Zebra Munchies: A Film about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Annie Tohill is an independent animator based in Northern Virginia who specializes in traditional animation. In 2017 she was diagnosed with a connective tissue disease that causes joint hypermobility, which led her to the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome community. Because joint hypermobility often causes dislocations with loud popping sounds, members of the EDS and hypermobility communities like to joke that they pop like Rice Krispies. As she began to collect her share of joint damage and mystery ailments, Annie began to think about what Ehlers Danlos Syndrome would look like as a cereal box. That project ended up expanding into a full two minute cereal commercial inspired by the deeply unhealthy cereal commercials of the 1950s. If sugar frosted cereal was considered part of a healthy breakfast, why not throw in a connective tissue disease into the mix? When not animating or popping her hip back into her socket, Annie enjoys cooking and playing Dungeons and Dragons. You can view more of her work at annietheanimator.com.