Dana Terrace

Terrace was born in Hamden, Connecticut. She spent eight years going to St. Rita School, a local Catholic school, gaining an interest in painters such as John Bauer, Remedios Varo, and Hieronymus Bosch.{{Cite web|last=Asarch|first=Steven|date=January 8, 2020|title=The Owl House Creators Talk Bringing Creepy Back to Disney With a Dash of Bosch|url=https://www.newsweek.com/owl-house-creators-talk-bringing-creepy-back-disney-dash-bosch-1481110|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125012814/https://www.newsweek.com/owl-house-creators-talk-bringing-creepy-back-disney-dash-bosch-1481110|archive-date=January 25, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=Newsweek}}{{Cite web|last=Dunne|first=Susan|date=January 6, 2020|title=Hamden native creates Disney Channel's newest show 'The Owl House'|url=https://www.courant.com/ctnow/arts-theater/hc-ctnow-arts-hamden-native-creates-disney-show-owl-house-20200106-kxcg3i2s65g57mz3s4vysgw3nu-story.html|website=Hartford Courant|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106155310/https://www.courant.com/ctnow/arts-theater/hc-ctnow-arts-hamden-native-creates-disney-show-owl-house-20200106-kxcg3i2s65g57mz3s4vysgw3nu-story.html|archive-date=January 6, 2020|access-date=September 5, 2020|url-status=live}} As a child, she watched cartoons like The Powerpuff Girls, Pokémon, South Park, and The Simpsons, inspiring her later works.{{Cite web|last=Switzer|first=Ken|date=August 10, 2017|title=Dana Terrace on Directing Episodes of Disneys New Ducktales and More|url=https://sva.edu/features/animator-dana-terrace-on-directing-episodes-of-disney-s-new-ducktales-and-more-video|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=School of Visual Arts New York|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202090022/http://www.sva.edu/features/animator-dana-terrace-on-directing-episodes-of-disney-s-new-ducktales-and-more-video|archive-date=December 2, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|date=March 22, 2019|title=Animation Magazine's Rising Stars of Animation 2019|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/people/rising-stars-of-animation-2019/|url-status=live|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=Animation Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724195400/https://www.animationmagazine.net/people/rising-stars-of-animation-2019/|archive-date=July 24, 2020}} Studio Ghibli films (especially Princess Mononoke), the anime series Revolutionary Girl Utena, Tenchi Muyo!, and Garfield influenced her as well.{{Cite web|last1=Switzer|first1=Ken|date=August 10, 2017|title= Animator Dana Terrace on Directing Episodes of Disney's New 'DuckTales,' and More [Video]|url=https://sva.edu/features/animator-dana-terrace-on-directing-episodes-of-disney-s-new-ducktales-and-more-video|url-status=live|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=School of Visual Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202142618/https://sva.edu/features/animator-dana-terrace-on-directing-episodes-of-disney-s-new-ducktales-and-more-video|archive-date=February 2, 2019}} The video has been archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20180423174430if_/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BezQmcKMGD8&feature=youtu.be here]. It is not known whether Terrace is referring to Garfield the comic or the animated series, Garfield and Friends. In 2000, she created her first flip-book animation, which focused on "Pikachu thundershocking a Charmander."{{Cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=October 9, 2013|title=battle pokes|url=http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2013/10/battle-pokes.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822232550/http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2013/10/battle-pokes.html|archive-date=August 22, 2014|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=Dana Draws [old art blog of Dana Terrace]|publisher=Blogspot}} Terrace was a dancer for 10 years. She attended Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School in New Haven, Connecticut. While in high school, she worked at a natural history museum for three years.{{cite tweet|number=1674293564841562112|first=Dana|last=Terrace|user=DanaTerrace|title=In high school I worked at a natural history museum for 3 years so... 💀|date=June 29, 2023|url=https://twitter.com/DanaTerrace/status/1674293564841562112|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629071246/https://twitter.com/DanaTerrace/status/1674293564841562112|archive-date=June 29, 2023|url-status=live}}

