Joanna Ferrone
{{short description|American writer and author}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joanna Ferrone
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| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|39|1989|9|3}}
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| known_for = Fido Dido (1985)
Angela Anaconda (1996, 1999–2001)
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| occupation = Writer, author
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Joanna Ferrone is an American writer and author. She is best known for co-creating the fictional character Fido Dido with Sue Rose. Ferrone and Rose also created Angela Anaconda, which Ferrone describes as a reflection of her upbringing.
Life and career
Ferrone was the third of eight children, raised in the Catholic faith but Ferrone would later describe herself as agnostic.{{cite news |title=Meet Jo Ferrone |url=https://canvasrebel.com/meet-jo-ferrone/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=CanvasRebel Magazine |date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804214514/https://canvasrebel.com/meet-jo-ferrone/ |url-status=live }} She was raised in Oyster Bay, New York.{{cite news |title=Meet Jo Ferrone {{!}} AUTHOR {{!}} CREATOR {{!}} ANIMAL LOVER |url=https://shoutoutmiami.com/meet-jo-ferrone-author-creator-animal-lover/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=SHOUTOUT MIAMI |date=January 31, 2024 |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804221518/https://shoutoutmiami.com/meet-jo-ferrone-author-creator-animal-lover/ |url-status=live }} Growing up, she described herself as the "consummate tomboy". She is a lesbian, and describes herself as her family's "only gay child". In an interview, Ferrone expressed her previous feelings that had she been born another time, she would have transitioned.{{rp|338}} Ferrone was heavily involved in the New York queer arts scene of the 1970s and 1980s.{{cite thesis |last= Cooley |first= Kevin J. |date= 2021 |title= Queer Beyond Here: Animated Sex and How to Get Used to It |url= https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UFE0057459/00001 |degree= Doctorate ( PhD) in Philosophy |chapter= |publisher= University of Florida |docket= |oclc= |access-date= August 2, 2024 |archive-date= August 6, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240806035553/https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UFE0057459/00001 |url-status= live }}{{rp|337}} She cited queer pop art influences such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring as central to her and Sue Rose's practice.{{rp|337}} At the time of Fido Dido's creation, Ferrone worked as the owner to a stock photo library.{{cite news |last1=Gross |first1=Michael |title=NOTES ON FASHION |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/22/style/notes-on-fashion.html |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=July 22, 1986 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404172448/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/22/style/notes-on-fashion.html |url-status=live }} Before that, she worked as a department store gift wrapper, waitress, receptionist, and the owner of a stock photography company.
Ferrone was the co-creator of the mascot Fido Dido alongside Sue Rose,{{cite news |last1=Freitag |first1=Michael |title=Stylemakers; Susan Rose and Joanna Ferrone – Entrepreneurs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/03/style/stylemakers-susan-rose-and-joanna-ferrone-entrepreneurs.html |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=September 3, 1989 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107121002/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/03/style/stylemakers-susan-rose-and-joanna-ferrone-entrepreneurs.html |url-status=live }} Ferrone's partner at the time. He was designed in 1985 with his appearance inspired by a mutual friend of the two,{{rp|337}} and the design was initially put on t-shirts, his design later caught the attention of Patricia Field. Three years following his creation, his design caught the interest of Pepsi's agency looking for a character to market 7-Up that embodied an energy that was "cool, identifiable and really liberal in its outlook".{{cite news |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Arcopol |title='Fido Dido has universal appeal' |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-fido-dido-has-universal-appeal-1148652 |access-date=August 3, 2024 |work=DNA India |publisher=Zee News |date=September 15, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518081636/https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-fido-dido-has-universal-appeal-1148652 |url-status=live }} Ferrone was responsible for naming and creating the personality of the character,{{cite news |title=¿Quién creó a Fido Dido? |url=https://graffica.info/quien-creo-a-fido-dido/ |access-date=August 3, 2024 |work=Gràffica |date=September 29, 2021 |language=es}} and served as his "business manager". Ferrone co-created Angela Anaconda alongside Sue Rose. Ferrone described the series as a reaction to the premises she saw on TV while she was growing up and the questions she felt while comparing herself to the picture perfect families that were shown. Ferrone described Angela Anaconda as "very autobiographical, that was the most natural thing."