Keeping animation old school since 2001
MEDITATING BUNNY STUDIO INC.
Meditating Bunny Studio Inc. is an award-winning boutique animation studio and children’s book publisher. The studio was founded in 2001 by Emmy® nominated and Webby award winning animation and documentary filmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns after he graduated from the Emily Carr University with a degree in Film Animation.
From animated viral video ads and broadcast commercials for companies like Sharpie, 3M and Post-it Note, to short and feature films like “What Are You Anyways?” (2005), Yellow Sticky Notes (2007), One Big Hapa Family (2010), Ode to a Post-it Note (2010), Yellow Sticky Notes | Canadian Anijam (2013) and Mixed Match (2016), the studio’s work has broadcast around the world, screened in hundreds of international film festivals and garnered over 40 awards.
Recently, the studio has ventured into the world of publishing children's books and graphic novels for kids and youth. Mixed Critters (2018), written and illustrated by Jeff Chiba Stearns is the studio’s first children’s book. Jeff's latest children's book, Nori and His Delicious Dreams (2020), is now available in bookstores and online. Currently, Jeff just released his first graphic novel, an intergenerational Japanese Canadian story entitled On Being Yukiko (2021) with famed Japanese Canadian artist Lillian Michiko Blakey. Currently, Jeff is working on two new graphic novels. All books can be purchased in the studio's web store.
Jeff Chiba Stearns was also the creative director and showrunner for the hit pre-school puppet/animated music series The Treebees where he directed 60 episodes. Since the show's launch in November 2021, The Treebees videos have amassed over 50 million views on YouTube and broadcast on the Knowledge Network.
SHOP
COMMERCIALS & CONTRACT WORK
CLIENTS & PROJECTS
THE TREEBEES
WHITEBOARD ANIMATION REEL 2012
WHITEBOARD ANIMATION REEL 2012
Various whiteboard videos directed and animated by Jeff Chiba Stearns for 3M International, Thinkable, Living Blueprint & UBC.
ODE TO A POST-IT NOTE - 3M CANADA
Stop motion branded viral video for Post-it Note's 30th anniversary. Directed and animated by Jeff Chiba Stearns.
2011 Webby Award winner for Best Branded Entertainment
SHARPIE PEN COMMERCIAL - THE PROPOSAL
Broadcast commercial for Sharpie Pen produced by Draft FCB. Directed and animated by Jeff Chiba Stearns
ANYTHINK - ANIMATION 2010
Anythink (Animation 1) "branimation commercial ID" developed by Ricochet Ideas & Meditating Bunny Studio Inc. Directed and animated by Jeff Chiba Stearns, this classically animated piece represents the many things a doodle can become and the sparks of imagination available to anyone who visits an Anythink library.
ANYTHINK - ANIMATION 2019
Anythink (Animation 2) created by Jeff Chiba Stearns - Meditating Bunny Studio Inc., is the second animation for Anythink Libraries in Colorado. Created to celebrate Anythink's 10-year anniversary, cut-out puppets were made using water color paper and animated directly under the camera. Puppet & BG design, direction, animation and sound by Jeff Chiba Stearns.
GENERALI - FAKTEN LEBEN
Digital 2D classical animation created by Jeff Chiba Stearns for Generali Germany. Assets were created by Jeff in Adobe Flash and composited and edited by PI_group PRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL GmbH. Completed in 2011.
THE TREEBEES
60 episodes | Pre-School 2D Animation/Puppets
For Treebees I Productions Inc. / 2021 to 2023
Creative Director / Showrunner / Director: Jeff Chiba Stearns
Watch more episodes at The Treebees YouTube Channel
OPENROAD AUTO GROUP - INNOVATION
The first of a three spot series for OpenRoad Auto Group to promote their new branding Unlimited Possibilities Ahead. Concept by Living Blueprint. Directed and edited by Jeff Chiba Stearns created using pixelation techniques. Completed 2019.
Watch the second spot.
Watch the third spot.
FILMS
Directed and Produced by Jeff Chiba Stearns
YELLOW STICKY NOTES
2007
YouTube viral video sensation with 2 million views. Winner of over a dozen film festival awards including the Prix du Public at the 2009 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and nominated for a 2011 Emmy Award for Human Interest - Feature/Segment
MIXED MATCH - TRAILER
2016
Multiple film festival award-winning feature length documentary. Broadcast on TVO and OUTtv.
To rent of download please visit Vimeo on Demand
Multiple film festival award-winning feature length documentary. Broadcast on TVO and OUTtv.
ONE BIG HAPA FAMILY - TRAILER
2010
A film festival favorite and landmark documentary on mixed Japanese Canadian identity. Broadcast on CBC Documentary, Knowledge Network, OMNI and KCTS 9 (PBS).
To rent or download please visit Vimeo on Demand
KIP & KYLE
2000
Jeff Chiba Stearns' first animation. Recorded in a kindergarten classroom, the film was animated using only a black ink pen.
"WHAT ARE YOU ANYWAYS?"
2005
An autobiographical traditionally animated short. Produced for the CBC show ZeD and winner of multiple film festival awards
YELLOW STICKY NOTES | CANADIAN ANIJAM
2013
Vimeo Staff Pick featuring animation from Academy Award nominated & Oscar winning Canadian independent animators. For more info please check out yellowstickynotesanijam.com
CATS
2014
A playful animated short film about cats created using only an iPad.
CONTACT
For animated commercial and live action production inquiries, animation consultation, to organize a screening, distribution opportunities or to book Jeff as a speaker, please contact Jeff Chiba Stearns at Meditating Bunny Studio Inc. by directly by filling out the form below.