Terrace studied animation at the School of Visual Arts in New York.{{Cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=September 2, 2020|title=Reddit AMA|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TheOwlHouse/comments/ill21i/hooty_hooty_im_dana_terrace_creator_and_ep_of_the/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904182716/https://www.reddit.com/r/TheOwlHouse/comments/ill21i/hooty_hooty_im_dana_terrace_creator_and_ep_of_the/|archive-date=September 4, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=Reddit|url-status=live}} While there she drew for about eight hours a day, and began posting work to her Tumblr blog. In April 2012, during her third year at SVA, she created an animated short titled "Kickball," with voiceovers by YouTube animator Yotam Perel and music by Jeff Liu.{{Cite web|last=Blazenhoff|first=Rusty|date=April 23, 2012|title=Kickball!, A Sweet Animated Short by Dana Terrace|url=https://laughingsquid.com/kickball-a-sweet-animated-short-by-dana-terrace/|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=The Laughing Squid|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313083600/https://laughingsquid.com/kickball-a-sweet-animated-short-by-dana-terrace/|archive-date=March 13, 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=May 29, 2012|title=thanks|url=http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2012/05/thanks.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628101644/http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/|archive-date=June 28, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=Dana Draws [old art blog of Dana Terrace]|publisher=Blogspot}} The exact page was never archived, only the page listing all the blog entries, hence the different url. "Kickball" was praised for its design and "expressive motion"{{Cite web|last=Amidi|first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi|date=April 21, 2012|title="Kickball" by Dana Terrace|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/kickball-by-dana-terrace-61460.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224001432/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/kickball-by-dana-terrace-61460.html|archive-date=February 24, 2018|access-date=September 5, 2020|website=Cartoon Brew}} and won a grant from the National Board of Review.{{Cite web|date=2020|title=2012 Student Grant Awardees - Kickball [by] Dana Terrace|url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/student-film/dana-terrace-kickball/|url-status=live|access-date=September 5, 2020|website=National Board of Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905220412/https://nationalboardofreview.org/student-film/dana-terrace-kickball/|archive-date=September 5, 2020}}{{Cite news|date=2020|title=Dusty Festival: Winners List|url=https://film.sva.edu/dusty/winners-list/|url-status=live|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=School of Visual Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402111843/https://film.sva.edu/dusty/winners-list/|archive-date=April 2, 2020}} See bottom of 2012 Winners section The following year, she worked with Iker Maidagan on a short animated film titled "Mirage".{{Cite web|last=Ruocco|first=Michael|date=April 21, 2012|title="Mirage" by Iker Maidagan and Dana Terrace|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/mirage-by-iker-maidagan-and-dana-terrace-84288.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 5, 2020|website=Cartoon Brew|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200905215920/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/mirage-by-iker-maidagan-and-dana-terrace-84288.html|archive-date=September 5, 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=April 22, 2013|title=mid april|url=http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2013/04/mid-april.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515143518/http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/|archive-date=May 15, 2013|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=Dana Draws [old art blog of Dana Terrace]|publisher=Blogspot}} The exact page was never archived, only the page listing all the blog entries, hence the different url. Maidagan did the layout and wrote the story, while Terrace animated and designed the characters. The film was praised as being "flawlessly executed," was shown at the LA Shorts Fest,{{Cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|date=August 27, 2013|title=L.A. Shorts Fest Announces Animation Screening|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/l-shorts-fest-announces-animation-screening/|url-status=live|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=Animation Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128152644/https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/l-shorts-fest-announces-animation-screening/|archive-date=January 28, 2018}} and resulted in Terrace and Maidagan receiving an Alumni Scholarship Award.{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Award Recipients|url=https://sva.edu/alumni/alumni-society/award-recipients|url-status=live|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=School of Visual Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404092839if_/https://sva.edu/alumni/alumni-society/award-recipients|archive-date=April 4, 2020}} See 2013 section. At the time, when asked about animating, she said she loved it, and said she is on the track to become a "proper filmmaker"{{Cite web|date=2013|title=Dana Terrace – 2013|url=https://film.sva.edu/student-work/dana-terrace/|url-status=live|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=School of Visual Arts|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200910151609/https://film.sva.edu/student-work/dana-terrace/|archive-date=September 10, 2020}} and stated that she would collaborate with Maidagan in the future.{{Cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=November 23, 2013|title=keep forgetting |url=http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2013/11/keep-forgetting.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017213105/http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2013/11/keep-forgetting.html|archive-date=October 17, 2015|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=Dana Draws [old art blog of Dana Terrace]|publisher=Blogspot}} She later described her experience at SVA as a mixed bag, although she learned a lot from online tutorials, her peers, and fellow students.{{cite interview |last=Terrace |first=Dana |subject-link=Dana Terrace |interviewer=Jason Anders |title=Hurricane Life: A Conversation with Dana Terrace |url=https://www.fullecirclemagazine.com/2016/12/hurricane-life-conversation-with-dana.html |access-date=September 9, 2020 |work=Fülle Circle Magazine |publisher=Blogspot |location=United States |date=December 2016}}

