Now What!?, a nonprofit animation studio aimed at elucidating democracy through comedy, has launched its first animated short of 2026, titled “Oligarchy Does Not Rock,” on January 20. This marks the start of a monthly release plan leading up to the 2026 midterms. Founded in 2023 by Brendan Burch, who runs notable animation studios like Six Point Harness, Now What!? targets younger audiences to clarify complex civic concepts.
The short, created by Lexie Kahanovitz and co-written by Rachel Wenitsky, is a fast-paced musical explainer inspired by Schoolhouse Rock. It features voice performances from James Adomian and Matt Danner. Kahanovitz emphasized the need to make difficult issues like oligarchy understandable, as the term is often misused and misunderstood.
Burch noted the importance of clarifying terms like oligarchy, which can mean different things to different people. The short was produced through donations, maintaining a creator-first approach while prioritizing paid opportunities for artists.
“Oligarchy Does Not Rock” follows the success of “Middle Class Matt,” which has received over 18 million views. All shorts can be accessed on the organization’s website and social media platforms.
