Behind-the-Scenes Look into the Creation of Maxxie LaWow Animation
In a world first, an animated feature film starring a drag queen superhero has made its debut. **Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super Shero**, the brainchild of queer filmmaker Anthony Hand, has captured hearts and minds with its vibrant camp, humour, and heartfelt themes of queer empowerment, self-worth, and the strength of chosen family.
The film, which originated as a personal fantasy project in spring 2020, launched production about a year later in fall 2021. The story follows Simon, a shy barista who discovers a magical pink wig that transforms him into Maxxie LaWow, a dazzling and fearless drag super-shero. Maxxie must confront the villainous drag scientist Dyna Bolical, who kidnaps drag queens to steal their youth-preserving tears in a high-stakes rescue mission culminating in a glitter-drenched lip-sync battle.
The creative process involved capturing the transformative power of drag, emphasising the strength and confidence drag performers embody. The animation was handled by Chubby Beagle Productions, supporting a campy aesthetic with a strong soundtrack featuring pop tracks by Grammy-nominated vocalist Angie Fisher.
The voice cast is an all-star lineup, including Jinkx Monsoon, BenDeLaCrème, Monét X Change, Rosé, Erika Ishii, and newcomer Grant Hodges (who voices both Simon and Maxxie). Broadway and TV star Terren Wooten Clarke voices the villain Dyna Bolical, adding depth and villainous realness to the film.
Bill Drastal and his wife Karen Drastal, founders of Chubby Beagle Productions, worked on every aspect of character design and animation production for the movie. Bill Drastal, a cartooning and illustration instructor, has recently wrapped up a three-year project as Head of Story on the animated feature.
The characters in Maxxie LA Wow are original creations inspired by Anthony's love of drag and the creativity on display in shows like Ru Paul's Drag Race. The characters' designs are based on aspects of their voice artists, some of the celebrity drag queens' well-known looks, and the characters' personalities.
Finding funding is one of the biggest challenges when having an animation production studio. However, the hard work has paid off, with the film debuting on TVOD platforms (Amazon, iTunes, Google, Dish, etc.) on June 17, 2025, marking a milestone in queer representation in animation.
The first screening of the film will take place on Sept 20th in Palm Springs. For those interested in animation, Bill Drastal's advice is to communicate their ideas, trust in their ideas, and find collaboration. He also emphasises the importance of being creative, while also being mindful of budget, team size, and what can be done.
Overall, **Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super Shero** is a bold, high-energy tribute to drag culture and queer joy, balancing campy fun with meaningful storytelling about identity, empowerment, and community. It's a must-watch for animation enthusiasts and queer representation advocates alike.
For more information on degree and certificate programs in illustration and digital media, visit the respective programs on the institution's website and talk to an Admissions Advisor. Making the process of creating fun is important for the final result to be great for everyone involved.
- The vibrant animated feature film, Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super Shero, not only showcases humorous and heartfelt themes but also embodies the transformative power of technology, as it was brought to life by the strong soundtrack featuring pop tracks and the innovative animation techniques handled by Chubby Beagle Productions.
- The cast of Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super Shero is a perfect blend of entertainment and technology, with the voice acting of famous names like Jinkx Monsoon, BenDeLaCrème, and Angie Fisher, whose melodious tunes add magic to the digital world of the film, creating an immersive audiovisual experience for viewers.