In 2011, Terrace was an assistant for a thesis horror comedy film by Zach Bellissimo titled Blanderstein, as was Terrace's roommate Luz Batista.{{Cite web|author=Brewmasters|date=April 29, 2019|title=CBTV Student Fest: "Blenderstein!"|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/brewtv/blenderstein-45871.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Cartoon Brew|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927233213/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/brewtv/blenderstein-45871.html|archive-date=September 27, 2020}} Blanderstein went on to win a Dusty Award for "Outstanding Traditional Animation and Achievement in Traditional Animation Character Design," tying with Michael Ruocco's thesis film, Destiny is for the Birds.{{Cite news|author=|title=Dusty Festival: Winners List|url=https://film.sva.edu/dusty/winners-list/|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|newspaper=Sva Bfa Film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202013430/https://film.sva.edu/dusty/winners-list/ |archive-date=February 2, 2021}} See the list of winners in 2011 which list Blanderstein and Destiny for the Birds

After graduating from SVA in 2013, she interned the following summer at JibJab,{{Cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=August 2, 2020|title=Alumni Blog: Dana Terrace|url=https://film.sva.edu/alumni-blog-dana-terrace/|url-status=live|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=School of Visual Arts Alumni Blog|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704164117/https://film.sva.edu/alumni-blog-dana-terrace/|archive-date=July 4, 2020}} where she met an individual from Gravity Falls who saw her student film Mirage and sent her a storyboard test, subsequently hiring her for Disney Television Animation and landing her a job on the series as a storyboard revisionist.{{Cite web|last=McDonnell|first=Chris|date=August 21, 2013|title=Artist of the Day: Dana Terrace|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/promote-article/dana-terrace-85823.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=Cartoon Brew|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124065214/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/promote-article/dana-terrace-85823.html|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}{{Cite web|last=Nolan|first=Liam|date=January 10, 2020|title=The Owl House's Creator, Art Director Explain How They Crafted the New Show|url=https://www.cbr.com/owl-house-interview-terrace-cometa/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328044648/https://www.cbr.com/owl-house-interview-terrace-cometa/|archive-date=March 28, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=CBR}} As she described it in 2017, she was brought into Gravity Falls because creative people working on the show liked what they saw on her Tumblr blog, and she was brought in because she was willing to do any kind of animation for a specific scene. Her work for Gravity Falls would be her "first professional animation job," where she learned to storyboard, how to handle a crew, and have a clear vision.{{cite web|last1=Venable|first1=Nick|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2488058/the-owl-house-why-gravity-falls-and-steven-universe-fans-will-love-disneys-new-series|title=The Owl House: Why Gravity Falls And Steven Universe Fans Will Love Disney's New Series|website=Cinema Blend|date=January 9, 2020|access-date=September 5, 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906040617/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2488058/the-owl-house-why-gravity-falls-and-steven-universe-fans-will-love-disneys-new-series|archive-date=September 6, 2020}} Terrace also animated sequences for the show that were animated in-house due to being considered too important to be animated by outside studios.{{cite web|url=https://gravi-teamfalls.tumblr.com/post/113443219288/danaterrace-animation-i-did-from-the-last-scene|title=Animation I did from the last scene of Not What He Seems. Keys by Matt Braly. Woo|date=March 12, 2015|website=Gravi-Team Falls|via=Tumblr}} In 2019, she said she had a "wonderful experience" on Gravity Falls and said she "couldn’t have asked for a better first gig." She stated in a 2016 interview that she was waiting to hear back from Steven Universe because she was a fan of Rebecca Sugar after seeing her films at SVA, but they "took too long to reply" so she decided to work for Gravity Falls instead.

In 2014, she tabled at the CTN Animation Expo with Nate Swineheart, and sold prints, sketchbooks, and other works.{{Cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=September 3, 2014|title=CTN!|url=http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2014/09/ctn.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127194200/http://dana-draws.blogspot.com/2014/09/ctn.html|archive-date=November 27, 2017|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=Dana Draws [old art blog of Dana Terrace]|publisher=Blogspot}} In 2018, she inked 34 pages of Hirsch's graphic novel, Gravity Falls: Lost Legends: 4 All-New Adventures!{{cite book |last=Hirsch |first=Alex |author-link=Alex Hirsch |date=2018 |title=Gravity Falls: Lost Legends: 4 All-New Adventures! |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u2BMDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Dana+Terrace%22 |location=Wilmington, Delaware |publisher=Disney Electronic Content |page=Inside Cover |isbn=9781368017091}}{{cite thesis |last=Ramírez Bonilla |first=María Paula |date=2019 |title=Gravity Falls y las narrativas transmedia. Una historia en múltiples dimensiones |trans-title=Gravity Falls and transmedia narratives: A story in multiple dimensions |publisher=Pontifical Xavierian University|url=https://repository.javeriana.edu.co/bitstream/handle/10554/43538/TRABAJO%20DE%20GRADO.pdf |pages=57, 79, 103 |access-date=September 5, 2020 |language=es}}{{Cite web|last1=Harper|first1=Jane|date=June 29, 2018|title=July's Best New Books for Young Readers|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/kids/julys-best-books-for-young-readers-in-2018/|access-date=September 5, 2020|website=Barnes & Noble|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905233407/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/kids/julys-best-books-for-young-readers-in-2018/|archive-date=September 5, 2020|url-status=live}}

