WE'RE MAKING THE BIG OL' OCEAN SEEM SMALLER DAY BY DAY
At Twiddle Productions, our goal is to create projects that ignite the imagination, nourish the soul, and educate the minds of both children and adults alike. We are passionate about bringing a fresh perspective and vision to each project we undertake, whether it involves developing cultural-based content, thought-provoking animation, engaging storybooks, or innovative curriculum.
Despite being located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, our team possesses a wealth of experience and expertise. We are a diverse group of talented individuals, each with our own unique background and perspective. Our collective knowledge and creativity allow us to create content that is not only visually stunning but also culturally relevant and educational.
We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and creating content that inspires, educates, and entertains.
Despite being located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, our team possesses a wealth of experience and expertise. We are a diverse group of talented individuals, each with our own unique background and perspective. Our collective knowledge and creativity allow us to create content that is not only visually stunning but also culturally relevant and educational.
We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and creating content that inspires, educates, and entertains.
As a testament to our team's capabilities, here is a small sampling of projects that our past and present crew members have created, are working on, or have been involved with
- Creators and producers of CAFF: The Cultural Animation Film Festival at the Honolulu Museum of Art Doris Duke Theatre which annually showcases cultural based animation from around the world.
- Creators of the Keiki Animation, Keiki Coding, Keiki Drawing and Keiki Robotics education programs which are held throughout the year in various locations across Hawai‘i in partnership with Palama Settelement, UH Maui, Lili‘uokalani Trust, Pauoa Elementary and PACT Parents And Children Together.
- Creators of the Keiki Coding series of place based Scratch coding books.
- Brushy One String’s Chicken in the Corn animated music video.
- Local Hawai’i based animated commercials.
- Animated Music Videos for Hawai‘i based musicians.
- Asockolypse a PG13 twisted sock puppet take on end of the world shenanigans.
- Ola Nā Iwi: Hā loa a Hawaiian language based animated short film focusing on the story of how the first Hawaiian came to be.
- Ola Nā Iwi: I am Hawai‘I and Ola Nā Iwi: He Hawai‘I Au. Children's storybooks in Hawaiian and English retelling the story of Ola Nā Iwi: Hā loa with a kid friendly focus on the Hawaiian creation story the Kumulipo.
- E Ho’o mau! an award winning Hawaiian cultural film and science curriculum project featuring three animated short films, 9 science books and 3 graphic novels. The Three animated shorts are Why Māui Snared the Sun, Pele Searches for a Home and The Menehune and the Birds.
- Maisa, the Chamoru Girl who saves Guahan. A classic legend from Guam brought to life with an award winning animated short film. Maisa was produced in partnership with the Guam Department of Education and Chamoru Studies. Maisa was created and designed to perpetuate the culture and endangered language of the Chamoru people of Guam.
- Nickelodeons cult animated hit show The Angry Beavers.
- Comedy Centrals Kid Notorious starring the legendary producer of The Godfather and Chinatown Mr. Robert Evans.
- The Cosmos Chaos! two part educational RPG Nintendo DS game for struggling fourth grade readers.
- Warner Brothers Johnny Test.
- The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope. An inspiring true story of resilience and compassion, The Red Scarf follows Krikor, an orphaned survivor of the Armenian Genocide, and Jackie Coogan, the world’s most famous child actor of the silent film era. When their lives intersect, an extraordinary bond forms—one that will forever change both of them. Produced in association with the USC Shoah Foundation.
- Titration: Radioactive Waste, Princeton, and the Navajo Nation. Produced in association with Nuclear Princeton, Princeton University.
- Maka'ala Bay: Lessons from the sea. An educational animated series about ocean safety created in English and Hawaiian. Produced in association with Nā Kama Kai.
Meet a few of our Team members and Partners
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Michael Q. Ceballos
CEO/ Founder/ Director/ Executive Producer/Art Director
Twiddle Productions is headed up by Michael Q. Ceballos, Michael Q. Ceballos is a Producer/Director/Animator and the CEO of Twiddle Productions Inc. With over 25 years of experience in the animation and game industries, he has created a track record of creating engaging content for audiences of all ages. His first job in the animation industry was on Duckman at Klasky Csupo. He then worked at the legendary Hanna Barbera studio on an animated series version of the film Dumb and Dumber. But it was at Nickelodeon where he honed his skills on five seasons of the cult hit, The Angry Beavers, as lead character designer and supervisor. He also worked with legendary Godfather and Rosemary's Baby film producer Robert Evans on his animated biographic show for Comedy Central, Kid Notorious.
