Breaking Barriers in Animation: Sam Goff on Diversity, Storytelling, and Building Global Hits

In this insightful episode of Best in Fest, Leslie LaPage sits down with Sam Goff—creative talent manager at Fourth Wall Management and self-proclaimed “animation activist.” From her early days at DreamWorks and Netflix to teaching animated perspectives at Loyola Marymount and Cal State Long Beach, Sam shares how authentic voices are reshaping the future of animation. She dives into the importance of DEI in storytelling, why projects like K-Pop Demon Hunters succeed where others fall flat, and how marginalized creators can break into the industry through indie projects, web comics, and direct-to-market platforms. Whether you’re an aspiring animator, filmmaker, or simply a fan of global stories, this episode reveals why authentic perspectives matter and how they’re transforming the entertainment landscape