Raphael Bob-Waksberg Says ‘Long Story Short’ Is Rewatchable and Not a Tough Watch
The Story
Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creator of ‘BoJack Horseman,’ stated in an interview with IndieWire that his new animated series ‘Long Story Short’ is designed to be highly rewatchable and not a difficult watch. The show follows the Schwoopers, a Jewish family in the San Francisco Bay area, across 10 episodes that use non-linear storytelling with flashbacks and time jumps. Bob-Waksberg said the series aims to be entertaining and enjoyable first, rather than making a point about society. He explained that the animation, credited to Lisa Hanawalt and Alison Dubois, uses intentional imperfections to create a warm and personal feel. The show was named the best series of 2025 by IndieWire. Bob-Waksberg is set to receive the Spark Award at the IndieWire Honors Spring 2026 ceremony on June 4 in Los Angeles.
Key Facts
- ‘Long Story Short’ is an animated sitcom about the Schwoopers, a Jewish family in the San Francisco Bay area.
- The first season consists of 10 episodes.
- Bob-Waksberg stated the show is “not a tough watch” and is highly rewatchable.
- The series uses a non-linear structure with flashbacks that jump forward in time, inspired by ‘Boyhood’ and the comic ‘Building Stories’ by Chris Ware.
- Bob-Waksberg noted that the animation avoids straight edges and keeps characters “not on model” to appear purposeful and accidental.
- The show features performances by Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, and Ben Feldman.
- IndieWire named ‘Long Story Short’ the best series of 2025.
- Bob-Waksberg will receive the Spark Award at the IndieWire Honors ceremony on June 4, 2026.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
Bob-Waksberg addressed the perception that his shows are difficult and depressing, stating that ‘Long Story Short’ is delightful by design and that viewers will not feel like “everything sucks” after watching.
Key Figures
- Raphael Bob-Waksberg: creator of ‘Long Story Short’ and recipient of the Spark Award.
- Abbi Jacobson: voice actor for Shira.
- Max Greenfield: voice actor for Yoshi.
- Ben Feldman: voice actor for Avi.
- Lisa Hanawalt: animation contributor.
- Alison Dubois: animation contributor.
Sources: indiewire.com
