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Artist of the Month - @coolman_coffeedan
Surreal doodles, awkward humor, and a whole lot of heart. New York–based artist Danny Casale, aka Coolman Coffeedan, has built a universe where bad animation is the point, and feeling seen is the payoff.
From his first viral internet animation to global exhibitions, his work proves that simple drawings can carry big emotions.
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Artist of the Month: @coolman_coffeedan
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Love notes from another decade in is the February Thank You card vibe.
The Bad Animator Who Built a Whole Universe
New York–based artist Danny Casale, better known as Coolman Coffeedan, first caught the internet’s attention in 2017 with the deceptively simple animation Snakes Have Legs. What began as a crudely drawn, absurd little cartoon quickly became a cultural moment, and a clear sign that Danny was onto something special.
Self-described as a “Bad Animator,” Danny fully embraced imperfection. His surreal animations, awkward timing, and intentionally simple characters cut through polished, trend-driven content. By focusing on honesty over slickness, his work has reached hundreds of millions worldwide, making people laugh, cry, and feel unexpectedly understood.
In a social media landscape often dominated by negativity, Danny’s goal became clear: to brighten people’s timelines and remind them they are not alone. Over time, his work evolved into more than content. It became a universe, filled with strange little characters, emotional punchlines, and a soft stubbornness that keeps showing up anyway.
Today, that universe extends far beyond the screen. Danny has exhibited across the US and Asia, with recent shows in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Seoul, and even a public sculpture park. In this interview, we talk creativity, ugly drawings done on purpose, building a universe instead of chasing trends, and why stickers are basically tiny billboards for his world.
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February Artist of the Month
StickerApp: Hi Danny, our long-time sticker friend! Thanks for creating the February Thank You card for us! Tell us more about your creative twin, Coolman Coffeedan? And who is Spesh, anyway?
Danny: Thanks, friends! I'm Danny Casale, but a lot of people know me as Coolman Coffeedan. Spesh is basically my inner mascot: the slightly awkward, soft, stubborn little creature in my head that keeps showing up to make stuff anyway.
My biggest dream is to keep building my universe into something that feels real, not just content, but a world you can step into. I’ve done this in recent times with stuff like my public sculpture park in Hong Kong, and my art exhibitions in Shanghai (read more about the projects here). I want my characters to keep evolving across animation, physical products, installations, and experiences. At the end of the day, I want to make people laugh, feel seen, and feel a little less alone.
StickerApp: Wow, fantastic! When and how did your creative journey begin?
Danny: It started with me doodling in school on anything I could doodle on. I was obsessed with the idea that a drawing could be "ugly" on purpose and still make my friends laugh.
Years later, I figured out how to make my doodles move, and it turned into animations. Quick, hand-drawn clips with awkward timing, weird voices, and characters that felt like tiny emotional antennas. Posting on the internet consistently taught me what landed, what didn't, and - most importantly - what felt like me.
StickerApp: Amazing! Was there a pivotal moment in your career that changed everything?
Danny: The first real pivot was when one of my early animations went viral - my first animation, "Snakes Have Legs," was a huge moment. It didn't just bring attention; it clarified the lane: simple drawings, absurd logic, and a surprising amount of heart and story underneath.
That was the moment I understood: I'm not just making "cartoons." I'm building a voice… and that voice can scale into a whole universe if I continue expressing myself through this medium.
StickerApp: Love the snake animation! What drives you as an artist, and what are your biggest inspirations?
Danny: I'm driven by the feeling that there's always a more honest version of the idea hiding under the polished one. I like work that looks effortless but is secretly very intentional.
Inspiration-wise, I'm obsessed with: human behavior (awkwardness, ego, tenderness, panic, love), absurdism, and "dumb logic" that accidentally becomes profound, old-school simple character design… And, honestly, just the everyday comedy of being alive. Most of my best ideas come from noticing something small and turning it into a character moment.
StickerApp: So on point! What is your number one piece of advice for those starting their creative journey?
Danny: Don't wait to post your creation because it’s not "good enough." Your style will reveal itself through repetition, not planning. If you can make something small every day (or every week) and actually put it out, you'll improve faster than someone trying to perfect one big masterpiece. Also, protect your voice. Trends are loud, and it’s easy to get distracted. Focus on your ideas, the ideas that are true to yourself.
StickerApp: Absolute truth! How would you define your style, and what are your favorite techniques?
Danny: My style is minimal, imperfect, and emotional, with humor as the delivery system. The drawings are intentionally simple and slightly bad… because drawing things like that is just more fun to me that way.
My favorite techniques are hand-drawn linework that’s not too clean, embracing the mistakes and imperfections, limited animation, and bright colors… kind of like old-school, vibrant cartoons. The more doodly, the better.
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StickerApp: Sweet! Tell us about the design of your Thank You card. What was your inspiration?
Danny: February is all about love and romance thanks to Valentine's Day, or Singles Awareness Day, whichever feels more relevant to you. I took inspiration from love notes that would be passed around in a high school classroom… doodles and a yellow notepad and all! There’s something so innocent and pure about having a crush in school. I wanted to capture that vibe and put my Coolman spin on it!
StickerApp: So cute! How do you use stickers for your business and personal brand, and what's your fav material?
Danny: Stickers are basically tiny billboards for my world. They're affordable, collectible, and they travel. I use them for packaging inserts + thank-you moments, freebie swag for fans who've supported forever, and slapping them up around the cities I live in or visit. They're also a cool way to let the characters escape the screen and show up in real life.
I love stickers that feel like they can survive real life - something you can slap on a laptop, a water bottle, a street sign, or a sketchbook, and it still looks clean. I'd go for durable vinyl, holographic with custom effects, or clear stickers for anything that needs to feel like it's floating on the surface. My different characters call for different types of materials.
StickerApp: Why do you choose StickerApp as your sticker partner?
Danny: My art lives or dies on line quality and color accuracy… and StickerApp consistently nails both. I also love having the freedom to experiment with different materials and cuts without it turning into a complicated process. They have a dream team to work with as well. The end result feels premium, but still playful… exactly what my brand is all about.
StickerApp: Thanks for the great feedback! What are your goals for the future?
Danny: Besides expanding the universe in a way that feels bigger but not watered down… I want to make a featured film to tell my stories in new ways. My background is in filmmaking, and I really want to find ways to further integrate my art into longer forms of storytelling.
Thanks, Danny, and keep up the good work! To keep up with Coolman Coffeedan, head over to his Instagram, @coolman_coffeedan, or his website.
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