Overcome bullies with the indie film ‘Justin and the Werloobee’
We’ve all been bullied at some point in our lives. It’s an uncomfortable part of life, and one that could be largely avoided if we were more understanding of each other’s differences. This is the central issue at the heart of the animated short Justin and the Werloobee.
The film introduces us to Justin, a sensitive boy whose physical features and personality make him an easy target for the bullies at school. His introspective nature makes it difficult for him to make friends, and he spends most of his days in isolation. Things change, however, after one fateful night. Justin wakes up to discover that he’s landed on a mysterious island inhabited by strange creatures.
Justin tries to find a way home, but his efforts lead him to cross paths with Irvino, a beast who is ostracized by the other creatures on the island. Justin recognizes this kindred spirit is dealing with the same issues he deals with at home, and together they work to overcome their insecurities and support one another.
Film description and plot
Released in 2021, Justin and the Werloobee has grown from a short into a multi-award-winning work with full-length availability on YouTube. The story still centers on Justin’s arrival on the island and his alliance with Irvino, yet the completed film now reaches new audiences through the creators’ nonprofit channel.
John Vo biography
The third filmmaker behind Justin and the Werloobee is John Vo. Vo is the founder of Lonely Lane Productions and an executive specializing in finance and operations for content and creative startups. He has continued activity running a creative agency as CEO and commercializing content properties, with experience now exceeding fifteen years.
Ken Yoffe professional details
Both writers/filmmakers are accomplished outside of the arts as well. Yoffe is a pediatrician in Chelmsford, MA who holds a doctorate in genetics, and Weisberg is a cancer researcher at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Principal Associate in Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, with a doctorate in pharmacology.
Nonprofit and impact section
Justin and the Werloobee is the first film for both Yoffe and Weisberg, and it was made possible by money they were awarded for development of a leukemia therapy. It will be used as part of their 501c3 non-profit (called FACEPAINT, Inc.) to raise social awareness, and to promote the anti-bullying message introduced in their children’s books. The organization has since expanded activities to include ongoing book donations, Little Free Library programs in 2025-2026, and new animations produced under the same banner.
Awards and Festival Recognition
Justin and the Werloobee won Best Animation at the World Film Festival in 2025. Multiple prior festival wins are noted in compilations and on the FACEPAINT Instagram account, confirming the film’s sustained recognition years after its initial release.
Where to Watch Justin and the Werloobee
The film is available on the Ellen Weisberg and Ken Yoffe FACEPAINT Nonprofit YouTube channel. It is promoted there as a full-length anti-bullying fantasy, giving viewers direct access without festival screenings or physical media.
FACEPAINT Nonprofit's Ongoing Anti-Bullying Work
The nonprofit has expanded activities beyond the original film launch. Active book donations and Little Free Library programs continue in 2025-2026. Additional animations such as Full Moon (2025) and Making Emmie Smile carry forward the same themes of kindness and inclusion.
Related Projects and Expansions
Creators have released follow-up short films continuing the anti-bullying and kindness themes. Full Moon was released with similar messaging and shares production team members with Justin and the Werloobee. Making Emmie Smile is listed on IMDb as a 2025 project from the same group.
Justin and the Werloobee is based on the children’s book Fruit of the Vine. It was written by Ken Yoffe and Ellen Weisberg, who serve as two of the film’s three directors. They do a marvelous job of translating the color and wholesomeness of the book to the screen, and using the medium to bolster their message about friendship and kindness. What makes the film stand out from other children’s stories is that it functions on multiple levels. It’s effective as a fantastical adventure and as a fable for anyone who is interested in the topic of bullies. Yoffe and Weisberg are part-time children’s book authors whose work has appeared in PKA's Advocate, The Writing Disorder, and Natural Solutions. They have also published multiple children's geography and anti-bullying books through Galde Press and Waldorf Publishing, and two novels through Waldorf Publishing and Chipmunkapublishing. Their continued output under the FACEPAINT banner shows the same commitment to reaching young viewers with stories that value empathy over exclusion.
