In this intimate conversation, Finnish animator and director Joni Männistö traces his journey into independent animation, from childhood influences of comics and VHS tapes to formal education in Finland and Estonia. Guided by visual intuition rather than themes or dialogue, his work grows from images, scenes, and atmospheres that slowly reveal their meaning through animation.

Männistö speaks openly about his fascination with stop motion and hand drawn techniques, the influence of independent animation pioneers, and the discipline of learning to tell stories without words. He reflects on the realities of working alone, the long struggle for funding, and the delicate balance between artistic control and self-criticism. Throughout, the interview reveals a filmmaker driven by patience, persistence, and a belief that animation remains one of the few art forms where imagination truly has no limits.