Monkey Gino

Bedtime is more about fun and less about sleep for a monkey who wants to play. But when his show curtain opens at sunrise, will he shine or snooze?

Monkey Gino's owner tucks him into bed and tells him to go right to sleep, reminding him about their big show in the morning. But the glimmering video game controller beckons Gino to sneak out of bed. Video games sound much more fun than sleeping! One activity leads to another, and soon Monkey Gino is having the night of his life packed with everything he loves. But will he get ANY sleep before the morning sun rises and his show curtain opens?

Keith Cantrell is an animator, cartoonist, and filmmaker based in the Seattle area of the United States. His fascination with animation began at age five, when he asked his parents to replay their VHS copy of 101 Dalmatians on a daily basis.

His first animated short, Paddleball Hole, screened at 11 film festivals around the world in 2018. Keith enjoyed attending many of these festivals in person to engage with audiences in a live setting.

A Night with Monkey Gino is his first animated short under his creative umbrella, KeithCartoons. The completion of this film represents a multi-year journey and a deeply personal connection to a character who has grown alongside him. Keith is excited to send Gino out into the world, and he is certain you'll enjoy getting to know this mischievous little monkey!

Do you remember getting permission to have your friends over for a Friday night sleepover as a kid? Your mind would race with everything you wanted to cram into the evening: pick out a movie from Blockbuster, play every video game in existence, and maybe even create your own artistic masterpiece. Of course, you never had time for it all—but that never stopped you from trying.

When I began making A Night with Monkey Gino, I pondered the question: what if you COULD? What if one night could hold all the fun, creativity, and curiosity you could possibly imagine?

Under the surface of this playful story, I hope Monkey Gino helps prompt interest in STEAM activities and gives children the confidence to try something new. I hope he reminds viewers of all ages that life is full of wonder, and even one night is enough to spark a little magic.

Writer/Director/Animator:
Keith Cantrell (IMDb)

Foley Artist:
Kimmie Cantrell

Music:
Julie Marie Boettcher (Website)

Voices:
Les Cantrell
Jason Crossman (IMDb)
Rei Kennex (IMDb)