Matt Braly Previews Clara and the Below in Hollywood
Animation creator Matt Braly showcased footage for his new gothic series at the 2026 Animation Is Film Festival.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Animation
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Matt Braly debuted work-in-progress footage for his dialogue-free series Clara and the Below at the 2026 Animation Is Film Festival in Hollywood. The project reimagines E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker as a gothic adventure featuring a protagonist battling spirits beneath her home.
Why it matters
The series explores a deep ethical dilemma surrounding the history of the main character's father through action-oriented storytelling. It balances stylized aesthetics with anatomical realism to support its high-contrast visual style.
The production is six months removed from its initial Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The current creative workflow utilizes a temporary score derived from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.
The players
Matt Braly
He is an animation creator known for developing series that blend complex narrative themes with stylized character-driven action.
Britney Thoreson
She is a designer who served as the lead for the color script of the production.
Ken Basca
He served as the lead character designer tasked with balancing anatomical grounding with stylized aesthetic choices.
TJ Hill
He is the composer responsible for the musical landscape of the project.
The details
The narrative follows Clara as she fights spirits to uncover the truth about her father's combat past while searching for a cure. Visual design elements use distinct high-contrast lighting to shift the atmosphere between the domestic home setting and the mysterious subterranean world of the Below.
Timeline
Footage for the series was presented in October 2026.
An official teaser is expected to arrive in January 2027.
Full episodes are currently planned for release in 2027.
Industry Dynamics
This project continues the trend of indie creators using festival showcases to build anticipation for unconventional, dialogue-free animation. It positions Braly's latest work against mainstream studio tentpoles by prioritizing a unique gothic aesthetic and narrative depth.
Viewers can anticipate the arrival of an official teaser in early 2027 to get a better look at the finished animation style. The full series is currently slated for release later that same year.
The takeaway
The series demonstrates how creators are moving toward dialogue-free visual storytelling to explore complex thematic material. Audiences should look for the upcoming teaser to see how the final production values evolve after the current crowdfunding phase.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Animation to see how independent projects are shaping the landscape.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cartoon Brew.
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