"In a world where cookie-cutter presentations overwhelm mainstream moviemaking, Otto has reminded us that movies are extensions of the moviemaker, not the other way around."
- Michael Walsh, MovieMaker Magazine
"Johnny Otto is no stranger to the difficulties moviemakers face when trying to turn aspirations into reality. Armed with only a suitcase and a few hundred bucks, Otto took off for Los Angeles in 1990. Since then, he’s done everything, from hosting underground art exhibits to releasing a full-length album to creating award-winning animations with partner-in-crime Michael Morrison. This fall, Otto premieres his latest project, “Slimdunce,” an accomplishment he describes as “the single most amazing thing” he has created to date. In a world where cookie-cutter presentations overwhelm mainstream moviemaking, Otto has reminded us that movies are extensions of the moviemaker, not the other way around. “Slimdunce” features seven short films, all of which were shot in one day a week for seven consecutive weeks, a concept Otto derived from 24-hour film contests.
Otto took the time to tell MM all about “Slimdunce,” from its origin as the unexpected offspring of a deadline’s extension to the realization of a dream no amount of pinching has been able to end." - MovieMaker Magazine,
When he was 19 he attended film school in Canada where he made the experimental, award-winning short "The Ecstasy Barbershop".
SLIMDUNCE
7 FILMS - 7 WEEKS - 1 FILMMAKER
Otto premieres his latest project, Slimdunce, an accomplishment he describes as the single most amazing things he has created to date.
ANIMATION
MUSIC VIDEOS and MORE
"Riding on a Feeling" Music Video Directed/Edited by Johnny Otto / Music by Jesse Barish
"Nine Days from Nowhere" Music Video Directed/Edited by Johnny Otto / Music by Jesse Barish
"Stop Playing" Music Video Editing/FX by Johnny Otto / Music by Olana
Adidas Spec Commercial "Battlefield" featuring Que. Directed by Johnny Otto
Adidas Spec Commercial "Basketball". Directed by Johnny Otto
Johnny Otto Writer/Director/Producer/DP/Editor
Johnny Otto is an award-winning writer and director with over 30 years of experience in film and animation. A fearless storyteller with a knack for pushing creative boundaries, Otto began his journey in Canada, attending film school and serving as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Windsor before setting his sights on Hollywood. By 26, he had already optioned his first screenplay to legendary producer Joel Silver (The Matrix, Lethal Weapon), kickstarting a career marked by bold choices and visionary storytelling.
Otto’s early work gained cult status, particularly the infamous Bring Me The Head of Walt Disney, a gonzo-style documentary chronicling the wild search for Disney’s rumored frozen head. His audacious creativity didn’t stop there—he took on the challenge of producing seven short films in seven weeks with Slimdunce, a cinematic experiment so daring that MovieMaker Magazine took notice, leading to sponsored screenings across Los Angeles.
In the world of television, Otto brought his unique storytelling style to Netflix/PBS’s Human: The World Within, a visually stunning science docuseries exploring the mechanics of the human body. Around the same time, he founded Out Draw Animation in 2020, a studio dedicated to bold, independent animation. Under this banner, he developed and produced Zombies, Whatever, Izzy & Zan, Family Time Travel, and Sean The Worm—where he not only wrote and directed but also single-handedly animated every frame, voiced characters, and edited the final cuts.
Beyond animation, Otto has written and directed over a dozen short films, many of which have been featured in prestigious film festivals, including the Palm Springs Film Festival, Indie-X, Lift-Off First-Time Filmmakers, and others. He has also helmed music videos for artists like Shirley Levi and Jess Barish, injecting his visual storytelling flair into the music industry.
Relentlessly innovative and unafraid to challenge conventions, Johnny Otto continues to shape the future of film, television, and animation with his boundary-pushing narratives and electrifying cinematic style. He currently has several TV and film projects in development.
SKILLS:
20+ Years Premiere (Music Videos, Short Films, Commercials) 15+ years After Effects (Titles, FX, Color Correcting, Animation) DaVinci Resolve 17 (Color Correcting/Editing) 15+ years Photoshop (Photo Editing, Character Design, Graphic Design, Custom LUTs)
15+ Years Sound Design/Mixing and Music Production/Composing
30+ years Directing/DP (Films, Music Videos, Docs, Commercials, Animation) 30+ years Writer (Film, TV, Commercials, Animation, Netflix) 30+ years Sometimes I am an Actor (Film)