In 2005, Michael relocated to Honolulu, Hawai‘i, where he art directed and co-wrote two RPG educational games titled Cosmos Chaos! for struggling 4th-grade readers for the Nintendo DS system. He also created and produced the award-winning E Hoʻomau! animated series of films and educational books which featured three animated Hawaiian legends, nine science books, and three graphic novels.
In 2013, Michael formed Twiddle Productions Inc. and directed and produced Ola Na Iwi: Hāloa, an animated short film telling the origins of the Hawaiian people, along with the companion children's storybooks Ola Na Iwi: I am Hawai’i and Ola Na Iwi: He Hawai’i Au. In 2017, his short film Maisa the Chamoru Girl who Saves Guåhan, which was produced with the Guam Department of Education, won Best Short Film at the 2017 Pasifika Film Festival.
Starting in 2019, Michael has produced and directed a range of other projects, including Titration: Radioactive Waste, Princeton, and the Navajo Nation, an award-winning short animated film created in association with Princeton University. He also produced and directed Moho, a story about what would happen if Duke Kahanumoku were to return to Waikiki today, The Peek-a-Bows, an animation/live-action mini-series featuring the Maui-based musical group Peek-a-Bows, and most recently, the 5-episode series Nā Kama Kai’s Maka‘ala Bay: Lessons from the Sea which teaches kids ocean safety and Hawaiian culture for the Hawai’i based non profit company Nā Kama Kai.
Currently, Michael is working on a Hawaiian language version of Nā Kama Kai’s Maka‘ala Bay: Lessons from the Sea series, and has completed The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope which tells the story of how a young Jackie Coogan raised money, food, and clothing for surviving orphans of the Armenian genocide. This project is produced in association with the USC Shoah foundation which was founded by Steven Spielberg.
In addition to his production work, Michael is also passionate about teaching and education and created Keiki Coding, a place-based educational program and series of books that teach kids how to create and code video games. He also holds Keiki Animation, Keiki Drawing, and Keiki Robotics classes at schools and the Twiddle Productions Studios.
He is also a founder and Producer of CAFF The Cultural Animation Film Festival which takes place yearly at The Honolulu Museum of Art Doris Duke Theatre.
CEO/ Founder/ Director/ Executive Producer/Art Director
Twiddle Productions is headed up by Michael Q. Ceballos, Michael Q. Ceballos is a Producer/Director/Animator and the CEO of Twiddle Productions Inc. With over 25 years of experience in the animation and game industries, he has created a track record of creating engaging content for audiences of all ages. His first job in the animation industry was on Duckman at Klasky Csupo. He then worked at the legendary Hanna Barbera studio on an animated series version of the film Dumb and Dumber. But it was at Nickelodeon where he honed his skills on five seasons of the cult hit, The Angry Beavers, as lead character designer and supervisor. He also worked with legendary Godfather and Rosemary's Baby film producer Robert Evans on his animated biographic show for Comedy Central, Kid Notorious.
In 2005, Michael relocated to Honolulu, Hawai‘i, where he art directed and co-wrote two RPG educational games titled Cosmos Chaos! for struggling 4th-grade readers for the Nintendo DS system. He also created and produced the award-winning E Hoʻomau! animated series of films and educational books which featured three animated Hawaiian legends, nine science books, and three graphic novels.
In 2013, Michael formed Twiddle Productions Inc. and directed and produced Ola Na Iwi: Hāloa, an animated short film telling the origins of the Hawaiian people, along with the companion children's storybooks Ola Na Iwi: I am Hawai’i and Ola Na Iwi: He Hawai’i Au. In 2017, his short film Maisa the Chamoru Girl who Saves Guåhan, which was produced with the Guam Department of Education, won Best Short Film at the 2017 Pasifika Film Festival.
Starting in 2019, Michael has produced and directed a range of other projects, including Titration: Radioactive Waste, Princeton, and the Navajo Nation, an award-winning short animated film created in association with Princeton University. He also produced and directed Moho, a story about what would happen if Duke Kahanumoku were to return to Waikiki today, The Peek-a-Bows, an animation/live-action mini-series featuring the Maui-based musical group Peek-a-Bows, and most recently, the 5-episode series Nā Kama Kai’s Maka‘ala Bay: Lessons from the Sea which teaches kids ocean safety and Hawaiian culture for the Hawai’i based non profit company Nā Kama Kai.
