My media is a personal brand for a 2D animator and artist.

The media’s goal is to promote my personal brand as a 2D animator and artist, showcase creative work, build a loyal audience, and attract clients (both commercial and collaboration-based). For this module, I set the goal of turning my channel into an entry point for those looking for high-quality animation or illustration, or who want to learn from a practicing artist.

Sector: creative industries, animation, illustration.
Niche Topic: The role of the animator-artist off-screen.

The content will be divided into the following categories:1. My Work (animation, illustrations, sketches).
2. Process (timelapses, stages, storyboards).
3. Tools (software reviews, brushes, tablets).
4. Inspiration (references, analysis of masterworks).
5. Learning (tips, mistakes, life hacks).Furthermore, following the JTBD approach, the media will fulfill these needs:«I want to learn animation”—lessons, life hacks.
„I am looking for a freelancer”—portfolio, work examples.
„I want to get inspired”—sketches, challenges, character designs

Before analyzing the competition, I set a goal to compile a list of competitors and identify tools for developing my own media presence. For instance, I aimed to analyze which personal branding strategies have been successful and which have not, or what results competitors achieved by promoting their work through their online persona. This will also be helpful for potential collaborations with those whose values align with mine.
I listed the number of their subscribers solely on the Telegram platform, as it will become my primary channel.

Direct Competitors:
These are artists (animators, illustrators, 3D artists) who possess a strong personal brand, a recognizable style, and presentation, attracting clients who seek out their specific work. Examples:
Brickspacer (10k followers) — a 3D animator who maintains a Telegram channel to build his personal brand, adapting his content for various platforms. He has a distinctive style and attracts an audience through his project teaching artists how to market themselves (featuring many successful student case studies); he presents himself as an expert and a charismatic figure.
Anteikovich (33k followers) — a 2D illustrator with a signature style. Her Telegram channel features lifestyle content and examples of her work for clients; she has a large, loyal following and projects a pleasant, approachable image.
Bogaty Illustrator | Ulli (16k followers) — an illustrator who runs a Telegram channel focused on earning income as an artist. She develops her personal brand as an expert in her niche and founded an illustration training school.Their case studies are valuable for studying strategies for promoting and presenting a personal brand via the Telegram platform.

Indirect Competitors:
In this category, I have gathered examples of Telegram channels that solve my problem using a different approach.
Examples:
Bang Bang Education (25K subscribers) — an online school for design and technology. The Telegram channel posts snippets of their courses, stylishly designed articles on design and art, and case studies of their students.
World of Animation (2K subscribers) — a small media outlet focused on animation industry news. The content is built on personal recommendations, beautiful inspiring clips from cartoons, and animation reviews.Based on these examples, a strategy for educational and inspirational content can be developed.

My differentiators from competitors are: a unique tone of voice, content type, and personal image—everything that constitutes a personal brand.

Primary Channel: Telegram. Advantages:High engagement and audience loyalty.
Ability to publish videos, galleries, polls, and voice messages.
Direct contact with subscribers.Additional Channels:Cross-posting on Instagram* (*the organization’s activities are prohibited in the territory of the Russian Federation), VK, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest.

Promotion:Telegram Ads
Collaborations with other artists
Viral short videosStrategy:Regular posting (3–5 times per week).
Engaging content: behind-the-scenes glimpses, contests.
Reinterpreting trends within our content
Incorporating lifestyle content

I can describe my target audience using persona and JTBD methods.

Persona 1: Anya, 22 years old (B2C — aspiring animator)
Geo: Moscow (or any major city), active social media user
Occupation: Creative university student, works part-time illustrating.
Situation: She is learning animation but lacks practical experience and a clear understanding of the workflow. She watches many videos, but they feel disjointed.
Goal: To learn how to create high-quality animation, build a portfolio, and find a mentor.
Pains: It is hard to master the software, there is no feedback, and she fears that «it won’t work out.»
What we offer: Regular posts with breakdowns, time-lapses, tool tips, and the opportunity to ask the creator questions.
Value: Saving time spent searching for information, and gaining real-world practitioner experience.

Persona 2: Dmitry, 34 years old (B2C — Private Client)
Location: St. Petersburg
Occupation: Service industry entrepreneur.
Situation: Wants to commission an animated video to promote his small business on social media.
Goal: To receive a high-quality video within a short timeframe.
Pain Points: Unsure who to approach, fears the result will be «generic, ” and struggles to estimate the budget.
Our Offer: A portfolio with examples, transparent case studies, and the option to discuss the project in person.
Value Proposition: A unique outcome, an авторский (authorial) approach, and direct contact with the creator.

Persona 3: Elena, 29 (B2B — Marketing Manager at an Agency)
Geo: Moscow, works at a digital agency.
Occupation: Marketing Manager, responsible for clients' advertising campaigns.
Situation: Needs animation for an advertisement video or a series of stories for a client. She is looking for a contractor who understands business objectives.
Goal: To find a reliable animator who will complete the work on time and according to the brief.
Pain Points: Previous contractors missed deadlines, lacked project immersion, and required rework.
What We Offer: A professional approach, adherence to deadlines, understanding of marketing goals, and the possibility of long-term collaboration.
Value: Risk mitigation, time savings in searching, and a high-quality result for the client.

Persona 4: Igor, 41 years old (B2B — Educational Studio Director)
Geo: Kazan; runs an animation school for kids and adults.
Occupation: Creative Studio Director.
Situation: Seeking an instructor to lead workshops or a speaker for an online course. He is also open to collaborations with practicing artists.
Goal: To attract an expert who can elevate the quality of instruction and bring in new students.
Pain Points: It is difficult to find a practicing specialist who is both skilled at teaching and inspiring.
What We Offer: Partnership, joint live streams, co-developing curriculum modules, and channel promotion.
Value: Access to an audience, expertise, reputation, and new educational formats.

JBTD. «When… I Want… So That…» Format Beginner Animators and Artists:

«When I’m tired of the routine, I want a dose of inspiration from aesthetically pleasing work so that I want to create again.» «When I don’t know which program to choose, I want a clear comparison of tools so I don’t waste time on trial and error.»

Private Clients and Brands:

«When I commission creative work, I want to be sure the final result will be viral and stylish.» «When I choose between executors, I want to feel a personal connection with the author to trust them.» «When I choose a partner, I want to collaborate with someone who has a strong reputation to reinforce my clients' trust.»

Prompts:
Animation for everyone
Creator of recognizable images and styles
Inspiring, creating, storytelling