Cute Animated Alien Comes to Life in Streetwear Brand NVSBLE FREND's Short Film ‘Drawn Together'

Streetwear apparel and lifestyle brand NVSBLE FREND explore their namesake and introduce the adorable mascot 'Fred' in touching short film 'Drawn Together', created by director Jack Welles and animated by Syd Simeone.

Produced by Andrew Brooks & Mark Renken in association with Valiant Pictures, NVSBLE FREND brings the title 'friend' to life for one lonely hiker in the middle of the 'wilderness', a metaphor for the relatable existential crises of many young people today - thanks to both young adulthood and the state of the world--and the yearning need for a companion alongside life’s journey.

A young woman’s Jeep breaks down in the desert. This inconvenient and potentially dangerous event sends the avid outdoorswoman (Demi Renee Harman, Home and Away) on a journey of self-reflection…and toward the nearest populated town. Along the way, she meets a second intrepid traveler and soon-to-be bestie named Fred; they bond over small delights and a shared love of Goldfish crackers, with a touch of hand-drawn 2D magic. By the time viewers learn the creature was a product of her wandering imagination, it’s taken her on a tour of the stars and uplifted her spirits for the rest of her trek ahead.

The short was shot on 16mm film with an Arriflex 16SR2 camera from the 1980s. Animator Syd Simeone hand drew the character “Fred” frame-by-frame directly over the film. The animation style was inspired by the NVSBLE FREND founders’ youth spent parked in front of Looney Tunes, and other classic animated characters like “Marvin the Martian” and Disney’s “The Skeleton Dance”.

The NVSBLE FREND founders shared the loneliness felt by the film’s protagonists at times in their childhoods. In those moments, they uncovered the creativity inherent in exploring one’s personal identity. NVSBLE FREND reminds younger audiences that dark moments of constraint and loneliness can lead to sparks of light…and maybe your own personal ‘Fred.’ The inaugural capsule collection launched in Summer 2021.

Jack Welles is an Amsterdam-based director from San Francisco. His career is rooted in an Art Director role with global creative shop Wieden+Kennedy, producing campaigns for brands like Nike & EA Games. Outside of his day job he creates curious personal projects to explore the art of filmmaking. 

Syd Simeone graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2020 with a BFA in animation, specializing in 2D animation, character design, and storyboarding. Their work often includes autobio comics and original series development exploring themes of mental health, queer identity, and coming of age. Outside of their work they walk dogs and make many drawings of said dogs.