Friday, November 13, 2026
Franklin Square native Jason Alvino, 53-year-old, and Oceanside native Mike Carlo, 46-year-old, currently living in Pasadena, CA, have combined their skills as a screenwriter and an animator to create the independently produced, adult-animated series "Beefy Frank."
The series is officially joining Animation+, a free channel currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Samsung TV Plus, Sony PlayStation, Plex, LG, and other platforms. Animation+ serves as a platform for independent animators and established creators to reach new audiences beyond traditional distribution channels.
"Beefy Frank’s Animation Social Club" is set to premiere on Animation+ at 9 p.m. on Nov. 15. The series' path to Animation+ highlights a broader shift across the animation industry.
Alvino, a Carey alum, currently serves as president of the Friends of the Franklin Square Public Library, and discussed developing and independently distributing the animated series rooted in Long Island culture, as well as the challenges in the animation industry.
Alvino said the series is inspired by the popular adult animated series "The Simpsons," "South Park," "Rick and Morty," and "Bob’s Burgers," emphasizing that it balances comedy with heart rather than relying on raunchiness.
He said the series is a two-person operation, with Alvino and Carlo developing the concept based on life with family and friends in Nassau County.
“There's quite a bit of Franklin Square in 'Beefy Frank,' even though the show, the world technically takes place in Massapequa, where Mike used to live,” Alvino said. “It's very silly, but there are little nods, just the way the characters talk and interact with each other, and ultimately the show is about trying to make up for things in your life.”
Alvino said the early concept was a monstrous character, Frank Vitaliano, a low-level Long Island mob associate who is accidentally mutated into a disembodied, telekinetic head during a botched job. But it evolved into a darkly funny narrative about a mutant decapitated hot dog's head trying to reintegrate into normal life after his ties to the mafia landed him in prison — mixing a rich blend of horror, personal history, and cultural absurdity.
He added that after years of development and unsuccessful pitches to various studios, they chose to build an audience independently, retain ownership of the intellectual property, and pass up the traditional studio system rather than attach an influencer or give up ownership.
“The industry has changed dramatically for independent creators,” Carlo, animator of The Beefy Frank, said in a release. “You don't have to wait for someone to give you permission to develop an idea. You can make something, get it in front of people, and grow your audience. Animation+ is an incredible partner in that process.”
Alvino said they used animatics, a rough, timed-out draft of an animated film made by syncing storyboard illustrations with dialogue, music, and sound effects. He added that Carlo later “single-handedly animated four-and-a-half-minute shorts” using those animatics, and they started posting them weekly on social media. He said the short clips gained about 50,000 followers and more than 4.5 million views.
He said that the completed short caught the attention of Silver Lake Shorts, a monthly short film screening series & 501(c)3 festival championing independent filmmakers and animators in Los Angeles, which invited them to show their shorts and where they met Animation+.
“We have this great response from there,” Alvino said. “And we met people from Animation+ there, and they were interested in what we were doing, and we loved what they were doing.”
Animation+ licensed the content, while Alvino and Carlo retain ownership and provide access to free streaming and on-demand platforms.
“'Beefy Frank' is a prime example of the power of independent animation and what happens when artists make bold and original work without permission outside of the traditional linear or streaming landscape,” Jared Corwin, co-executive director of Silver Lake Shorts, said. “I'm so happy that the show has found its home on Animation+ and that Silver Lake Shorts was able to be a part of that journey.”
Alvino told the Herald that he’s proud to represent Franklin Square and supports local arts through his role with the Friends of the Franklin Square Public Library. He added that he hopes to encourage local young people to pursue writing, art, animation, and filmmaking.
Alvino said they plan to create new short-form programming monthly under a five-year contract, building toward a full-length series that would require a budget and a co-producer. Although writing and producing the series is rewarding, Alvino highlighted that limited time, and the workload of promotion and distribution are the main challenges.