Currently, Michael is working on a Hawaiian language version of Nā Kama Kai’s Maka‘ala Bay: Lessons from the Sea series, and has completed The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope which tells the story of how a young Jackie Coogan raised money, food, and clothing for surviving orphans of the Armenian genocide. This project is produced in association with the USC Shoah foundation which was founded by Steven Spielberg.
In addition to his production work, Michael is also passionate about teaching and education and created Keiki Coding, a place-based educational program and series of books that teach kids how to create and code video games. He also holds Keiki Animation, Keiki Drawing, and Keiki Robotics classes at schools and the Twiddle Productions Studios.
He is also a founder and Producer of CAFF The Cultural Animation Film Festival which takes place yearly at The Honolulu Museum of Art Doris Duke Theatre.
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Mathew Kawika Ortiz
Concept Artist/Art Director/Storyboards/ Backgrounds Mr. Matthew Kawika Ortiz is a Hawaiʻi-based artist who specializes in storyboards, illustration, graphic design,and printmaking. Mr. Ortiz recently illustrated the childrenʼs book Mohala Mai ʻo Hau, which was awarded the bronze medal for the 2010 international Moonbeam Childrenʼs Book Awards and a Ka Palapala Poʻokela award nominee. Matt started out his career interning and creating conceptual art for the Warner Brothers feature film Superman Returns. He also storyboarded all three E Hoʻomau! films, background designs on Ola Nā Iwi: Hāloa short animated film, and was also the co-art director on the award winning short film Maisa the Chamoru Girl who Saves Guåhan. Mr. Ortiz also travels cross country painting his signature murals featuring whimsical views of sustainable treehouses, boats and buildings. Most recently Matt was featured on the NBC hit show Making it co-hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Matt along with craftspeople skilled in different media from across the nation competed against each other to be named the "Master Maker."  CLICK PIC FOR MORE INFO
DEBBIE KWON
ANIMATOR Born in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Debbie has worked on many independent animated films including the award winning Titration: Radioactive Waste, Princeton, and the Navajo Nation for Twiddle Productions in association with Nuclear Princeton. Debbie has also directed her own short film Kites which has been screened at numerous film festivals and she has produced two short films, Walls and Agape.  CLICK PIC FOR MORE INFO
KIAKONA ORDONEZ
AUDIO - FILMOGROPHER Kiakona Ordonez, a talented filmmaker from Maui, has a passion for capturing the essence of Hawaiian culture and storytelling. He has made significant contributions to the world of film by working on the first seven episodes of The Peek-a-Bows children’s live action/animated series and documenting the wisdom of Hawaii-based cultural practitioners and scientists for Maka‘ala Bay: Lessons from the Sea for the Hawaiian ocean safety and conservancy organization Nā Kama Kai. His skillful eye for detail extends beyond filmmaking into capturing the magic of life's special moments, as he frequently shoots weddings and other events across Hawaii. Kiakona's dedication to preserving and sharing cultural narratives was further showcased in his work on The Red Scarf - A Story of Armenian Hope. He documented and recorded the children's choir at Shag Mesrob Armenian Christian School, playing a vital role in bringing this important story to life. With a deep connection to his Hawaiian roots and a commitment to storytelling, Kiakona continues to be a sought-after filmmaker and documentarian in the islands. |
KAI LONO
ANIMATOR - CGI ANIMATION/DESIGN Kai Lono embarked on his creative journey as an intern for the E Hoomau Hawaiian legend animated project, where his artistic talent quickly became evident. Rising to the role of background lead artist, Kai not only crafted the captivating background style for the E Hoomau series installments The Menehune and The Birds he was also a pivotal part of the visual storytelling. His artistry continued to flourish as a 3D compositor and animator on Maisa - The Chamoru Girl Who Saves Guåhan, a film that has captivated audiences at screenings and festivals around the globe. Most recently, Kai lent his exceptional skills as the CG animator and model maker for The Red Scarf - A Story of Armenian Hope. Beyond animation, his creative passions span music and game development, where he continues to push the boundaries of his artistry.  CLICK PIC FOR MORE INFO
MAURICE F. MORGAN
LAYOUT, PAINT & BACKGROUND DESIGN Maurice is a Los Angeles, California-based artist and illustrator. A graduate of Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, with a bachelor’s degree in illustration. Currently, he works in the animation industry as a senior background designer and painter, 3D orthographic, and concept artist. With 25+ years in pre-production, layout, design, painting, and conceptual works he has amassed a great wealth of experience and knowledge contributing to numerous memorable projects, earning him two Emmy nominations  CLICK PIC FOR MORE INFO