In 2017, Terrace directed various episodes of the 2017 DuckTales reboot and made the character Webby Vanderquack "more dynamic."{{Cite web|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=September 5, 2019|title=Disney Channel's 'The Owl House' Sets Voice Cast, Secures New York Comic Con Berth |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/the-owl-house-voice-cast-wendie-malick-alex-hirsch-sarah-nicole-robles-1202712677/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905140122/https://deadline.com/2019/09/the-owl-house-voice-cast-wendie-malick-alex-hirsch-sarah-nicole-robles-1202712677/|archive-date=September 5, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2020|website=Deadline}}

Terrace later said she was not feeling "fulfilled artistically or emotionally" in the job, which moved her to create her own series. The line producer for the second season of Gravity Falls was also working on DuckTales and brought her into the show in spite of Terrace having never watched the original series before working on the show, though she is a fan of the Carl Barks/Don Rosa comic books both series draw inspiration from. The same year, Variety highlighted her as an up-and-coming animator.{{Cite web|last=Idelson|first=Karen|date=May 3, 2017|title=Variety's 2017 10 Animators to Watch - Dana Terrace|url=https://variety.com/gallery/variety-10-animators-to-watch-2017/dana-terrace/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522212205if_/https://variety.com/gallery/variety-10-animators-to-watch-2017/#!9/dana-terrace|archive-date=May 22, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2020|website=Variety}} Also that year she worked as a storyboard revisionist for Tangled: Before Ever After,{{cite AV media |people=Caulfield, Tom (Director), Sandoval, Stephen (Director) |date=March 20, 2017 |title=Tangled: Before Ever After |medium=Television film |language=en |location=United States |publisher=Disney Channel }} directed by Tom Caulfield and Stephen Sandoval; Sandoval would later work on The Owl House.{{Cite web|last=Nordyke|first=Kimberly|date=November 3, 2019|title=Disney Channel's 'The Owl House' Gets Season 2 Order Ahead of Series Premiere (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/disney-channels-owl-house-gets-early-season-2-order-1256811|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200906045359/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/disney-channels-owl-house-gets-early-season-2-order-1256811|archive-date=September 6, 2020|access-date=September 6, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter}} She later storyboarded the fourth episode of Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, "Challenge of the Brave."{{Cite episode |title=Challenge of the Brave |series=Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure |network=Disney Channel |date=April 14, 2017 |season=1 |number=4 |language=en}}

After years of working on other Disney Channel shows, Terrace developed the characters and "baseline idea" for an original series at the end of 2016{{Cite web|last=Trumdore|first=Dave|date=January 10, 2020|title='The Owl House' Creator Dana Terrace & Art Director Ricky Cometa on Their Fantasy Tale|url=https://collider.com/owl-house-disney-dana-terrace-interview-ricky-cometa/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308214436/https://collider.com/owl-house-disney-dana-terrace-interview-ricky-cometa/|archive-date=March 8, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=Collider}} and pitched the series a few months after she started directing DuckTales in 2017.{{Cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramid|date=December 24, 2019|title=Disney Channel's 'The Owl House': It's a Hoot!|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/disney-channels-the-owl-house-its-a-hoot/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408022515/https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/disney-channels-the-owl-house-its-a-hoot/|archive-date=April 8, 2020|access-date=September 6, 2020|website=Animation Magazine}} The pitch, "a young girl goes to another world and learns magic from an older witch",{{Cite web|last=Drew|first=Emma|date=January 10, 2020|title=SVA Alumnus Dana Terrace Talks About Showrunning Disney's 'The Owl House'|url=https://sva.edu/features/sva-alumnus-dana-terrace-talks-about-showrunning-disney-s-the-owl-house%20%C2%A0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904182002/https://sva.edu/features/sva-alumnus-dana-terrace-talks-about-showrunning-disney-s-the-owl-house|archive-date=September 4, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=School of Visual Arts}} later developed into The Owl House.{{Cite web|last=Lang|first=Jamie|date=June 12, 2018|title=Disney Announces 'Vikingskool,' Shares Exclusive First Images of 'The Rocketeer,' 'Owl House' |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/festivals/disney-annecy-vikingskool-rocketeer-owl-house-1202843108/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606054426/https://variety.com/2018/tv/festivals/disney-annecy-vikingskool-rocketeer-owl-house-1202843108/|archive-date=June 6, 2020|access-date=September 5, 2020|website=Variety}} The first character she created was the Owl Lady, which she based on the women in her family, including her aunts, mother, and grandmother. The character Luz Noceda is named after her roommate.{{Cite web|last=Elderkin|first=Beth|date=October 17, 2019|title=The Personal Story Behind Owl House's Magical New Disney Heroine|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-personal-story-behind-owl-houses-magical-new-disney-1839128407|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812154614/https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-personal-story-behind-owl-houses-magical-new-disney-1839128407|archive-date=August 12, 2020|access-date=2020-09-04|website=io9|language=en-us}} The series was also influenced by Pokémon Red, a game Terrace's father, Thomas Terrace, an attorney in Hamden, Connecticut, gave her before he died when she was age 11. Terrace said she was motivated to create The Owl House to prove it was a good story, and gave it the current name because of the "mystique surrounding owls." She later said that while there is some information for fans who want to "dig deeper" into the show, like codes and ciphers in Gravity Falls, there is a way to "enjoy the show as it is" without digging into the show's lore.

