When burnout feels bone-deep...

Chatting healing through creative expression with Skelly creator Kayla Davis.

Jan 28, 2026

Hey Sad Gurls!

I’m no stranger to bone-crushing burnout. And as the world continues to demand more from us while giving us less and less, I’ve personally turned to consuming (and creating) more indie art to cope.

One of the projects I’ve come across that spoke to me is an animated proof of concept by creator Kayla Davis. Her pilot animatic, Skelly, is about a burnt-out creative with a skeleton in her closet….and he comes to life! Real, surreal, and right up my sad girl alley!! I knew I had to talk to her, because I wanted to understand what inspired such a cool concept. Luckily, she was kind enough to chat with me…

I hit a point where burnout wasn’t just “being tired at work” — it felt like something was literally living in my closet, waiting for me at the end of every day. That heaviness, that pressure, that creeping presence that whispers, “you’re not doing enough”? That was my Skelly.

J: Hi, Kayla! Can you please tell the Sad Girls who you are and what you do?

Hey, Sad Girls! I’m Kayla M. Davis — creator, animator, storyteller, and the slightly chaotic brain behind Skelly. I’ve worked in design and motion graphics for years, but Skelly is my baby. I run Good Bones LLC, and I’m building this entire animated series as an indie creator with the help of an incredible team, The Skeleton Crew. I love telling stories that are funny, weird, honest, and a little too real sometimes.

J: As soon as I read the synopsis for the pilot episode of Skelly, I knew it was right up my alley. A burnt-out creative and the skeleton in her closet? Yup, give it to me, haha. What inspired your story?

Honestly? My life.

Instead of running from it, I decided to give it a voice, a personality, and eventually… a whole universe. I wanted to explore what it looks like when the things we hide — our exhaustion, hopes, fears, trauma, dreams — step out into the open and demand to be acknowledged.

The story is inspired by every creative who’s ever felt unseen, overwhelmed, or stretched thin but still pushes to make something beautiful.

J: Thank you for sharing! What pieces of media have inspired your creativity?

I pull inspiration from everywhere. A few big ones:

Glen Keane and Don Bluth — the OGs who made me fall in love with animation
Shows that blend humor and emotional gut punches, like BoJack Horseman
Adventure Time and Steven Universe for their heart
Atlanta for the surreal realism
And honestly? Indie creators on the internet. Seeing people build worlds with what they have inspires me constantly.

Anything that mixes “this is funny” with “ouch, that hurt a little” lives in my creative zone.

Jacque’s note: YES TO ATLANTA. YES TO DON BLUTH!!

J: So you suffered from burnout yourself? How did you overcome?

Absolutely — Skelly was born out of it.

Burnout hit me hard: physically, emotionally, and creatively. I reached a point where I wasn’t sure if I even recognized myself outside of work. I overcame it by:

Letting myself rest without guilt
Creating something for me, not for a client
Surrounding myself with people who understood the struggle
permitting myself to slow down
And eventually, turning my burnout into art — literally bringing Skelly to life

I’m still learning balance, but Skelly has been my therapy in motion.

J: Any advice for others dealing with the same?

A few things I wish someone had screamed at me sooner:

REST. If you’re tired, stop.
Your worth isn’t based on how much you make or create.
Boundaries are your best friend.
Stop trying to be a machine — you’re a human being with limits.
Give yourself permission to make something silly or fun just because.
And please, don’t wait for permission to start your dream project.

You don’t owe burnout anything.

J: What do you want people to feel when they watch Skelly?

I want people to feel seen.

Like, “Oh wow… That’s me. I’ve felt that.”

I want them to laugh, maybe get a little emotional, and feel understood.
Skelly is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed, overlooked, stressed, or like they’re carrying way too much.

More than anything, I want people to walk away thinking:

“Okay, maybe I’m not alone in this.”

Additional. We are still trying to gather some funding to finish up Skelly. Here is a GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/c3100c94

Jacque’s note: Thank you, Kayla! You are a breath of fresh air! Thank you for creating something many of us can deeply relate to.