KYLIE TAMAKI
ANIMATOR Kylie is a 2D character designer and animator currently residing on Oahu. After receiving degrees in both Animation and Japanese Studies from Chapman University, she now balances her full time job and freelance work, creating illustrations, streaming assets, and short animations for various clients. She finds inspiration in her experiences growing up on Oahu as well as from Japanese culture and hopes to reflect those influences in the stories she tells and the work she creates 
MARGARET NAVARRO
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Margaret handles much of the behind the scenes coordination with Twiddle Production and is the grease that keeps the mighty Twiddle machine moving. She is also the proud mother of four boys Fernando, Justin, Isaiah and Joshua and is a first time Abuella to her granddaughters Arya and Talia. |
Twiddle Creative Partners
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Arpi Krikorian
Artist/ Sosse Executive Producer Hailing from Pasadena, California, Arpi Krikorian started her artistic endeavors at a young age when she attended the Art Center College of Design’s (ACCD) High School program. Shortly afterwards, she was accepted into their undergraduate program and received a BA in illustration. Four years later, an internship led to a full time artist on staff position at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Ca. where she worked as a storyboard artist for The Angry Beavers. In addition to Beavers she also worked on other NickToon hits like Hey Arnold, CatDog and Dora the Explorer. In 2012, Arpi refocused her artistic skills to create Arpi Krikorian Designs where she has successfully created both artwork and product showcasing the Armenian culture. It was this change in her artistic career that once again brought her full circle as an Executive Producer alongside Twiddle Productions Inc. on Sosse and The Daredevils of Sassoun whose visuals will be based on her Armenian artwork and style.  CLICK PIC FOR MORE INFO
Gerilyn Hewahewa
Creator/Executive Producer?Star of The Peek-a-Bows Geri’s career as a professional entertainer is as diverse as it is inspiring. With talents ranging from singing, acting, and hula dancing to aerial acrobatics, she has captivated audiences through her performances in the award-winning “ʻUlalena” in Lāhainā, Maui. She also brought local stories to life as the host of the series *Self-Made in Hawaii*. As a songwriter, Geri has released four solo singles and co-written music for children, delighting young audiences with her creativity. She is currently co-producing her second children’s mini-series, *Adventures with The Peek-a-Bows*, while continuing her work as a voice artist, further sharing her passion. |
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Keith Kaczorek
Writer/Producer KEITH KACZOREK is a writer and producer with over 20 years of professional experience. He began his career at MTV writing for the groundbreaking comedy game show “Remote Control” as well as Spring Break specials and “Beavis & Butt-Head.” He has since written comedy and animation for FBC, ABC, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel, Disney TV Animation, Jim Henson Productions and Spike TV among others. He was co-developer and executive story editor for five seasons on Nickelodeon’s “The Angry Beavers” cartoon show and wrote for NBC’s “Las Vegas.” He’s frequently collaborated with Barry Stringfellow and has also created promos for MTV, Nickelodeon and Nick At Nite. Like The Dude in “The Big Lebowski” he abides in Los Angeles and has a rug that really brings his living room together.  CLICK PIC FOR MORE INFO
Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori
A native CHamoru of Guåhan(Guam), Dr. Hattori holds a B.Ed. and Professional Diploma in Secondary Social Studies with a concentration in Pacific Islands History, an M.Ed. in Educational Technology, and an Ed.D. in Professional Educational Practice from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Her academic interests include educational technology, culturally sustaining education and leadership, Pacific Islands Studies, and indigenous research methodologies. She is a Scholarship Specialist with the East-West Center and Cooperating Graduate Faculty with the University of Hawai'i, as well as an author, community organizer, poet, public speaker, and philanthropist. Read more about her at https://maryhattori.wordpress.com/ 
Kimo Armitage
Writer Kimo Armitage is an award winning playwright and children's book author. He has written and edited over 20 books, mostly for children, in Hawaiian and English. He published his first novel, The Healers, with the University of Hawai‘i Press in February 2016 which uses traditional Hawaiian themes and techniques. He received his doctoral degree in creative writing from the University of Hawai‘i. His poetry draws upon the rich stories of his youth spent in Hale‘iwa, Hawai‘i, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents. |