Evan Spiridellis

Evan Spiridellis
Spiridellis at Entertainment Gathering 2010
Born
Marlboro Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation
Known for
Notable workAsk the StoryBots
A StoryBots Christmas
StoryBots: Answer Time
SpouseAdrienne Spiridellis
RelativesGregg Spiridellis

Evan Spiridellis is an American animator, artist, media and technology entrepreneur, director, and producer. He co-founded the digital entertainment studios JibJab and StoryBots with his brother Gregg Spiridellis.[1][2]JibJab gained public attention in 2004 for its viral animated political parody, This Land.[3][4][5] The brothers sold JibJab to Catapult Capital in 2018 and StoryBots Netflix in 2019.[6][7][8]

Early life and education

Spiridellis was born in Marlboro Township, New Jersey with his brother[9] and attended Marlboro High School.[10]

He graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration. While at Parsons, he studied under master illustrators David J. Pasalacqua and Bob Levering.[1]

Career

JibJab

Main article: JibJab

In 1999, Gregg and Evan Spiridellis founded JibJab in Brooklyn.[11][12] The company gained prominence in 2004 with an animated parody of the U.S. presidential election featuring George W. Bush and John Kerry set to Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land.[13] The video prompted a copyright dispute with Ludlow Music that was settled with the Electronic Frontier Foundation representing JibJab.[14][15] The company also produced ElfYourself for OfficeMax.[16][17]

The Spiridellis brothers world premiered 16 shorts on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and appeared as guests on the show multiple times.[18][19][20] They also premiered two videos at the TV & Radio correspondents dinner for both presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.[21][22]

StoryBots

Main article: StoryBots

In 2012, the Spiridellis brothers launched StoryBots, an educational media brand for children.[23] The brand launched on YouTube and expanded to Netflix with the series Ask the StoryBots, which launched in August 2016.[24] In 2018 Wired Magazine called the show “one of the funniest, smartest, most delightful children’s shows of recent memory.[25] Netflix acquired the StoryBots company in May 2019.[26][27] Spiridellis voiced Hap, the stressed out boss, as well as a host of secondary characters.[28][29]

Spiridellis Bros. Studios

In October 2025, they founded Spiridellis Bros. Studios, an independent animation studio.[30] The venture attracted investment from firms including Polaris Partners, Google, Ashton Kutcher, Guy Oseary, Chris Sacca, Tim Ferriss and Katie Stanton.[31][32] The studio announced an exclusive partnership with children's music artist Parry Gripp in November 2025.[33]

Other ventures

Spiridellis authored children's books: Are You Grumpy, Santa? and The Longest Christmas List Ever!, both published by Disney-Hyperion.[34][35]

Awards and recognition

In 2004, ABC News named Gregg and Evan Spiridellis People of the Year.[36]

Ask the StoryBots was a finalist for the 76th Peabody Awards[37] and won the Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Children at the 47th Annie Awards.[38]

StoryBots productions have received multiple Daytime Emmy (2017–2020)[39][40][41] and Children's & Family Emmy Awards (2023–2025), across various categories, including preschool series, writing, and directing.[42][43][44]

StoryBots: Super Silly Stories with Bo won the 2024 Kidscreen Award for Best Web/App Series, Branded.[45]

