The Art of Storytelling

At TOT, we see ourselves first and foremost as storytellers. We are the visual kith and kin of fireside yarn spinners, village elders and monologists the world over. 

Our stories are told in film and animation. We use the camera to pull out the essence of a person, to discover what makes them tick. Or we deploy artists and illustrators and set their vision into motion to bring ideas to life, to educate, or bring order to complex schemes.

As storytellers, we are patient listeners and thoughtful synthesizers. We seek out the strategic nugget or gleaming insight that will infuse your story with the kind of magic that can engage an audience, move them to tears, stir them to action, or just make the feel a little bit better about everything.

Every brand has a story. We’d like to hear yours, then help you share it with the world.

Meet the Team

Nina Rappaport Rowan

Executive Producer, President

Ms. Rappaport Rowan, is a leader in the field of animation. Producer of the 1998 Academy Award® winning Best Animated Short Film, Bunny, and Executive Producer of Universal’s blockbuster animated feature Despicable Me, Rowan is known for her expert knowledge of animation and her skill in developing teams that can tackle innovative and complex animated and live-action projects. 

Ms. Rappaport Rowan is currently President of TOT Industries, located in Marin County, CA, which she founded in 2006. TOT develops creative content, provides strategic guidance, and flawlessly executes all manner of creative products including books, live-action film, toys, animated feature films and animation television production for companies large and small, and kids of all ages.

From 2006-2009 Nina produced a series of children’s books for Simon and Schuster titled Trucktown created by renowned children’s book author Jon Scieszka. Trucktown has appeared on the New York Times Children’s Best Sellers List. Ms. Rappaport Rowan has since consulted on multiple feature projects, children’s books and commercials, including 20th Century Fox’s Rio. 

Prior to TOT, Ms. Rappaport Rowan helped lead the expanding computer-generated animation and visual effects division of Wild Brain, an animation movie studio. She was responsible for recruiting artistic and technical talent, developing a production pipeline to efficiently create and manage film assets, and developing production and business strategies for the company.

Randy Hibbitts

Writer, Creative Director, Collaborator

Randy Hibbitts is a copywriter/creative director and storyteller with over 25 years experience in advertising and communications. He has created award-winning work at some of the industry's most creative ad agencies, including Hal Riney & Partners, Citron Haligman Bedecarre, Goldberg Moser O'Neill, BBDO, and Foote Cone & Belding. Hibbitts was also a founder/partner of Groundswell Advertising, a boutique creative shop based in Marin County. Recently he immersed himself in the experiential realm, conceiving and scripting live and streamed events, interactive activations and related experiential content.

Randy has worked on a diverse range of clients covering the spectrum of product categories, including Amgen, Apple, Applied Materials, Beringer Wines, Charles Schwab, Cisco, Dreyer's Grand ice cream, Heavenly Ski Resort, HP, Palm, Rollerblade, Round Table Pizza, Square Enix and GungHo games, Quantum, Whole Foods, Wellpoint, Washington Hospital, and many more.  He was the lead creative in the American launch of Kia Motors, turning an unknown Korean brand into the number three selling car in its class behind Honda and Toyota. 

When not huddled over a keyboard, he can usually be found riding a bike deep in the hills of Marin County.

Jacoby Grant

Director, Collaborator, Magician

Between transmutations and teleportations across physical and ethereal realms, Monsieur Grant conjures digital illusions that boggle minds and are dangerously transfixing. We shall speak no more of it here. Let it simply be said that it would be most providential should Monsieur Grant elect to involve himself in your business.