Private Project

Pepperoni imPerfection

In this heartwarming animated short, young Joey admires his grandpa's mastery as he crafts the family’s signature pepperoni pizza. When entrusted with the final and most important step—placing the pepperoni—Joey begins overthinking and overcomplicating as he strives for absolute perfection. After fumbling and creating a mess, a despairing Joey is comforted by his grandpa, who shows him that love, not flawlessness, is the true secret ingredient.

  • Caitlyn Loy
    Director
  • Kyle Lopez
    Sound Design
  • Valerie Leung
    Illustration
  • Riley Su
    Setting Artwork
  • Aysia Ooi
    Setting Artwork
  • Gabriela Błażucka
    Setting Artwork
  • Louise Ho
    Setting Artwork
  • Merari Paredes
    Setting Artwork
  • Jaiden Su
    Animation/Colouring Assistance
  • Ronin Akan
    Animation/Colouring Assistance
  • Sophia Chung
    Animation/Colouring Assistance
  • Louise Ho
    Animation/Colouring Assistance
  • Valerie Leung
    Prop Design
  • Alexandra Bowyer
    Prop Design
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 12, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    60 CAD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Emily Carr University of Art + Desgin
Director Biography - Caitlyn Loy

Caitlyn Loy is an animator, graphic designer, and illustrator, from the Greater Vancouver area. She is currently studying 2D Animation at Emily Carr University of Art + Design and is set to graduate in 2026.

Passionate about meaningful visual storytelling, Caitlyn focuses on narratives that explore self-growth and acceptance.

After her directorial debut with the completion of her first student film, Pepperoni imPerfection, she is now working on the production of her capstone thesis film—an indirect sequel that continues exploring themes of pizza, love, and self-assurance.

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Director Statement

‘Pepperoni imPerfection’ is my first student film production, and it was both a challenging and joyful learning experience. As a new director, I poured time and care into planning and story development—so much so that little time was left for actual production. In the end, most of the film was animated, coloured, and composited within just four weeks. It felt like a small miracle that it was finished at all.

I owe the completion of this film to the many friends and helping hands who volunteered their time and talents to help bring it to life. Coordinating everyone’s contributions was chaotic, fun, and incredibly inspiring.

Through this process, I came to realize how much I related to my story’s protagonist, Joey—a kid burdened by self-imposed expectations and a desire for perfection. Like Joey, I had to let go of the urge to make everything “just right” in order to complete the project. The experience taught me to choose my battles, make strategic decisions, and embrace imperfection as a creative strength.

While sacrifices had to be made along the way, I’m proud of what we achieved together. I hope this film resonates with others, sparks reflection, and encourages viewers to be kinder to themselves.