Filmmaker Toby Cochran on sparking discourse on ALS through his touching Oscar qualifying animated short, ‘LUKi And The Lights – An ALS Story’

By: Vidal D’costa –

Recently I received a screener for LUKi And The Lights – An ALS Story, an impactful animated short film that presents audiences with the rare story of a bright-eyed robot, LUKi, who is struck by the even rarer disease known as ALS/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The short film contains charm galore and a kindred spirit that only occasionally falters despite its tragic themes, and provides reassurance to patients of the same in battling the ailment, with the help of friends and family for moral support.

Here to tell us more about LUKi And The Lights – An ALS Story, is the man himself – Toby Cochran, who wrote and directed this short film which has now garnered Oscar buzz as well.

In this interview, the filmmaker discusses at length the real-life elements of people living with the illness that made it into the animated final product, his creative process and vision, working alongside animators and ALS educators/advisors, and much more.

1) Congrats on the Oscar buzz surrounding your short film, Mr. Cochran. Could you share about your background as a filmmaker? How did you get your first start in the creative world and what are some other projects you’ve worked on prior to LUKi And The Lights – An ALS Story?

Thank you! My journey into the creative world started with my love for animation and storytelling at a young age. I was that kid constantly drawing Ninja Turtles and dreaming of creating stories that I could escape into. Over the years, I worked on a variety of projects, from animated shorts, and commercials to mobile games and even collaborations with iconic brands like Marvel, Disney, and SoftBank Robotics. Before LUKi and the Lights, I had the privilege of directing several mobile game projects, including one with Shaquille O’Neal, and contributing to educational content in partnership with foundations to help children reduce their stress and anxiety during the Pandemic. Big Grin Productions, my studio, was born out of a desire to create meaningful, impactful stories, and LUKi has been the culmination of that dream.

2) This little film really left me moist-eyed, especially since I’m weeping over ‘inanimate beings’ that have been humanised so beautifully. So I’d love to pick your brain regarding this unique concept of a robot living with ALS. How did you come up with the same?

The concept of LUKi originated from a real-life couple, Sascha Groen and Anjo Snijders. Anjo was diagnosed with ALS, and he and Sascha struggled to explain the disease to their young children. Sascha came up with the idea of a robot with lightbulbs in its joints that would go dark as the disease progressed—an idea that was both visual and accessible for their children to understand. They approached me with this concept, and it immediately resonated with me and my producer, who lost his grandfather to ALS. It felt like the perfect medium to tell a story that’s never been done in animation, and I saw the potential to create a heartfelt narrative that could resonate universally. The journey of LUKi became one of resilience, love, and finding light in dark times, themes that felt both unique and necessary to explore.

3) I’m also particularly interested to know about the research that went into the movie and in presenting the symptoms of ALS with utmost authenticity/sensitivity, and whether any real-life people might have inspired the characters in the short as well?

Absolutely. Bringing ALS to life in an authentic way was a priority and one of the original 5 demands from Anjo himself. I had the privilege of collaborating with Dr. Melinda S. Kavanaugh, the founder of Global Neuro YCare and a social worker and researcher who has dedicated her life to working with families impacted by neurological disorders. Dr. Kavanaugh’s insights were invaluable, helping us capture the nuances of ALS for children and families.

In terms of inspiration, LUKi’s journey mirrors Anjo’s real-life experiences. Anjo himself became the model for LUKi’s best friend in the film, lending his grounded, resilient spirit to the character. The authenticity was further elevated by our animation team – many of whom had personal connections to ALS – which made the process deeply personal and incredibly impactful.

4) Could you share your experience collaborating with the animation team in bringing LUKi to life on-screen? What was the brainstorming process like, were there any creative differences regarding your vision, the character design, and direction or was everyone on the same page, and did the rest of the crew also contribute creative inputs in shaping the final output?

Working with the animation team (and all other departments) was one of the most rewarding aspects of this project. I personally hand-picked and interviewed every artist we brought onto LUKi, ensuring that everyone involved was passionate about the mission and eager to contribute.

While I had a clear vision for LUKi’s journey and design, I encouraged the team to infuse their own creative inputs, especially those who had personal experiences with ALS. This collaboration led to rich discussions, particularly when we needed to balance realism and storytelling. For instance, animating LUKi’s gradual “breakdown” as he loses mobility had to be handled thoughtfully to convey both vulnerability and resilience.

It was probably even more challenging for Sascha and Anjo, as they were entrusting us with their deeply personal story. Handing over ‘their baby’ to me and the Big Grin team required a lot of trust, and they needed assurance that we would care for LUKi as much as they had since first conceptualizing him. We made it a point to walk them through every step of the process, addressing disagreements along the way. Once they felt comfortable with the creative back-and-forth, we were able to dig deeper and capture even more honest, heartfelt moments in the film.

5) Who are some filmmakers you look up to? And what are some words of wisdom you would impart to aspiring filmmakers?

I’ve always admired filmmakers like Hayao Miyazaki for his ability to blend wonder with profound storytelling, Ridley Scott for his mastery of creating visually immersive worlds, and Guillermo del Toro for his stories that dive deep into the human experience. I also enjoy the sensibilities of Michaël Dudok de Wit; his short film Father Daughter is incredibly moving. Most recently, I’ve been inspired by Robert Eggers’ unique voice and vision. Beyond the big names, I honestly enjoy watching my friends and fellow artists make their mark in their own ways. Yoo Lee, for example, is a force – I can’t wait to see what she creates in the future.

To aspiring filmmakers, I’d say: Don’t just talk about your ideas; go out and make them happen, even if it’s just with your phone and a few friends. Remember, every big project starts with a small step, so break things down into smaller, manageable steps, and don’t worry about perfection. Just start creating, keep learning, and trust the process.

6) Signing off, could you share details on any upcoming works, either in short form or feature-length that viewers can look forward to? 

I’m working on a slate of original stories at Big Grin Productions along with recently optioning some scripts I’d love to direct. We’re developing both short and long-form projects that focus on meaningful, impactful storytelling.

We’re also looking to collaborate with studios and brands that align with our mission to create content that genuinely makes a difference. It’s an exciting time, and we’re building toward telling stories that hopefully become tomorrow’s beloved franchises. So keep an eye out – there’s much more to come from Big Grin Productions!

*Stay updated about Toby and his work on Instagram: @TobyCochran and @BigGrinProductions. We at MovieBoozer wish Team LUKi all the best on the road to the Oscars!