"Captain Zero" Screening in Seattle: A Universal Message of Strength

On a recent episode of “The Day With Trae,” Chris Carthurn, COO and producer at Cutting Edge Animation, joined guest host Alicia Crank for an intriguing conversation on Black storytelling in animation. Carthern and his team at Cutting Edge Animation are making waves with their flagship project “Captain Zero,” an animated superhero story that delves into the struggles of a teenager battling depression and anxiety. 

Ten years into the making, “Captain Zero” has been a long-winded labor of love. “Animation is hard. Animation is expensive. And as Black indie creators, you just kind of got to grind it out,” Carthern said, explaining that resources aren't always readily available, but the team, led by creator Z Cher-Aimé, has persevered.

A major contingency for the project was the involvement of legendary voice actor Keith David, who voices the villainous depression demon. "I didn't know Keith David was attached. So, imagine my surprise,”  Carthurn humorously recalled. 

According to Carthern, the concept for “Captain Zero” is deeply personal to Z Cher-Aimé, who was diagnosed with major depressive disorder at 17. Coping with suicidal thoughts, they channeled that energy into creating a character and story to help others. The depression demon itself was inspired by Z Cher-Aimé’s own sleep paralysis demon, demonstrating the self-portrait of the creator through the compelling narrative. 

The project also addresses stigma surrounding mental illness, especially in the Black community. Carthern expressed the importance of “Captain Zero” being front and center in showcasing these struggles and providing a platform for discussion.

In a moment of major achievement, “Captain Zero” gained significant attention when it was chosen for the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. The renowned festival, with the animation lineup curated by Whoopi Goldberg, was a surreal experience for Carthern and the team—Goldberg introduced the film at Tribeca and spoke about its importance, even quoting lines from the movie.

Looking ahead, Cutting Edge Animation has plans for a feature film, slated for release in 2027, and five seasons of an animated series. “What you're going to get is…a Black authentic story about a teenager that's going on a sad, funny, and just wild mental health journey,” Carthern said. The overarching message is universal: "We want to let people know that we're stronger than the voices, the dark voices that are in our heads, and with the right tools and awareness, you can save a life and that life might even be your own."

You can buy tickets to see “Captain Zero” at the Northwest Film Forum on October 8th from 8PM-11PM at cuttingedgeanimation.com 

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