Thanks to our sponsor of the episode! Don't forget to get your copy of "A Charge to Keep" now!https://www.amazon.com/Charge-Keep-Immutable-Leadership-Lessons/dp/B0FKLRLMGCAward-winning screenwriter Leon Chills joins host Manika to discuss his new screenplay "Believe in the Boy Who Dreams" : a moving, anime-inspired story about family, love, and self-discovery. Known for his work on The Wilds (Amazon Prime) and Shadow Force, Chills dives deep into how parenthood, mental health, and representation in storytelling shape his creative process.In this episode, Manika and Leon explore how Believe in the Boy Who Dreams bridges anime influences like Paprika, Demon Slayer, and Bleach with powerful themes of family therapy, black fatherhood, and healing through imagination. Leon also opens up about leaving a corporate career to chase creativity, how storytelling became his therapy, and why animation may be the future of emotional storytelling.
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🔗 Learn more at https://believeintheboywhodreams.com
Follow Leon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imchills/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=bc2d8f11-94e4-4e2d-a4a2-aecaf66436b3
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & Sponsor: *A Charge to Keep* by Rev. Kevin T. Taylor
00:39 – Welcome & Guest Introduction: Who is Leon Chills?
01:32 – Leon’s Mission: Centering Black Characters in Genre
02:20 – Inspiration Behind *Believe in the Boy Who Dreams*
04:10 – Story Overview: DJ’s Nightmares and Family Therapy
06:45 – Exploring the Human Condition Through Anime
09:20 – Fatherhood, Legacy, and Emotional Impact
13:00 – Parenting and Representation in Anime
15:21 – Research, World-Building & Therapy Realism
18:12 – Influences: *Bleach*, *Demon Slayer*, and *Paprika*
20:44 – Character Duality and Mythology in the Script
26:13 – Leon’s Journey: From JPMorgan to Hollywood
31:06 – Writing as Therapy and Creative Growth
36:00 – Mental Health, Therapy, and Representation in Film
40:00 – Behind *The Wilds* and *Shadow Force*
43:30 – What Season 3 of *The Wilds* Would’ve Been
46:46 – Anime, Adaptations & The Future of Animation
51:00 – Why Leon Released His Script Publicly
53:14 – Final Message: Family, Love & Pursuing Happiness
54:33 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Leon
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