The Owl House began development on February 23, 2018, when it was greenlit alongside Amphibia, and premiered on January 10, 2020, on Disney Channel in the United States.{{Cite web|last=Amidi|first=Amid |author-link=Amid Amidi|date=February 23, 2018|title=Disney TV Animation Will Produce 2 New Series|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/disney-tv-animation-will-produce-2-new-series-amphibia-owl-house-156904.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225064829/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/disney-tv-animation-will-produce-2-new-series-amphibia-owl-house-156904.html|archive-date=February 25, 2018|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=Cartoon Brew}} The series was approved for a second season on November 21, 2019.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Tracy |title=For its creator, Disney's 'The Owl House' is the best revenge |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-01-10/disney-owl-house-dana-terrace |access-date=4 September 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201065844/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-01-10/disney-owl-house-dana-terrace |archive-date=February 1, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Trumbore |first1=Dave |title=Disney Channel Orders Season 2 of 'The Owl House' Ahead of January Premiere |url=https://collider.com/owl-house-release-date-trailer-season-2-renewed/ |access-date=5 September 2020 |work=Collider |date=November 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109121805/https://collider.com/owl-house-release-date-trailer-season-2-renewed/ |archive-date=January 9, 2020}} The same year, Terrace illustrated an alternative cover for issue 4 of Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake: Card Wars, a BOOM! Studios six-issue miniseries which featured Fionna and Cake, the gender-swapped versions of Finn and Jake.{{cite book |last=Wang |first=Jen |author-link=Jen Wang |date=2019 |title=Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake Card Wars |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rvWSDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT158 |location=London |publisher=Titan Comics |page=158 |isbn=9781787732858}} Terrace also provided guest animation for the episode of Adventure Time titled "Bad Timing".{{cite web|last1=Terrace|first1=Dana|url=https://danaterrace.tumblr.com/post/169990060126/haha-i-found-my-old-roughs-from-adventure-times|title=Haha I found my old roughs from Adventure Time's episode: Bad Timing.|website=Tumblr|date=January 21, 2018|access-date=September 9, 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518091456/https://danaterrace.tumblr.com/post/169990060126/haha-i-found-my-old-roughs-from-adventure-times|archive-date=May 18, 2019}}{{cite web|last1=Ofgang|first1=Erik|last2=Wollschlager|first2=Mike|last3=Yuravich|first3=Albie|last4=Cohen|first4=Sherry Shameer|url=https://www.connecticutmag.com/the-connecticut-story/40-under-40-the-class-of-2019/article_6046f190-1437-11e9-829b-cb01341892be.html|title=40 Under 40: The Class of 2019|website=Connecticut Magazine|date=September 7, 2020|access-date=September 9, 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403194312/https://www.connecticutmag.com/the-connecticut-story/40-under-40-the-class-of-2019/article_6046f190-1437-11e9-829b-cb01341892be.html|archive-date=April 3, 2020}} A few years later, Terrace criticized the cancellation of The Venture Bros. by Adult Swim, writing "this timeline sucks."{{cite web|last1=Burton|first1=Bonnie|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/adult-swim-cancels-the-venture-bros-after-17-years/|title=Adult Swim cancels The Venture Bros after 17 years|website=CNET|date=September 7, 2020|access-date=September 9, 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908170911/https://www.cnet.com/news/adult-swim-cancels-the-venture-bros-after-17-years/|archive-date=September 8, 2020}}

