An Interview with Taneka Stotts, the Story Editor of ‘Pinecone & Pony’

Young Justice and Steven Universe Future. Currently, Taneka serves as the story editor on the Apple TV+/Dreamworks series, Pinecone & Pony, and we here at NTG were lucky enough to talk with Taneka about her latest project.

John Betancourt: What was it that attracted you to working on Pinecone & Pony?
 
Taneka Stotts: Pinecone! Legitimately I fell in love with Pinecone before Pony, before Sturdystone, and before even being hired. I read an amazing story bible about a little girl, that I resonated with so deep to my core, it couldn't be possible that she was real. Funny, smart, a crybaby with a heart of gold. She lives life warrior style, and it doesn't mean with your muscles, money, or title, but instead it's with your honesty, heart, and one pony toot per episode!
 
John Betancourt: Now to educate myself and others out there, could you by chance walk us through what a story editor's role is on a television show?
 
Taneka Stotts: Oh of course. A story editor's role is like being an assistant to a showrunner, or sometimes it's the role you're given as the showrunner. I find it depends on the production or studio employing it, how it will be utilized by the person given that title. As a story editor, I found myself to be the official consistency checker, to make sure the cohesion of all the storylines kept to their beats. I wrote episodes, I pitched episodes, I edited episodes (not just my own), I helped others construct their episodes (built out the world), I tracked episodic progress, I sat in on records, I provided dialogue punch-up and alternatives for us to discuss and employ into our work. It's a very interesting role and I absolutely love it, it definitely prepares you for the role above that.
 
John Betancourt: Now this is a series full of wonderful messages and concepts, how much influence did you have on injecting those messages into the story as both a writer and story editor?
 
Taneka Stotts: I don't want to toot my own horn, that's Pony's job, but I gave this show my all. I don't want to take credit for doing this or doing that. I think there are enough people who do that already, without really thinking about the people that it neglects in the process to creating animation. The writer's room starts a conversation, but the boarders, the PA's, the random pitch for a punch up from an intern, their voices are the volume that adds to the weight of what we do. So, my influence is there, as is every voice that was in that room, and I couldn't be prouder of how it came out. I was grateful that my influence was allowed to be heard, respected, and I out found that my co-workers thought the same way too.
 
John Betancourt: Speaking of messaging, what is the message that resonated with you the most when it comes to this series?
 
Taneka Stotts: Be yourself. It's an ancient adage that still rings true, and it's still evident for today's youth as it was for mine and many more before and after us. I found that Pinecone and Pony both instilled that message upon the show very deeply. It sounds so easy, but sometimes it's one of the hardest things you feel you get to actually do.
 
John Betancourt: What does it mean to you to be a part of a series that is teaching children such wonderful lessons about the world and life?
 
Taneka Stotts: It means the world to me. I grew up watching television constantly, many people told me that it would rot my brain. But here I am just writing every day, still using my brain. Honestly though, I enjoy knowing that the messages we threaded throughout the show, born from pure kindness, are out there and that its resonating with kids and parents of all walks of life, it's really awesome!
 
John Betancourt: What are you most proud of when it comes to your work on this series?
 
Taneka Stotts: Can I just say everything? Because literally it's everything. The message, the animation, the writing, the boarding, the voice acting, the cast, the crew, our executives, and just this opportunity to make a series you have always wanted to see exist. If I have to name one thing though and stick to it... it would be our inclusivity. The lengths in which we all went to make something authentic, fun, and just what we were craving in this timeline. Something we needed and we were so happy we got to share with an audience.
 
John Betancourt: What do you hope audiences take away from this show?
 
Taneka Stotts: Find what makes you feel like a warrior and cherish it. Be bold, be kind, and just be yourself. 

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