The Official Wingfeather Podcast

MERRY CHRISTMAS: This week, Chris welcomes Brock Starnes — COO and Executive Producer of The Wingfeather Saga. Brock brings decades of experience in animation, branding, and family entertainment, beginning his career at Big Idea (VeggieTales) before earning his Master’s degree from Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.With a passion for building memorable brands and stories, Brock has produced episodic television, campaigns, branded products, and immersive experiences. He spent a decade as Partner at Brentwood Studios, developing and managing media properties across animation, publishing, and new media.In 2021, Brock joined Shining Isle Productions, where he now serves as COO and Executive Producer of The Wingfeather Saga—the largest crowdfunded animated family series of all time. In this episode, he talks about guiding a creative team at scale, the business and vision behind launching Season 3, and how Shining Isle is shaping new standards for high-quality family storytelling. You’ll also hear about his approach to brand-building, what makes Wingfeather a special kind of franchise, and a few surprises from behind the scenes. All episodes of Season 3 are now streaming on Angel!To watch The Wingfeather Saga, visit: wingfeathersaga.comFollow The Wingfeather Saga on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook: @wingfeathersagaA Shining Isle ProductionTheme Music: “Lively Tavern” by Alexander Nakarada — licensed under CC BY 4.0.

This week, Chris welcomes Chloe Gordon, CG and Unreal Lead for The Wingfeather Saga. Chloe has helped on the project since Season 1, crafting lighting, rigging characters, and painting props to bring the world of Aerwiar to life. In this episode, she shares what it’s like to create the mood of a scene and how the CG and Unreal teams collaborate to achieve the show’s painterly look. You’ll also hear about her inspirations growing up, how she approaches storytelling through light, and a few behind-the-scenes surprises from production. All Episodes of Season 3 are now streaming on Angel!To watch The Wingfeather Saga, visit: https://www.wingfeathersaga.com/Follow The Wingfeather Saga on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook: @wingfeathersagaA Shining Isle ProductionTheme Music: “Lively Tavern” by Alexander Nakarada. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

This week, Chris welcomes Daniel Haycox — Episode Director, Production Supervisor for The Wingfeather Saga. And in his spare time, he is a wildlife animator! Daniel has been instrumental in guiding episodes from early storyboards to final delivery, balancing creative vision with the practical demands of production. In this episode, find out his favorite easter eggs from season 3, what Chris Wall's favorite movie is, and what US state inspired the look of Glipwood Forest.Together, they look at the craft, leadership, and teamwork behind the show — all as Season 3 is now live, with new episodes premiering every Wednesday.To watch The Wingfeather Saga, visit: https://www.wingfeathersaga.com/Follow The Wingfeather Saga on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook: @wingfeathersagaA Shining Isle ProductionTheme Music: “Lively Tavern” by Alexander Nakarada. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

This week, Chris welcomes Ellie Lenz — CG Lead and Unreal Engine Artist for The Wingfeather Saga and a proud Lipscomb University graduate. From her early days on the project to leading the show’s 3D and Unreal Engine work, Ellie has played a key role in shaping the visual world of Aerwiar. In this episode, she shares what goes into bringing the show’s environments and characters to life, the evolving role of real-time tools in animation, and how collaboration across departments fuels the creative process. Together, they reflect on the artistry, innovation, and teamwork that make The Wingfeather Saga soar! Season 3 of The Wingfeather Saga is now streaming on Angel!To watch The Wingfeather Saga, visit: https://www.wingfeathersaga.com/Follow The Wingfeather Saga on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook: @wingfeathersagaA Shining Isle ProductionTheme Music: “Lively Tavern” by Alexander Nakarada. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

This week, Chris welcomes Beau Sherman — Animation Coordinator for The Wingfeather Saga and the very first team member hired for the series. From those early startup days to leading coordination across the animation pipeline, Beau has been at the heart of making Aerwiar come to life. In this episode, he shares what it’s like to manage the creative flow between artists, animators, and production, how the team has grown over the years, and the unique challenges of building an animated series from the ground up. Together, they look back on the journey, teamwork, and perseverance that have shaped The Wingfeather Saga — all leading up to the release of Season 3 on November 12th!To watch The Wingfeather Saga, visit: https://www.wingfeathersaga.com/Follow The Wingfeather Saga on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook: @wingfeathersagaA Shining Isle ProductionTheme Music: “Lively Tavern” by Alexander Nakarada. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

This week, Chris welcomes Jennifer Teter — Line Producer for The Wingfeather Saga and a seasoned animation professional with years of experience at Disney. Beloved by everyone on the production, Jennifer shares what it takes to keep an animated series running smoothly, the unique challenges of bringing The Wingfeather Saga to life, and how her background in animation production has shaped the show’s success. Together, they discuss the heart, teamwork, and behind-the-scenes magic that make the series possible — all leading up to the release of Season 3 on November 12th!To watch The Wingfeather Saga, visit: https://www.wingfeathersaga.com/Follow The Wingfeather Saga on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook: @wingfeathersagaA Shining Isle ProductionTheme Music: “Lively Tavern” by Alexander Nakarada. Licensed under CC BY 4.0

This week, Chris welcomes Garrett Taylor — Art Director for The Wingfeather Saga and former team member at Pixar. A key member of the creative team, Garrett shares insights into bringing the world of Aerwiar to life, what inspired his visual approach, and how his Pixar experience shaped the look and feel of the series. Together, they dive into the collaborative process behind the art direction, the evolution of the show's style, and a few behind-the-scenes stories ahead of Season 3’s release on November 12th!To watch The Wingfeather Saga, visit: https://www.wingfeathersaga.com/Follow The Wingfeather Saga on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook: @wingfeathersagaA Shining Isle ProductionTheme Music: ‘Lively Tavern’ by Alexander Nakarada. Licensed under CC BY 4.0”)

Join Andrew Peterson, the creative mind behind The Wingfeather Saga, as he shares intriguing insights into his artistic journey. He reflects on his early VeggieTales days with Chris and recounts the magic of writing while touring. Dive into the thrill of Kickstarter funding and the challenges of adapting beloved books into an animated series. Andrew also discusses balancing faith elements and darker themes, previews exciting moments for Season 3, and explores the emotional depth of characters like Nia and Janner. It's a fascinating glimpse into animation and storytelling!

The Official Wingfeather Podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of the acclaimed animated series The Wingfeather Saga. Hosted by showrunner and executive producer J. Chris Wall, each episode invites fans into the studio where artists, animators, musicians, and cast members bring Andrew Peterson’s beloved books to life.Through in-depth interviews, candid stories, and insider insights, listeners will discover the craft, people, and collaboration that shape the animated series, from script to finished episodes. Whether it’s hearing how a character comes alive in CG, what it takes to score the series, or the challenges of adapting key story moments, the podcast gives fans an insider pass to the people and process behind the curtain.