Dani Bowman
Dani Bowman—who is on the autism spectrum founded her company, DaniMation Entertainment, at age 14 in 2009 and launched DaniMation UK in 2019. She graduated with a BFA in Animation in 2018 and an MBA in Global Strategy and Leadership in 2020. Dani has premiered 14 animated short films, a PSA, and a music at San Diego Comic Con. Over the next 14 years, Dani has led summer animation camps and around the country, initially with Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films, and then expanding out on her own, adding programs at the University of South Florida, Plymouth University and Brunel University London in England, teaching over 2500 youth with autism and other different abilities. In 2020, Dani pivoted to teaching animation from in person with 1-Week Animation Workshops and One-on-One classes. In addition to teaching animation, Dani works with her students as a role model and mentor, encouraging them to follow their dreams. In 2021, Dani and her team participated in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, where she won for “Best Editor” with her film “The Home Office”. Dani is currently working on getting a Ph.D with a thesis on how much impact her program has had in the autism community.