Brendan Burch (Film/Video BFA 00) has spent more than two decades helping shape the world of independent animation as the founder of Six Point Harness. In 2023, during what he described as “a slow” period across the industry, he decided to channel his long-standing interest in politics into a new creative project. The result is Now What!?, a nonprofit using animation and comedy to make civics more engaging, accessible, and meaningful for young people.
Burch’s starting question was straightforward: Why is it so difficult to communicate the stakes of political participation? “One in four Americans can’t name a single branch of the U.S. government,” he explained. “And 92 million people didn’t vote in 2024.” He began researching the issues most important to young voters—reproductive rights, gun control, climate change, and affordability—and wondered whether the classic, music-driven clarity of Schoolhouse Rock could meet the surreal humor and edge of Adult Swim. “We live in hyper absurd times,” he said. “Animation lets us lean into that absurdity while still telling the truth. It’s hard to get mad at a cartoon character.”
That approach is resonating. One of Now What’s breakout characters, Middle Class Matt, “the last middle-class man in America,” quickly went viral with nearly 18 million views across social media. “You’d think talking about hedge funds buying up houses would be boring,” Burch said, “but somehow we figured out how to get people excited and on board.”
As Now What! expands its slate to nine new shorts for 2026, Burch is particularly excited about Oligarchy Doesn’t Rock, debuting this week. The Schoolhouse Rock–style musical number follows “a down-on-his-luck guy suddenly confronted with how the rich and powerful stay rich and powerful.” For Burch, the topic couldn’t be more urgent: “Too few people have too much. I’m not anti–getting rich, but we’re less and less in a representative government than we’ve ever been.” Part of the short’s mission is to demystify the word “oligarchy,” which he notes is often misunderstood. “People hear it and think Russia or Bond villains. But it’s happening here, and we should take the piss out of these words so people understand them better.”
Now What!? has also brought Burch back into the CalArts orbit in a meaningful way. He’s collaborating with current Character Animation student Christina Wu, whose second-year film Capitalism first caught his attention. “It was smart, beautiful, and she clearly cared about these issues,” he said. Wu went on to design the characters for the short-form series Middle Class Matt and continues to contribute to upcoming shorts. “She brings such an important, young, valuable perspective.”
Burch credits CalArts for shaping his creative sensibility—and his leadership. “Having to make your own film forces you to think like a producer and an artist at the same time,” he said. “You learn all sorts of things you don’t realize you’re learning that end up being insanely valuable.” Just as important were the friendships and exposure to a range of artistic voices. “You go in thinking, ‘I’m going to work for Disney,’ and then you meet all these people doing wildly different things. It opens your world.”
CalArts also sharpened his understanding of expression and civic responsibility. “A place like CalArts makes you acutely aware of how important freedom of speech and expression really are,” he reflected. Today, that belief fuels Now What!’s tone: honest, bold, and nonpartisan. “We’re expert storytellers. We’re not trying to be prescriptive. We just want to give people clarity, humor, and a reminder that we have way more in common than we don’t.”
As Now What! grows, Burch hopes to build a large, energized community ahead of the 2026 midterms and beyond. “By 2028, I want our characters to be recognizable enough that when you go to Comic-Con, you come over because you see Middle Class Matt, but you stay to register to vote.”
For fellow CalArtians eager to make social impact through creativity, Burch emphasizes experimentation, visibility, and connection. “Get active on social media. It’s a great way to be discovered. Think of yourselves as mini-businesses. Team up. Collaborate.” And if you want to support Now What! directly? “Follow us on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram at @NowWhatAnimation. Sign up for the newsletter. Like, share, subscribe. I especially hope the animation and creative community gets behind this early.”
