Hello!
My name is Frank Ayars and I am here to tell you, personally, about Ayars Animation. I started this business in December of 2009 in my home office in Corona, CA. My home is very full. We have seven children and many of them like to visit my office during the day. They bring me all kinds of wonderful things like drawings, flowers, water to drink, food, Play-Doh sculptures, origami, puppets – you name it, they bring it. And I wouldn’t change it for the world. It can be distracting – very distracting, but some of those “distractions” (my children) have paid attention to what dad is doing in his office and are now working for Ayars Animation – and that is priceless.
For many years, as a hobby, I would create video games, video animations, and the like. For a profession, I worked as a software engineer for IBM. Like many, I looked at the entertainment choices for myself and my children and just scratched my head. I asked myself, would it be possible to take what I know and apply it to a business that would create high quality, high value entertainment that was fun? So, I took the chance. I quit IBM and went for it.
At that time, the iPhone market was heating up, and based on some really good advice from a friend named Peter McGowan, the lead creative principal at PlainJoe Studios, I settled on creating a storybook for that device. Originally, I wanted to create a direct-to-home animation, but I did not have enough capital to go down that road. But, I figured that an animated storybook on the iPhone would be very similar and could also be interactive – and I love interactivity. This was a great decision. I was able to put my feet in the best of both worlds – animation and interactivity – it just doesn’t get any better than that! Not only that, but the timing couldn’t have been better. Midway through our first production, Jack and the Beanstalk, the iPad was announced. This was a game changer! And we were at ground zero. When does that happen? A big thank you to God for that!
Jack and the Beanstalk was a story that I told my children night after night for I don’t know how many years. This story, and a modified version of Rumpelstiltskin, were their favorites. I prayed about it and settled on Jack and the Beanstalk as the first interactive, animated storybook by Ayars Animation. We were able to finish production just before the iPad went on the market and began selling our first iOS application in April, 2010. It was a big hit. To this day it still continues to sell well. Well, enough to keep our doors open and make more incredible apps. Another big thank you to God!
A big part of our story is Frank Grau. Frank Grau is responsible for all of our illustrated material. He is an amazing artist, has an incredible mind, and has become a great friend. I met Frank Grau while scouring the internet and attending different animation conventions looking for an illustrator/animator. I came across his web page and was immediately drawn to his art style. I contacted him and we began working together. Little did I know that we shared many of the same interests. Among other things, we are both born again Christians who strongly believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for the forgiveness of our sins. We also strongly believe in homeschooling our children. Frank Grau has grown as an artist and is now extremely adept at creating illustrations and animations that fit perfectly in a very technical workflow. Frank Grau is another big thank you to God!
I am very big fan of Disney’s Silly Symphonies. I absolutely love them. I think they are the some of the most clever creations ever. These animations were created during the 1930s and they are still extremely relevant and entertaining to this day. They are also very musical. Music is a very mystical element of entertainment. When used correctly, it exponentially magnifies the quality and expression of the entertainment. One day a friend gave me a call and said he was driving with someone that could help with the music. After about five minutes a young 24 year old named Julian Cisneros appeared on my porch with a CD in his hands. We talked, I listened to his CD, and we began a working together. Julian Cisneros is also a born again Christian. He has no children to home school, but he, himself, was homeschooled. Julian’s talent is helping to take Ayars Animation to the next level. Julian is another big thank you to God!
I mentioned earlier that some of my children are now working for Ayars Animation. Emma Ayars (14), Wyatt Ayars (12), and Colson Ayars (10) all have made significant contributions to our projects. Emma helped write and edit Cozmo’s Day Off. Wyatt and Colson animated significant portions of Pirate Puzzles and are currently animating our next storybook, Snow White. Wyatt also lent his voice to the bat on Pirate Puzzles. I have the greatest kids in the world. I am so proud. Another big thank you to God!
I also have a tremendous, hard working wife that has been extremely supportive. If you want to read about my wife, then open your Bible to Proverbs 31 and you will find a great description of her there. She is my biggest thank you to God!
I have also had incredible support from my Church. I attend Crossroads Christian Church in Corona, CA. It has been my church since I was 13 years old. I can’t say enough about my church. I don’t know what your view of church is, but my church is beautiful. People flourish there. It is living and really does represent the Body of Christ. Not only have people encouraged me, but our church is so full of talent that some members from my church have lent their talent to our applications. Daryl McCleod is the narrator on Jack and the Beanstalk. His voice is amazing and has helped to make Jack and the Beanstalk a big success. He is a pastor at my church. Craig Northcutt is the voice of the giant on Jack and the Beanstalk and the narrator on Cozmo’s Day Off. He is also a big part of our success and he is also a member of my church. Many others from my church have lent their talent in various ways. Another big thank you to God!
We are a young company. We have a lot of strengths and we are constantly trying to improve the areas where we are weak. We have a lot to learn! Tom Watson, the founder of IBM, used to say that if you want to succeed then double your failure rate. So, we have an optimistic view of our failures and sincerely thank God for our successes. We love doing what we are doing. Each of us at Ayars Animation truly believes that we were made for this purpose. We have a very strong and clear vision. We want to build the highest quality, God honoring entertainment. Entertainment that will bring you deep into stories and worlds you have never seen before. Entertainment that will introduce you to a lifetime of memorable characters and great experiences. We are very excited about where we are going and it will be our pleasure to be your host during this exciting journey.
Sincerely,
Frank Ayars