In 2021, the director of The Mitchells vs. the Machines Mike Rianda would reveal that Terrace had been a storyboard artist for the film.{{cite tweet |last=Rianda |first=Michael |user=michaelrianda |number=1377385919758495744 |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Fun fact: I paid genius storyboard artists and showrunners Dana Terrace and @Radrappy out of my own pocket. (I paid @radrappy with a PS4!) to help sell the movie and this is one of Dana's shots that made it into the final movie! Jenny Li and Patrick Mueller animated this shot |accessdate=April 25, 2021 |url=https://twitter.com/michaelrianda/status/1377385919758495744 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418204438/https://twitter.com/michaelrianda/status/1377385919758495744 |archivedate=April 18, 2021 |url-status=live}} The same year, Terrace provided rough animation for The Owl House season 2 episodes "Keeping Up A-fear-ances", "Hunting Palismen", and "Eclipse Lake".{{cite tweet|number=1424530837031198721|first=Dana|last=Terrace|user=DanaTerrace|title=TOH Spoilers, #tohspoliers I had the opportunity to do some rough animation for a few scenes. It was so fun, I wish I could do more and do better. I miss animating! Scenes boarded by, Hayley Foster, @mrvinceaparo, and Bridget Underwood As always, thanks for watching! 🦉|date=August 8, 2021|url=https://twitter.com/DanaTerrace/status/1424530837031198721|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414185351/https://twitter.com/DanaTerrace/status/1424530837031198721|archive-date=April 14, 2022|url-status=live}}

In March 2023, Terrace announced on her Instagram that she had left Disney.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} In January 17, 2025, it was announced that Terrace had co-created a series for Glitch Productions, titled Knights of Guinevere, alongside The Owl House writers John Bailey Owen and Zach Marcus. Glitch Productions also described the series as a "sci-fi psychological thriller" and the company's first-ever 2D animated production.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwHNno1WvM |title=Knights Of Guinevere [TEASER] |date=January 17, 2025 |website=Glitch Productions |publisher=YouTube |access-date=January 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117200345/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgwHNno1WvM | archive-date=January 17, 2025|quote=Knights of Guinevere is an indie animated, sci-fi psychological thriller and our FIRST 2D animated show. Pilot episode set to come out late this year (hopefully). Created by Dana Terrace, John Bailey Owen, and Zach Marcus.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.glitchprod.com/knights-of-guinevere|title=Knights Of Guinevere |publisher=Glitch Productions|access-date=April 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328103343/https://www.glitchprod.com/knights-of-guinevere|archive-date=March 28, 2025|url-status=live}} From February 2, 2025 to March 9, 2025, Terrace had a solo art exhibit in Alhambra, California which displayed a wide array of her artwork since 2015, in order to celebrate the release of an art book entitled skin & bones and related merchandise.{{cite web|url=https://www.gallerynucleus.com/events/1064?more_info=1|title=Skin & Bones: Dana Terrace Solo Exhibition|website=Gallery Nucleus|access-date=April 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221055928/https://www.gallerynucleus.com/events/1064?more_info=1|archive-date=February 21, 2025|url-status=live}}

{{Main|The Owl House#LGBTQ+ representation|label 1=LGBTQ+ representation in The Owl House}}

The Owl House has been praised for its depiction of an LGBTQ+ relationship between the characters of Luz Noceda and Amity Blight, for which Terrace is responsible. During its second season, the series was also lauded for the inclusion of a non-binary transgender character, in the form of Raine Whispers. She actively uses Twitter to confirm the LGBTQ+ identities of characters.{{cite tweet |last=Terrace |first=Dana |authorlink=Dana Terrace |user=DanaTerrace |number=1292321440696422400 |date=August 9, 2020 |title=I'm bi! I want to write a bi character, dammit! Luckily my stubbornness paid off and now I am VERY supported by current Disney leadership. (Thank you @NashRiskin and team!) Not to mention the amazingness of this crew. |accessdate=August 9, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809162531/https://twitter.com/DanaTerrace/status/1292321440696422400 |archivedate=August 9, 2020 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Burkholder|first=Katie|date=August 11, 2020|title=Disney Channel's 'The Owl House' to Have Openly Bisexual Character|url=https://thegavoice.com/culture/disney-channels-the-owl-house-to-have-openly-bisexual-character/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904183315/https://thegavoice.com/culture/disney-channels-the-owl-house-to-have-openly-bisexual-character/|archive-date=September 4, 2020|access-date=2020-09-04|website=The Georgia Voice|language=en-US}} Though Disney was initially resistant to the portrayal of a queer relationship on the show, Terrace eventually gained their support, crediting the change of mind to her "stubbornness".{{cite news |last=Dudok de Wit |first=Alex |author-link=Alex Dudok de Wit |title=Disney Executive Tried To Block Queer Characters In 'The Owl House,' Says Creator |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/disney-executives-tried-to-block-queer-characters-in-the-owl-house-says-creator-195413.html |access-date=September 4, 2020 |work=Cartoon Brew |date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817211351/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/disney-executives-tried-to-block-queer-characters-in-the-owl-house-says-creator-195413.html|archive-date=August 17, 2020}}

