special Events

Thomson Reuters

- Pitched and planned shoots, interviewed actors, musicians (Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Bastille, James Bay, Nils Frahm, and others) as a Showbiz desk producer.
- Managed viral media content acquisition, negotiations, music licensing, post-production as a Social Media desk producer.
- Covered major events in Russia and CIS, including Pussy Riot trials, the Ukrainian crisis, protests, and others both as a field and desk producer.

TV Producer

- Researched and incorporated additional background and details to assigned stories.
- Assisted the international economics team by conducting a monthly poll of economists and analysts.
- Quickly and accurately translated business and economic news stories, forex and stock market reviews, and macroeconomic analysis from Reuters’ news feed, mainly from English into Russian.

Editorial Trainee

- Created, curated and managed multimedia content for the bbcrussian.com platform.

Digital Producer

RedKeds

- Analysed and translated creative concepts, including relevant final reports for Heineken, Panasonic’s Lumix G3 camera, the Nissan Infiniti, and Coca-Cola.

Freelance Translator

Executive Producer with background spanning television (Reuters, BBC, Current Time TV) and commercial production (Nike, Google, Red Bull, Netflix). I specialise in pop-culture driven content with focus on video games, (e)sports, and lifestyle. Most recently I produced a short animated film for Netflix Games set in the world of the critically-acclaimed Monument Valley games. 

As a Founder at Cowboy Anime, I work with brands and partners to help tap into the ever-growing potential of anime storytelling and Japanese animation all while fostering stronger co-production ties between Asia and Europe.

Infinite love for anime and engaging storytelling. Can talk about Sailor Moon and Japan for days.

Believe in design thinking, music, and unicorns. Obsessed with turning ideas into reality.

Portfolio: https://anastasiagorelova.myportfolio.com/work
Website: https://www.cowboyanime.com/

Monument Valley 3 Animated Short (Moth Studio / ustwo / Netflix Games)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR6Pf-8i6lw&t=7s

Key Skills: Production Management, Project Management, Operations Management, Account Management, Strategic Planning, Budget Development, Marketing Management, Process Improvement, Problem Solving, Leadership.

Anastasia Gorelova

Ever dreamt of getting your manga published in Japan? ✨

Japan’s manga industry has quietly opened its doors to international creators, with publishers like Kodansha Ltd. now actively scouting global talent.

They’ve even built Kodansha Manga Academy, an English-language hub that explains exactly how overseas artists can work with Japanese editors, submit their work, and build a path toward serialization (and potentially… anime).

In this article I break down how Western creators can enter the ecosystem: how to meet editors, which contests to apply to, what the process looks like, and what to expect.

All you need to do is create and share your work. What a time to be alive, huh ^^

Did you know you can get your manga published in Japan, even if you’re not Japanese? If you’re a Western artist who grew up reading manga, chances are

Open article: Yes, You Can Get Your Manga Published in Japan. Here’s How (2025 Guide). by Anastasia Gorelova • 3 min read

Yes, You Can Get Your Manga Published in Japan. Here’s How (2025 Guide).

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐠-𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐞.

When most people think of anime, the first thing that comes to mind is either the major series (𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘰, 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦, 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘭) or the iconic films (𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘪, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘦𝘵𝘤).

A lot of brands assume that “getting into anime” means commissioning a full-blown series, building a massive production pipeline, and committing to a multi-million-dollar investment that needs a million approvals. It’s a huge commitment, and understandably, stakeholders see it as a risk, not an opportunity.

But that’s not the only way. You can start small.

Some of the most effective anime projects aren’t full shows at all. They’re tiny worldbuilding experiments, short social videos, character-driven moments, a seasonal refresh, or a mini digital manga booklet that reframes your product in a new way.

These small creative assets often outperform traditional campaigns because they feel unexpected, authentic, and incredibly easy for audiences to share.

My favourite example will always be a 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 30-𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐬 for KURE, a Japanese multipurpose lubricant brand. Each one packs a surprising amount of story and emotion into the shortest possible runtime, and not a single line of dialogue. Each one received hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube alone. (linked in comments)

This is the sandbox we love to play in at Cowboy Anime. Before you commit to a massive production, we help you test the waters: build a short story, release it socially, watch how your audience reacts, and then map out what a future roadmap could look like.

No 12-episode season required. No huge upfront risk. It's smart, iterative storytelling that helps to build the case and build the world.

If anime is on your radar but feels overwhelming, start with small steps and build from there. Reach out if you want to explore what this could look like for your brand.

– – –
Hi, I’m Anastasia - founder of Cowboy Anime, a creative studio that helps brands show up authentically within the world of anime. We work directly with Japanese directors and studios to craft campaigns that fans remember.

If you’re a brand or agency looking to explore anime storytelling or collaborations, let’s talk. 💌 anastasia@cowboyanime.com

Image credit: KURE 5-56テレビCM
#anime #cowboyanime #culturemarketing

If you’ve been trying to bring anime into your brand strategy but keep getting pushback, you’re not the only one. The same objections always surface: “too niche,” “too risky,” “how do we measure it?”, even when there's a ton of data to prove otherwise.

This week I broke down a practical framework on how to explain anime to your stakeholders and get a buy-in: proving audience fit, showing how anime drives social-first reach, mapping cultural momentum, and demonstrating long-term brand value through world-building and collectibility.

This is a simplified form of the foundation we use at Cowboy Anime in our discovery sessions.