Personal life

Spiridellis lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife Adrienne Spiridellis.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "IN PERSON; Laugh Early and Often". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  2. ^ Wells, Jane (December 21, 2016). "How an ex-banker and his artist brother turned funny videos into a multimillion-dollar business". CNBC. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  3. ^ "It's a whole new take on the talking heads". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  4. ^ "JibJab Media v. Ludlow Music ("This Land" Parody)". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  5. ^ Meyer, Robinson (July 9, 2014). "This Land, JibJab's Seminal Parody Flash Video, Turns 10". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  6. ^ "Netflix Buys Children's Media Brand as Disney Rivalry Heats Up". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  7. ^ "Netflix buys kids show producer StoryBots". Reuters. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  8. ^ "Silicon Beach Report Feb. 18: Catapult Capital Acquires JibJab". Los Angeles Business Journal. February 18, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  9. ^ "4th Annual New Jersey State Film Festival", CapeMay.com, November 1, 2004. Accessed February 5, 2026. "The Spiridellis brothers were born in Marlboro, NJ and raised in central NJ."
  10. ^ The Note: First Source for Political News, transcript from The Note, October 8, 2004. Accessed February 5, 2026. "And for you jib-jab junkies, here's the link to the new (and far less entertaining) animated short on the election courtesy of those Marlboro High School starlets, the Spiridellis brothers."
  11. ^ Intrabartola, Lisa (April 15, 2016). "JibJab Co-Founder Shares Success Story With Honors College Students". Rutgers University. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  12. ^ Sprouter. "How The JibJab Brothers Grew From One Viral Video To More Than One Million Paid Downloads". Business Insider. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  13. ^ companies, Paresh Dave; Industry, The Digital Media; e-sports; Games, Video; system, occasionally cybersecurity Dave previously covered the criminal courts; Tragedies, National; California; Diego, grew up in San (October 1, 2014). "15 things to know about JibJab as L.A. start-up turns 15". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  14. ^ "JibJab Media v. Ludlow Music ("This Land" Parody)". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  15. ^ "This Christmas, OfficeMax's ElfYourself.com Will Get a JibJab Twist". TechCrunch. November 12, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  16. ^ Nagri, Idris (November 19, 2009). "OfficeMax Adds Social Element to Elf Yourself 2009". ClickZ. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  17. ^ Schonfeld, Erick (November 13, 2008). "This Christmas, OfficeMax's ElfYourself.com Will Get a JibJab Twist". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  18. ^ a b "A Duet That Straddles the Political Divide". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  19. ^ "'This Land' satirists offer up a sequel". NBC News. October 7, 2004. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  20. ^ "JibJab Web Satirists Return -- With a New Target". ABC News. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  21. ^ "The JibJab Blog". The JibJab Blog. July 12, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  22. ^ "MIA WMDs--For Bush, It's a Joke". www.thenation.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  23. ^ Newman, Lily Hay (August 24, 2018). "The Bot-Strewn History of the Best Kids' Show on Netflix". Wired. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  24. ^ "Ask the StoryBots: Cast & Crew". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  25. ^ Barrett, Brian. "The Very Online History of the Best Kids' Show on Netflix". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  26. ^ "Netflix buys kids show producer StoryBots". Reuters. May 9, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  27. ^ "Netflix Buys Children's Media Brand as Disney Rivalry Heats Up". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  28. ^ "Hap". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  29. ^ "Ask the StoryBots". TV Tropes. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  30. ^ "StoryBots Creators Launch AI Animation Company". Variety. October 8, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  31. ^ "Jibjab, Storybots Creators Launch Spiridellis Bros. Studios". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  32. ^ Bharanidharan, Sadhana. "Evan and Gregg Spiridellis launch an AI studio". Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  33. ^ "AI Animation Outfit Spiridellis Bros Partners With Parry Gripp & Roblox On Parryverse". Deadline Hollywood. November 25, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  34. ^ "StoryBots Creators Launch AI Animation Company". Variety. October 8, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  35. ^ "Jibjab, Storybots Creators Launch Spiridellis Bros. Studios". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  36. ^ "People of the Year: Spiridellis Brothers". ABC News. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  37. ^ "Announcing 76th Annual Peabody Awards Finalists". Peabody Awards. April 4, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  38. ^ "47th Annie Awards". Annie Awards. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  39. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (May 1, 2017). "2017 Daytime Emmy Award Winners". Animation Magazine. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  40. ^ "2018 Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Awards Winners: Full List". Deadline Hollywood. April 27, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  41. ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards: Children's, Lifestyle & Animation Winners (PDF)" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 26, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  42. ^ "2nd Annual Children's & Family Emmy Awards Winners (PDF)" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  43. ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 18, 2023). "Children's & Family Emmys: The Complete Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  44. ^ Schneider, Michael (March 15, 2025). "'Percy Jackson,' Meryl Streep, Christian Slater Among 3rd Annual Children's & Family Emmys Winners (FULL LIST)". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  45. ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Announcing 2024's Kidscreen Awards winners". Kidscreen. February 5, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
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