From Side Hustle to Leading Animation & Explainer Video Studio: The Wienot Films Story

We’ve always believed in the power of story—and recently, our own founder's story was featured in CanvasRebel, a publication that spotlights bold entrepreneurs and creatives. The article dives into how Marc Strong went from intelligence analyst to animation studio founder, building Wienot Films from a side hustle to an award-winning video production company.

And let’s just say… there were some very Wienot moments along the way.

“Why not?” became “Wienot!”

Marc was visiting his parents over the holidays when he casually mentioned his love for making videos. His mom looked at him and simply asked: “Why not?”

That question sparked more than just inspiration—it sparked a brand. That simple idea eventually became Wienot Films (pronounced “Why not”), a company that now helps clients all over the world turn complex ideas into clear, engaging explainer videos.

As Marc puts it in the article:

“My early work was rough, but it allowed me to grow. Today, Wienot Films creates all kinds of high-quality 2D and 3D animations, all while staying true to our core principle: telling great stories that make complex ideas easy to understand.”

The Guy Kawasaki Moment

Early on, Marc decided to make a video summarizing the best advice he’d heard on giving great presentations—featuring tips from none other than Guy Kawasaki, the former Chief Evangelist at Apple.

In a gutsy move, he emailed the video directly to Guy.

Fifteen minutes later—yes, fifteen!—Guy replied. Not only had he watched the video, but he shared it on a viral content site he ran at the time. That single post gave the video major traction and introduced Wienot Films to a global audience.

As Marc recalls:

“You never know when a single action—a single email, a single video—will change the course of your business.”

Sleepless in Animation: The First TED-Ed Video

Here’s another gem from back when Marc was still juggling his day job while building Wienot Films after hours. One night, with a TED-Ed deadline looming, he stood at his desk—for 24 hours straight—to finish the project.

Sleep-deprived and running on pure determination, he delivered the video on time. That same video became the very first animation TED-Ed ever posted to their YouTube channel.

A lot has changed since then (Marc has discovered sleep is actually quite useful), but that experience helped shape the work ethic that still drives Wienot today.

Following Your Passion

These are just a few of the behind-the-scenes moments featured in the full article, which captures the grit, heart, and humor behind Wienot’s journey.

At its core, Marc’s story isn’t just about building a business. It’s about listening to that quiet voice inside—the one that nudges you toward something more meaningful. It’s about taking creative risks, pushing through late nights, and daring to ask, “What if this could actually work?”

Because when you follow your passion, incredible things can happen. You might send an email that changes everything. You might stand for 24 hours to meet a deadline that opens new doors. You might even turn a simple question—“Why not?”—into a company that helps others share their stories with the world.

So whether you're dreaming up your next big idea, stuck at a crossroads, or just looking for a little inspiration…

Ask yourself what Marc’s mom asked him: Why not?!

Read the full CanvasRebel article here.