Terrace told Vanity Fair in March 2021 that she was open about plans for Luz to be bisexual and include LGBT+ characters during the development of the show. She was later told that she could not "have any kind of gay storyline among the main characters." Terrace said that, in response, "I let myself get mad, to absolutely blow up, and storm out of the room. Life is short and I don't have time for cowardice, I was ready to move on to greener pastures if need be." A "week or two" later, she was "given the all-clear" and describes the studio as supportive since then.{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Joanna |title=Raya and the Last Dragon's Kelly Marie Tran Thinks Her Disney Princess Is Gay |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon-kelly-marie-tran-gay-namaari-raya |website=Vanity Fair |access-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307025741/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon-kelly-marie-tran-gay-namaari-raya |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |date=March 5, 2021 |url-status=live}}

News media such as CNN and Deadline have expressed support for these portrayals, while conservative sites like One Million Moms have expressed the opposite, condemning Disney Channel for their inclusion of LGBTQ+ identities in the series.{{cite news|last1=Morales|first1=Adrianne|date=August 15, 2020|title=Disney confirms its first bisexual lead character, who is also multi-cultural|agency=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/15/us/disney-bisexual-trnd/index.html|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901174207/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/15/us/disney-bisexual-trnd/index.html|archive-date=September 1, 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Del Rosario|first1=Alexandra|date=August 16, 2020|title='The Owl House' Features Disney's First Bisexual Lead Character|language=en|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-owl-house-features-disney-first-bisexual-character-1203014514/|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901195403/https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-owl-house-features-disney-first-bisexual-character-1203014514/|archive-date=September 1, 2020}}

Terrace came out as bisexual in 2017,{{Cite tweet |number=1292245190095208448 |user=DanaTerrace |title=Congratulations! I'm so happy you enjoyed the episode and it meant that much to you. It was a giant crew effort. Creating these characters led me to come out as bi to my friends and fam back in 2017, I hope they continue to create positive vibes for ppl in future eps! 🦉 🌈 |author-link=Dana Terrace |date=August 8, 2020 |access-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809160950/https://twitter.com/DanaTerrace/status/1292245190095208448 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |url-status=dead |last=Terrace |first=Dana}} and drew on her experiences to create The Owl House and the bisexual character Luz Noceda. Terrace has mentioned multiple times that she draws inspiration for Luz Noceda from herself.

From 2015 to sometime before April 2022, Terrace was in a relationship with Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch.{{Cite tweet|number=677721706174124032|user=_alexhirsch|title=Noticed that my girlfriend @DanaTerrace looks eerily similar to Dana Scully and now I can't un-see it|author-link=Alex Hirsch|date=December 18, 2015|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412201723/https://twitter.com/_alexhirsch/status/677721706174124032|archive-date=April 12, 2016|url-status=live|last=Hirsch|first=Alex}}{{cite web |last1=Stanichar |first1=Joseph |title=Gravity Falls Creator Outs Prior LGBTQ+ Censorship at Disney; Policy Changed with The Owl House |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/gravity-falls/gravity-falls-creator-outs-homophobic-policy-at-di/ |publisher=Paste |access-date=13 March 2022 |ref=paste |date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313024648/https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/gravity-falls/gravity-falls-creator-outs-homophobic-policy-at-di/ |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Carey|first=Kristen|url=https://www.themarysue.com/holy-poop-these-notes-disneys-censors-gave-gravity-falls-creator-alex-hirsch/|title=Holy Poop, These Notes Disney's Censors Gave 'Gravity Falls' Creator Alex Hirsch!|website=The Mary Sue|date=June 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616220530/https://www.themarysue.com/holy-poop-these-notes-disneys-censors-gave-gravity-falls-creator-alex-hirsch/|archive-date=June 16, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://danaterrace.tumblr.com/post/682391441037737984/vent-comic-im-doing-fine-by-the-way-the-surgeon|title=VENT COMIC|last=Terrace|first=Dana|date=April 24, 2022|website=Dana's Sketchbook|via=Tumblr|access-date=May 25, 2022|quote={{small|AFTER A CANCELATION, A BREAKUP, AND A COUPLE OF ROUGH YEARS..}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922062639/https://danaterrace.tumblr.com/post/682391441037737984/vent-comic-im-doing-fine-by-the-way-the-surgeon|archive-date=September 22, 2022|url-status=live}}

