The Pinto Variety Hour
The Pinto Variety Hour is the pilot episode for a half hour animated adult comedy featuring Pinto, a recovering rageaholic bean who hosts a surreal variety show. As Pinto juggles eccentric guests, like a time-traveling beret inventor, and navigates his tumultuous relationship with his show’s sponsor, the mysterious Big Powerful Nobody, he also deals with everyday family dynamics. Balancing his quirky work life with his role as a father to teenagers Lucy and Max and husband to Flo, Pinto’s world is a whimsical mix of surreal comedy and heartfelt moments in the charming town of Hazelwood.
-Synopsis by The Anthology Institute
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R.J. SullivanDirectorArlo Sings the Blues, Pinto the Mean Bean
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R.J. SullivanWriterArlo Sings the Blues, Pinto the Mean Bean
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R.J. SullivanProducerArlo Sings the Blues, Pinto the Mean Bean
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Coulter RailKey Cast"Sandoval, Marmalade Rubicon"
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Project Type:Animation, Television
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Runtime:22 minutes 46 seconds
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Completion Date:April 7, 2024
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Production Budget:40,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Animation
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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All That Moves International Film FestivalSao Paulo
Brazil
March 15, 2025
N/A
Official Selection -
Columbia Maryland Film FestivalColumbia, Maryland
United States
September 9, 2024
Maryland Premiere
Official Selection -
Anthology Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
September 27, 2024
Los Angeles Premiere
Official Selection -
Skiptown Playhouse International Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
November 5, 2024
N/A
Official Selection -
Hollywood Theatre @ PDX airportPortland, OR
United States
September 19, 2024
Airport Premiere
Official Selection for Fall Shorts Showcase -
Fortean Film FestivalStandish
United Kingdom
October 7, 2024
UK Premiere
Best TV Pilot -Gold Award Winner -
Oregon Short Film FestivalPortland, OR
United States
November 10, 2024
N/A
Best Comedy Series Episode -Nomination -
Megaflix Film AwardsStandish
United Kingdom
October 7, 2024
N/A
Best TV Show, Best Animation -
Eastern European Film FestivalCraiova
Romania
October 1, 2024
Romanian Premiere
Best Animation -Honorable Mention -
Festival de Cine AntiguaAntigua Guatemala
Guatemala
December 5, 2024
Guatemalan Premiere
Best 2D Animation -Nominee -
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation, and TechnologyPortland, OR
United States
August 24, 2024
World Premiere
Best Animated Series -Nominee, Best Portland Animation -Nominee -
Breaking TV Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
November 2, 2024
London Premiere
Best Animation - Nominee -
Birmingham Film FestivalBirmingham
United Kingdom
November 8, 2024
N/A
Best TV Show -Nominee, Best Animation -Nominee, Best of Festival -Nominee -
accordi @ DISACCORDI - International Short Film FestivalNaples
Italy
November 11, 2024
Italian Premiere
Official Selection- Animated Short -
T.I.F.A - Tietê International Film AwardsSão Paulo
Brazil
December 20, 2024
Brazilian Premiere
Best Screenplay -
South Film and Arts Academy FestivalRancagua, O'Higgins
Chile
October 17, 2024
Chilean Premiere
Best Web Series, Best Screenplay -Honorable Mention -
Dances With Films: New YorkNew York City
United States
December 6, 2024
East Coast Premiere - Live
Official Selection
R.J. is an award-winning animated filmmaker, composer, and screenwriter. He creates hand drawn 2D animated films for children and adults.
In 2023, his short films were shown in 44 film festivals internationally. Notably, his short animated film, Arlo Sings the Blues (In the Middle of the Night) won Best Animation Film by audience vote for the 2023 BAMkids Film Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York. It also was selected for Australia's biggest Oscar-qualifying short film festival, St. Kilda Film Festival, and Flicker's Rhode Island International Film Festival.
The Pinto Variety Hour is currently showing at the Hollywood Theatre at the Portland International Airport in the Fall 2024 program (September - December) and has been screening internationally at film festivals in Fall 2024.
R.J. grew up in Ventura, CA but lives in Portland, OR, with his wife, baby girl, and orange dog, Lucy. He earned an B.A. in Arts and Letters from Portland State University in 2004 and founded Catch and Hatch Studios in 2022.
Currently, R.J. is seeking a production company and distribution for The Pinto Variety Hour.
I envisioned an animated sitcom that embraces a flexible framework, allowing for anything to happen to utilize the creative possibilities of animation. At the same time, I wanted to develop relatable characters grappling with real relationship issues. This combination would create a dynamic and engaging show that balances wild scenarios with emotional connections.
The Pinto Variety Hour satirizes contemporary culture in a way that’s both bizarre enough to grab attention and heartfelt enough to foster investment and learning. It offers a fresh cadence for animated comedy that feels necessary in today’s landscape. The blend of irreverence and endearment creates a unique tone that resonates with viewers, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. The Pinto Variety Hour delves into complex themes of perception, reality, and identity, all while keeping the humor front and center.
Why me? As a creator, I’m drawn to stories that are fun on the surface but reveal deeper layers upon reflection. I have a unique yet compassionate perspective on people and what drives them. My humor is deeply influenced by my years of experience working as a Social Services Coordinator with the developmentally disabled population in Portland, OR. This background instills a strong humanitarian streak in my work, allowing me to create narratives that resonate on multiple levels.