The Animators

The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sharon Kisses and Mel Vaught are two women who meet in college and begin an artistic collaboration, making an animated feature about Mel's life called Nashville Combat. It is a cult classic, an underground success that puts them on the map. 10 years later, they are still hanging out and working together, and while much of their fans and the world around them believes them to be a couple, they are not. Initially this is a study of the artistic process in collaboration, about the doubts Sharon has about her own talent. Mel is much more impulsive and self-destructive, yet she has a genuine talent. Sharon spends much of her time keeping themselves in check, keeping them together and working on the next project, while also worrying that she is being overshadowed by Mel.

Then a few hiccups come their way, and a man from Sharon's past comes back into her life, carrying a dark secret which threatens their new project and their partnership...

So many turns in this one. After the first one, I thought maybe the book wouldn't handle it. But then by the third or fourth turn, there was no more worry. The book is sharp, insightful, a great examination of the creative process. I give gushing praise because I enjoyed it so much and don't know how to thank Kayla Rae Whitaker but to say, hell yeah, keep 'em coming.





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