Private Project

You Play Too Much

Lil’ Robbie (Fred Armisen) , an elementary school kid growing up in 1980’s Philadelphia has to navigate being a nerdy outsider in a tough environment. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, You Play Too Much is a series of stop motion animated vignettes about friendship, bullies, and the rules of the schoolyard that felt like the law at the time. Fred Armisen narrates these coming of age stories based on the life of director Rob Shaw.

  • Rob Shaw
    Director
    The Tiny Chef Show, Portlandia, Kroll Show, Matt and Bird Break Loose, Polariffic
  • Rob Shaw
    Writer
    The Tiny Chef Show, Portlandia, Kroll Show, Matt and Bird Break Loose, Polariffic
  • Fred Armisen
    Key Cast
    "lil' Robbie"
    SNL, Portlandia, Big Mouth
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Canon 7D
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Rob Shaw

Rob Shaw is an Emmy and Anny award winning Portland-based animator and director renowned for his inventive storytelling and distinctive visual style. With a career spanning over two decades, Shaw has become a leading voice in stop-motion animation, blending technical mastery with a flair for dark humor and heartfelt narratives.

His deep passion for experimental animation and independent filmmaking has led him to direct a wide range of award-winning commercials and shorts for major brands such as Fruity Pebbles, Kellogg’s, Converse, Verizon and Honda to name a few.
Shaw is also celebrated for directing 22 episodes of the beloved Emmy winning stop-motion series The Tiny Chef Show for Shadow Machine as well as the Rats from the Emmy-winning series Portlandia, both of which highlight his ability to bring quirky and imaginative characters to life with meticulous craftsmanship and heart.

In addition to his commercial and series work, Shaw has directed music videos for acclaimed artists like They Might Be Giants, At The Drive In and Aesop Rock, pushing the boundaries of animation to create surreal and thought-provoking visuals. His short films, including the haunting fable The Machine, have been showcased at film festivals worldwide, further cementing his reputation as a versatile and visionary artist.

Shaw remains a cornerstone of Portland’s vibrant animation scene, consistently delivering innovative work that challenges the limits of the medium. Whether directing beloved characters or crafting bold, boundary-pushing visuals, Rob Shaw continues to redefine the art of animation and inspire audiences worldwide.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Growing up in 1980’s Philadelphia, I collected so many stories, At some point I realized if I didn't get them down somehow they’d get lost in time, so I started writing You Play Too Much. I wanted to create something that captured the humor, the sadness and the general feeling of that time and place.

Drawing from my perspectives as both an animator and a filmmaker, I crafted a vibrant, tactile world to serve as the setting for my mini-stories in which the bright cuteness is juxtaposed against the gritty, nostalgic backdrop.

This is my animated love letter to the world I came from. I hope it makes the other people from that world feel seen and people new to these experiences feel connected to them.