My journey with BlackCatAnimationStudios
A story of stop motion, technology, trust – and how it all became BCAS.
This is not a typical about page.
Not the kind where you see a few milestones, a polished portrait and a short paragraph at the end. If you’re here, I’d rather tell you who I really am, why I started BCAS and what defines my work today.
Super 8 & cameras
At 14, at IFA
Who am I?
I’m Eric Osterwald, 22 years old, and I founded BlackCatAnimationStudios four years ago. But it actually started much earlier.
Even as a kid, I was fascinated by media. I always felt that this was something that truly sparked something in me.
There was another influence that shaped me early on: technology. In my family, cameras were always present.
My grandfather used a Super 8 camera. My father later had digital cameras that accompanied many family moments.
To me, this was always something special. These weren’t just devices – they were tools to capture memories and create something lasting.
That’s when I started picking up a camera myself, not just to take pictures, but to understand the technology behind it.
Over the years, I didn’t just build a strong understanding of technology – I discovered something more. There are not only big brands and finished products. There are startups. Ideas that are still small, but already carry something bigger.
At some point, I simply took the chance and approached a startup at IFA. I was 14 years old. Instead of being dismissed, they took me seriously.
That connection grew over time. And when I founded BlackCatAnimationStudios at 18, they had already seen how committed I was over the years.
They became my first clients.
Stop motion on the bedroom floor
As a child, I created stop-motion films using building blocks. I spent hours moving figures, taking photos and putting everything together frame by frame.
Later, I started creating Minecraft videos on YouTube. But I quickly realized that what really fascinated me wasn’t the game itself – it was storytelling, editing and creating something from nothing.
I became more interested in how something is made than what is being shown.
A small screen
When my father brought home the first iPhone, I was instantly fascinated. That small device opened up a completely new world for me. I started diving deep into technology, watching videos, learning and experimenting. That curiosity eventually led me to create my own content about tech.
That’s when everything shifted. I moved away from gaming and focused on innovation, new ideas and storytelling through technology.
They saw that I meant what I was doing. And they trusted me.
That is where the foundation of my trust-based approach comes from.
I learned early how much can happen when people give each other a chance. Not judging based on age, appearance or size – but on effort, mindset and potential.
That trust didn’t just shape me professionally, but personally. It showed me that real growth comes from supporting each other, believing in ideas and acting with intention.
And that’s exactly how I want to work.
That’s how my entire approach was built.
I never wanted to build a company that judges ideas only by budget, size or appearance.
Not everyone can afford digitalization, creative work or professional media right from the start. Not every good idea comes with funding. Not every vision is perfect.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a chance.
That’s why I chose to work differently from the beginning.
Whether it’s a website, design, video, animation or a complete brand presence – my goal has always been to create a system where people can come with an idea and be taken seriously.
If someone approaches me with honesty and trust, they will receive the same in return.
And this principle has proven itself again and again. There was only one case where it didn’t work.
But that never made me question the concept. Quite the opposite. It confirmed that this is the right path.
Foundation
Apocalypse & sorbian superheroes
When I started BlackCatAnimationStudios, it wasn’t a spontaneous decision.
It was the result of everything I had experienced before.
Today, I work with clients all across Germany – startups, companies, restaurants and individuals.
Big and small projects.
And the fact that people trust me with their ideas and come back again is still one of the most rewarding things to me.
A defining part of my journey were my own film projects. In 2019 and 2021, I participated in the Cottbus Film Festival with two short films.
One was an apocalyptic story.
The other a sorbian superhero concept.
I was still very young, but those experiences showed me how much I am drawn to storytelling, directing and creating worlds.
A personal standard
For me, it was never just about producing something. I’ve always been deeply connected to film and visual storytelling.
I think in images. Almost cinematically.
Even small projects should leave an impression. A feeling. A distinct identity. Something that stands out.
I don’t believe in average results. I believe that even with limited resources, something meaningful can be created – if it’s done with intention, detail and passion.
When I look at BlackCatAnimationStudios today, I don’t just see a company. I see a path. A path that started early – with cameras, technology, experiments, YouTube, stop motion, curiosity and trust. And with people who gave me a chance. That also means responsibility for me. To treat people the same way. To recognize potential. To take ideas seriously. And to create work that is not interchangeable.
I want BCAS to grow. To become more visible. But I want to keep what made it possible in the first place:
Trust. Flexibility. Mindset. And the belief that good ideas deserve something real.
If you’ve read this far, you now know more about me than on most “about” pages. That was the intention.
Because BCAS is not just a service. It’s a path. And I’m glad for everyone who becomes part of it.