In 2018, Terrace signed a petition supporting pay equity in the animation industry.{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=David |date=August 27, 2018 |title=Thousands Sign Pay Equity Petition For Animation Industry's Female-Dominated Color Stylist Craft |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/the-owl-house-voice-cast-wendie-malick-alex-hirsch-sarah-nicole-robles-1202712677/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125053342/https://deadline.com/2018/08/thousands-sign-pay-equity-petition-for-animation-industrys-female-dominated-color-stylist-craft-1202452899/ |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2020 |website=Deadline}} In 2022, she joined other animators at Disney who criticized Bob Chapek's refusal to make a comment on HB 1557, which is often referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.{{Cite web |last=Radulovic |first=Petrana |date=March 7, 2022 |title=Owl House creator Dana Terrace is 'fucking tired of making Disney look good' |url=https://www.polygon.com/22965995/owl-house-dana-terrace-disney-dont-say-gay-disney-bob-chapek |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307205539/https://www.polygon.com/22965995/owl-house-dana-terrace-disney-dont-say-gay-disney-bob-chapek |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=Polygon}} She also argued that Chapek's letter to employees was "flowery and compassionate words to shut you up."{{Cite web |last=Nugent |first=Annabel |date=March 8, 2022 |title=Disney CEO addresses employee backlash over the company's silence on Florida's Don't Say Gay bill |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/disney-ceo-dont-say-gay-bill-backlash-b2030824.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308104042/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/disney-ceo-dont-say-gay-bill-backlash-b2030824.html |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |website=The Independent}}

In November 2024, Terrace responded to the reported shelving of an episode of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, focusing on a transgender character, by Disney, saying that the company is "terrified of everything" and adding that Disney should "grow some fuckin guts."{{cite web|last=Terrace|first=Dana|url=https://bsky.app/profile/danaterrace.bsky.social/post/3laxdqxhlvs2p|title=lrp, Largest media company on the planet and they are TERRIFIED of everything. Grow some fuckin guts, Disney.|website=Bluesky|date=November 14, 2024|access-date=November 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241116040930/https://bsky.app/profile/danaterrace.bsky.social/post/3laxdqxhlvs2p |archive-date=November 16, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Mulliax|first=Hope|url=https://collider.com/moon-girl-and-devil-dinosaur-season-2-episode-leak-lgbt-plot/|title=Marvel's 'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Episode Allegedly Removed by Disney for Sensitive LGBT+ Plot Leaks Online [Update]|website=Collider|date=November 15, 2024|access-date=November 15, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241116040317/https://collider.com/moon-girl-and-devil-dinosaur-season-2-episode-leak-lgbt-plot/|archive-date=November 16, 2024|url-status=live}}

{{Awards table|5}}

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 2018

| Daytime Emmy Award

| Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

| DuckTales (for "Woo-oo!")

| {{nom}}

|{{cite web|url=https://emmyonline.tv/daytime-emmy-awards/nominees/program-non-drama/|title=Daytime Emmys Nominees (Program - Non-Drama)|date=19 April 2018 |publisher=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=April 23, 2019}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | 2021

| GLAAD Media Award

| GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids and Family Programming

| rowspan="5"|The Owl House

| {{nom}}

|{{cite web |url=https://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/32/nominees |title=The Nominees for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards |website=GLAAD |date=28 January 2021 |access-date=March 2, 2021}}

|-

| Peabody Awards

| Children's & Youth Programming

| {{won}}

|{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/peabody-award-nominations-ted-lasso-euphoria/|title='Ted Lasso,' 'Crip Camp,' 'I May Destroy You' Among 2021 Peabody Award Nominees|first=Reid|last=Nakamura|work=The Wrap|date=May 4, 2021|access-date=May 4, 2021}}

|-

| Daytime Emmys

| Outstanding Main Title for a Daytime Animated Program

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/NOMS-ONLY-WM.pdf|title=Daytime Emmy Awards|work=Deadline|date=June 28, 2021|accessdate=June 28, 2021}}

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2022

| GLAAD Media Award

| GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids and Family Programming

| {{nom}}

| [https://deadline.com/2022/01/glaad-media-awards-nominations-2022-1234914766/ GLAAD Media Awards Nominations: HBO/HBO Max Leads With 19; Netflix Close Behind]

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2023

| GLAAD Media Award

| GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids and Family Programming

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/34/nominees|title=The Nominees for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards|website=GLAAD|date=January 18, 2023|access-date=January 20, 2023}}

|}

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• {{IMDb name|4869682}}
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{{The Owl House}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Terrace, Dana}}

Category:1990 births

Category:Living people

Category:American storyboard artists

Category:People from Hamden, Connecticut

Category:American feminists

Category:School of Visual Arts alumni

Category:Disney Television Animation people

Category:Bisexual women artists

Category:Bisexual feminists

Category:Bisexual women writers

Category:Bisexual screenwriters

Category:LGBTQ animators

Category:LGBTQ people from Connecticut

Category:American LGBTQ rights activists

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:American bisexual writers

Category:American bisexual actresses

Category:American bisexual artists

Category:American LGBTQ screenwriters

Category:LGBTQ television directors

Category:Activists from Connecticut

Category:Showrunners of animated series