From Page to Animation: The Journey of Jackie’s Way: Terrible Temper
- emperium365
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
Every powerful story begins with a spark—an idea rooted in experience, shaped by emotion, and designed to change lives. Jackie’s Terrible Temper is one of those stories. Originally written by Lena Fields-Arnold, Jackie’s Way tackles an issue often left unspoken: the struggles teenagers, especially young girls—face when dealing with anger, identity, and emotional overwhelm. Through the eyes of Jackie, a thirteen-year-old girl known for her explosive temper, the book invites readers to explore what lies beneath the outbursts: pain, pressure, and a deep desire to be understood.
About the Creator: Lena Fields-Arnold
Lena Fields-Arnold is an accomplished author, speaker, and voice for healing in the community. Her body of work includes:
For This Child We Prayed: Living with the Secret Shame of Infertility
Strong Black Coffee: Poetry and Prose to Enlighten, Encourage, and Entertain Americans of African Descent
In the Absence of My Father
Scenes from the City
Jackie's Way
Lena’s words inspire readers to find strength in their struggles and purpose in their pain. Her motivational talks touch on themes like leadership, goal setting, and the power of dreams, while her writing continues to appear in national publications such as The Speaker Anthology and Free to Fly: Wisdom for the Seasons in a Woman’s Life.
To explore more of Lena’s thoughts and writing, visit her blog: Stuff Inside My Head.
The Animation Project
Now, with Lena’s blessing and creative collaboration, Jackie’s Way is undergoing a powerful transformation—from book to animated short film.
Our Collective team at Emperium is taking on this adaptation with care, passion, and vision. This isn’t just an animation; it’s a movement. By visualizing Jackie’s emotional journey, we hope to connect with young viewers—particularly teen girls—who are searching for healthy ways to cope with anger, bullying, and growing pains in a world that doesn’t always hear them.
Through expressive character design, a Boondocks-meets-Fat Albert visual style, and raw, authentic storytelling, Jackie’s Terrible Temper will bring an emotional honesty rarely seen in children’s animation.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the behind-the-scenes development work:
Each image represents more than animation—it’s about creating a mirror for kids to see themselves and feel empowered to change.
Why This Matters
Teenage girls are often expected to bottle up their emotions or "calm down" in environments that don’t make space for their lived realities. This film is designed to speak directly to that audience; validating the struggle while offering tools for growth.
At its core, this project is about empathy. It’s about helping kids like Jackie, and those who know a Jackie—feel seen, heard, and supported.
Join the Movement
Lena and her team has officially launched a Indiegogo campaign to help bring Jackie’s Terrible Temper to life at scale.
This is your chance to help us make media that matters. Your support goes toward animation, voiceover, music, post-production, and outreach efforts to ensure this story reaches the hearts that need it most.
👉🏽 [SUPPORT HERE]🧡 Support. Share. Be part of the journey.
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