“My work is about losing control”: Thomas Bryson-King on his fun-filled animations

London-based illustrator and animator Thomas Bryson-King has made a career for himself out of creations that dazzle with bright colours and delight with silly humour. Initially drawn to the world of animation by what he describes as its potential for “strangeness and rule-breaking”, he now has a portfolio full of freaky yet friendly characters. “I guess drawing is fundamentally what I do to entertain myself, so trying to make myself laugh has always been part of that,” he says. “But recently I’ve made more of a conscious effort to focus on positivity in my work — I think there’s enough negativity in the world already and I don’t want to add to it.”

Flitting between commercial and personal projects, Thomas’ signature style remains consistent. From a recent commission by W Magazine to create a collection of fun animations for its video on Tyrell Hampton to a small personal piece about a nonchalant dog staring off into space while passers-by smile at him, Thomas’ work always retains its boldness and whimsicality. “I like to create happy, weird worlds full of eccentric, flamboyant people,” he tells us. “I used to draw people on the verge of freaking out, now I like to draw people that are unsettlingly happy — like a reverse panic attack!”