Concept and interview plan with a representative from the «Phoenix» animation studio

Title: «From Idea to Series: How Does the FENIX Studio Operate?»

This interview focuses on the process of creating animated series, using the independent Russian studio «Phoenix» as a case study. We will discuss the journey of an animated project—from concept to media promotion—the organization of teamwork, the audience’s role in project development, and monetization specifics.

Even a single minute of a series requires immense work from diverse specialists. Using the «Phoenix» studio as an example, we will discuss how teamwork is structured, how creative and organizational tasks are distributed, and what complexities arise during the creation of series.

Interview Goal: To understand the inner workings of the animated series creation process and discover how an idea transforms into a media product.

Target Audience: Individuals interested in film, animation, and contemporary media; beginners in the creative industries.

Format: A video interview for a YouTube channel, lasting 30–45 minutes.

Interview Subjects — employees of the «Phoenix» animation studio responsible for both creative and organizational aspects.

Potential Subjects:
Fyodor Konstantinovich Nechitailo — Russian animator, cartoonist, producer, screenwriter, and voice actor; founder and head of the «Phoenix» animation studio.

Lina Kilyova — concept creator and director of the series «Spirit of My Dormitory,» and co-director of the «Phoenix» animation studio.

Fyodor Pavlov — creator and director of «Shurik and Sharik.»

Vanya Tail — director of the series «CriminaArt» and «13 Cards.»

Block 1. The History of «Phoenix» Studio: Getting to Know the Founder

The goal of this block is to introduce the founder to the viewer and explore how they entered the animation industry and how «Phoenix» has developed.

1. How did you come to animation?

2. How did «Phoenix» come into existence, and what did you envision for the studio’s future at the beginning? Did your expectations match reality?

3. At what point did you realize the project had grown into a full-fledged studio, prompting you to decide on an offline office?

4. How has your role at «Phoenix» evolved? What tasks did you handle before, and what do you do now?

Module 2. From Idea to Series

The goal of this module is to explore how projects originate and who is involved in their development.

5. Where does the creation of a new series usually begin?

6. How do you determine if an idea is suitable for a full-fledged project and will resonate with an audience?

7. How much can the original idea change by the time the series is released?

8. What reasons might a studio have to reject an interesting idea?

Module 3. Working on an Animation Project

The goal of this module is to illustrate the animation production process, the specialists involved, and the potential challenges that may arise.

9. What are the main stages an animated series goes through, from concept to finished episode?

10. How do the different team members interact with each other?

11. Which production stages are most often the most challenging?

12. What happens when team members fail to complete their part of the work by the deadline? Have there been such cases?

Block 4. Is there creative freedom?

The goal of this block is to explore how the studio balances an original vision with teamwork; and how much the expectations of the audience matter.

13. Can team members propose their own ideas and influence the development of a script or scene?

14. Has there ever been a discrepancy between the original vision and the project’s overall goals?

15. How much does audience reaction influence the development of the series?

Block 5. The Future of the Studio

The goal of this block is to understand the challenges faced by an independent animation studio in Russia and the opportunities for future development.

16. What difficulties do independent animation studios in Russia encounter?

17. What changes have occurred in the work of the «Phoenix» studio through collaboration with Okko?

18. How will «Phoenix» develop in the coming years? What projects are planned?

19. What advice would you give to someone who wants to create their own animation project?

The result will be a finished interview for the YouTube channel, part of a series of conversations with representatives from the animation industry. By watching the interview, the viewer will be able to get an inside look at animation studios and understand the specifics of teamwork on projects. The video will answer the question: How does independent animation exist and develop in the contemporary media landscape?