If anime is part of your 2026 planning, this will help you make the case clearly and strategically. And if you need our help, send me a DM and let's talk. ✨

(Full post below)
#animemarketing #brandstrategy #culturemarketing

You’re a marketer. You love anime. You see the potential and the perfect brand fit. And you wonder, “How do I bring anime into our brand strategy and 

Open article: How to make anime make sense to your stakeholders by Anastasia Gorelova • 4 min read

How to make anime make sense to your stakeholders

𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐊𝐨𝐣𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐲+ 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐞..??

KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS announcing a partnership with Disney+ to produce an anime adaptation of Death Stranding was certainly a surprise. One bound to steer controversy. Half of the fans in social comments are confused and wondering “why Disney”.

Luckily, Kojima-san has built a level of reputation and trust around his work that, while some question, many respect and support his decision. It’s also a Kojima anime, so it will by default be quite different from the classic anime.

To me, there are several green flags that make this collaboration much more logical and exciting than it appears at first glance.

🟢 Kojima-san is taking full creative ownership.
He’s serving as an Executive Producer and will have full control of where this project goes. The tone, cinematic worldbuilding, narrative weirdness that define Kojima’s work will stay intact.

🟢 The director choice is interesting.
The series will be directed by Takayuki Sano. I haven’t come across his name before, but checking credits on MAL I see that he directed Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Ninja Kamui, Bullet/Bullet. The classic studio MAPPA school. I’m really curious about this creative collaboration.

🟢 The studio behind it is young, ambitious, and highly regarded.
Which leads me to the next point: the animation will be handled by E&H Production, a studio founded in 2021 by former MAPPA director and animator Sunghoo Park. To me this means fresh energy and creative curiosity.

🟢 Ilya Kuvshinov as a concept artist is a major green flag.
Kojima tapped artist and character designer Ilya Kuvshinov, someone I’ve followed for years. His style is instantly recognizable, really elegant and unique. As my fellow countryman who built a career in Japan, I fully support this collaboration. Ilya’s visual language fits perfectly with the melancholic, ethereal feel of Death Stranding.

🟢 Commitment to traditional hand-drawn 2D animation.
While Hollywood is aggressively cutting costs, leaning on AI, and chasing speed over artistry, it’s refreshing, thrilling even, to see a major project like Death Stranding choose hand-drawn animation. Craft and story over profit margins. 👏

🟢 Kojima already has a relationship with Disney+.
Last but not least, Disney+ produced the documentary Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds and it seems Kojima-san is happy with the outcome. The trust is already  there and, importantly, Disney+ Japan is not Disney US. Their content strategies, partnerships, and investment decisions operate differently. Disney+ in Asia has been expanding aggressively into anime and K-drama (locally relevant content with huge international appeal), and this move fits that trajectory.

So yes, the pairing surprised me too and it’s still early days, but if handled with care, I think we might be gifted with something really unique and exciting. Now we wait.

Friends at degoma are looking for a Netherlands-based animation intern for their wonderful upcoming game IP. It features the cutest, cheekiest tomato out there. See the details below and send your portfolios to reggiethegame@degoma.net ✨🍅✨

𝐌𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 2026 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐞. 💫

If you’ve spoken to me recently, you’ve probably heard me say this already, so this won’t be news. But I want to put it out into the universe properly. I’ve learned that when you speak your goals out loud, the right people tend to find you.

As Cowboy Anime heads into its second year, I’m proud of what we’ve built so far. The journey is much longer, messier, and more exciting than I imagined at the start, and everything is finally starting to line up.

One of my biggest goals remains the same: help brands enter the world of anime in a way that feels authentic, strategic, and culturally aligned.

And you know what my favourite part is? Brands are already part of anime.

When McDonald's launched its global WcDonald’s campaign in 2024, the entire concept came from a simple insight (kudos to Wieden + Kennedy) : their brand had been appearing in anime and manga for decades. Not by name, of course. Manga artists will tweak brand names to avoid copyright issues. But the silhouettes, the colours, and other recognizable cues stay the same, making it easy to create associations.

Manga artists live in the same world we do (for the most part 😅 ) and take inspirations from the same objects that surround us in daily lives. They wear clothes, go shopping, observe nature, people, architecture, and obsess over little everyday details. Naturally, these things show up in the worlds they draw.

Which means there’s a good chance your brand has already appeared, unofficially, inside the manga and anime ecosystem. All you need to do now is build on that foundation and turn it into intentional storytelling. Researching how your brand shows up in anime is part of our Discovery package.

And what if your brand hasn’t appeared yet? All the better! It just means we get to build your world from scratch, which is equally exciting.

And no, it doesn’t need to be a massive, serialized, big-budget production. Social-first, short animated stories and digital manga are both wonderful, “beginner-friendly” formats that open space for creative exploration and experimentation.

These are stories that pop up consistently online, feel culturally relevant, and slowly build your brand’s presence within anime’s storytelling universe.

And personally, I love moving beyond the overused tropes: magical girls, fight scenes, power-ups. They’re fun, but anime’s depth goes far beyond that. There’s different pacing, different types of humour and comic relief, and a style of storytelling that’s grounded in Japanese cultural and social norms which are very different from the Western. That’s the space I love exploring with brands.

So, if 2026 is the year you want to start showing up in anime - reach out. Let’s build something memorable for your brand and excite millions of anime fans.

💌 anastasia@cowboyanime.com

Image credit: K-ON! anime

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