Artist Christian Watson positions his phone on his kitchen counter, poised to capture a video. With a tap, he hits record, and on cue, his four-year-old son, Alaska, bounds into his arms. Just minutes later, Christian finds himself in his home studio, replaying the candid family moment on his tablet. He then meticulously begins drawing skeletons by hand, overlaying them onto the moving figures. This seemingly simple family snapshot is rapidly evolving into a compelling piece of art that resonates with millions across the globe on social media.
Christian is the creative force behind Mr Skelly, an animated skeleton character that explores profound themes like grief, regret, love, and gratitude. “We gave him a name, Mr Skelly, but we’ve always thought we can’t really tell if it’s a man or a woman or a boy or a girl, or if it’s an old person. You can’t tell the race, the gender, the religious beliefs,” Christian explains. “We just wanted to create a character that anybody could find themselves relating to. Ever since he basically appeared on the screen, people have been putting themselves into his life.”
The Art of Storytelling in Seven Seconds
To achieve a sense of genuine movement, the skeletal figures are meticulously drawn over videos of Christian’s own family. The backdrops are then digitally hand-painted, often derived from photographs. “We storyboard everything together and overlay the videos of Mr Skelly that we animate onto these backgrounds. We then add in sound effects, music and quotes,” Christian elaborates. “Then it becomes this little punch of story in seven seconds, which is really cool.”
Christian’s personal reflections on life are conveyed as captions accompanying Mr Skelly’s animations. “I’ve shared a lot of these messages before through other mediums and have never found a similar response as when I did it with a skeleton,” he shares. “It’s really funny because I should have always known that a skeleton would be accessible to everybody.”
While the subject matter often delves into weighty topics, Christian intentionally balances these challenging themes with a touch of lightheartedness. “I try to balance being a bit whimsical and fun … and talking about more difficult topics such as death or grief or trauma,” he says. “I try to put Mr Skelly into these situations [with] beautiful backgrounds like mountains or spring flowers.”
A Global Connection
The distinctive art has struck a chord with online audiences across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. In just three years, the Mr Skelly following has surged dramatically, growing from approximately 300,000 to over 8 million dedicated followers. Many regularly comment on how the posts have provided them with valuable guidance in navigating their own personal challenges.
“Every day you get more and more people who are genuinely coming because they feel a vulnerable connection with Mr Skelly and the animations,” Christian notes. “That gives me so much inspiration. That people are motivated in some way to better their lives or to overcome whatever hardship they’re enduring. It’s special for me.”
The remarkable success of the content has led Christian to build a small team of artists he has connected with through Instagram. His wife, fellow artist Elle-May Watson, also plays a crucial collaborative role. “We break a lot of things down in communication together and then we speak about the world as a whole,” Elle-May explains. “That’s where we connect as a couple as well, and then that helps provide a lot of the inspiration for the quotes.”
Tasmanian Landscapes as Artistic Inspiration
Originally from Oregon in the US, Christian spent time in Queensland, where Elle-May hails from, before the couple eventually settled in Nubeena, a small coastal town on Tasmania’s Tasman Peninsula. Located about a 90-minute drive south-east of Hobart, their home is nestled in a picturesque locale.
“Coming here was a big mental reset,” Elle-May reflects. “Being surrounded by the water and getting our own space as a family. It’s been really nice just to have room to think and create a slower life for ourselves.”
The breathtaking local landscape serves as a significant source of inspiration for the background art featured in Mr Skelly’s animations. “Everywhere you look it’s like a painting, it’s so beautiful. I’m constantly inspired by little vignettes I see of fields of flowers or mountain scenes or water scenes,” Christian enthuses. “When I moved to Nubeena, I was like, ‘this place is the epitome of what it means to be peaceful’. I just wanted to actualise that in art.”
A Stance Against AI in Art
Christian is a vocal advocate against the unchecked use of artificial intelligence (AI) in artistic creation. “I understand that there are some benefits from AI, from technological advancements and medicinal advancements, which is wonderful,” he states. “What we’re seeing a lot of now, especially online, is artists who are losing their work to AI or having their work stolen in order to train AI models. You don’t really feel like you own anything, which is a really hard thing for an artist because it’s a part of our identity that this work we create is ours.”
Despite his reservations about AI, Christian’s profound connection with his audience remains a powerful motivator to continue his creative endeavours. “There’s so much to be hopeful for in this world. Life is a beautiful gift, despite all of its difficulties,” he concludes. “I just hope for the best in everybody and that we can make this world feel a little bit more like home for each other.”
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