{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Gina Pia |title=Angela Anaconda: Great Kid's TV 1 |url=http://www.dancooper.tv/fashionfinds_1999/feb00/pages/angela-anaconda-1.htm |website=Fashion Finds Magazine |publisher=Dan Cooper Media Strategies |access-date=August 3, 2024 |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806035925/http://www.dancooper.tv/fashionfinds_1999/feb00/pages/angela-anaconda-1.htm |url-status=live }} Ferrone revealed in an interview with YouTuber Alexandra Bender that she was not involved in Angela Anaconda{{'s}} eventual inclusion in Digimon: The Movie.{{cite news |last1=Kelley |first1=Shamus |title=Why Digimon: The Movie Had That Inexplicable Angela Anaconda Short |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/why-digimon-the-movie-had-that-inexplicable-angela-anaconda-short/ |access-date=August 3, 2024 |work=Den of Geek |date=February 10, 2024 |archive-date=August 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803025051/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/why-digimon-the-movie-had-that-inexplicable-angela-anaconda-short/ |url-status=live }}
She served as the founder and president of Honest Entertainment,{{cite news |title=Women In Animation New York |url=https://www.awn.com/event/women-animation-new-york |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=Animation World Network |date=March 18, 2003 |language=en |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806035507/https://www.awn.com/event/women-animation-new-york |url-status=live }} which aimed to remake Fido Dido for a modern audience.{{cite news |last1=Connell |first1=Mike |title=Honest builds a bona fide kids portfolio |url=https://kidscreen.com/2002/06/01/honest-20020601/ |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=Kidscreen |publisher=Brunico Communications |date=June 1, 2002 |archive-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405114837/http://kidscreen.com/2002/06/01/honest-20020601/ |url-status=live }} In 2002, Ferrone was slated as the co-creator and co-writer to the show Family Values alongside Tom Brady.{{cite news |last1=Godfrey |first1=Leigh |title=Honest And Mainframe Entertainment Team For New Series |url=https://www.awn.com/news/honest-and-mainframe-entertainment-team-new-series |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=Animation World Network |date=April 29, 2002 |language=en |archive-date=August 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805062520/https://www.awn.com/news/honest-and-mainframe-entertainment-team-new-series |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Creator of Angela Anaconda teams with Mainframe |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/453416273 |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=Proquest |agency=Canada NewsWire |date=April 29, 2002 |language=en |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806035540/https://www.proquest.com/docview/453416273 |id={{ProQuest|453416273}} |url-status=live }} The series was described in Variety as "wholesome ’50s-style family living in the modern world" and {{" '}}Pleasantville' gone wild".{{cite news |last1=Zahed |first1=Ramin |title=Hot cels at Mipcom Jr. |url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/markets-festivals/hot-cels-at-mipcom-jr-1117873368/ |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=Variety |date=September 30, 2002 |archive-date=November 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106211434/https://variety.com/2002/scene/markets-festivals/hot-cels-at-mipcom-jr-1117873368/ |url-status=live }} Family Values was to be produced by Honest Entertainment in collaboration with Mainframe Studios.{{cite news |last1=Longworth |first1=Jocelyn |title=MIP-TV bounces back big time |url=https://kidscreen.com/2002/05/01/miptv-20020501/ |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=Kidscreen |publisher=Brunico Communications |date=May 1, 2002 |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831183749/https://kidscreen.com/2002/05/01/miptv-20020501/ |url-status=live }} Following the success of Angela Anaconda, Ferrone alongside Rose, were responsible for writing the Angela Anaconda companion books. Ferrone would later publish Julian Dickerson and the Higher Ups and Doreen by Doreen as an independent author.{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Stewart |last2=Stewart |first2=Dena |title=JO FERRONE – Alive On South Beach |url=https://aliveonsouthbeach.com/jo-ferrone/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Alive On South Beach |date=August 1, 2024 |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804220625/https://aliveonsouthbeach.com/jo-ferrone/ |url-status=live }} In addition, Ferrone serves as the owner of the FIDO x CIRCULAR store in Wynwood neighborhood of Miami.
Bibliography
- 1988: Fido Dido 101 Or, Living Life in the Third Lane {{ISBN|9781853044519}}
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: Flour Power {{ISBN|9780733310454}} (with Sue Rose and Barbara Calamari)
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: Pet Peeves {{ISBN|9780743429856}} (with Sue Rose and Barbara Calamari)
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: Teacher Trouble {{ISBN|9780733310416}} (with Sue Rose)
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: The Fright Before Christmas {{ISBN|9780689840555}} (with Barbara Calamari)
- 2001: Nanette Manoir's Guide to Being Perfect {{ISBN|9780743429887}} (with Sue Rose)
- 2002: Angela Anaconda: Family Ties {{ISBN|9780733311284}} (with Sue Rose)
- 2002: Angela Anaconda: Johnny Superstar {{ISBN|9788804511076}} (with Sue Rose)
- 2003: Angela Anaconda: Gordy Loves Gina {{ISBN|9780733312236}} (with Rona Selby and Sue Rose)
- 2003: Angela Anaconda: My Extremely Interesting Life So Far! {{ISBN|9780733313448}} (with Sue Rose)
- 2021: Julian Dickerson and the Higher Ups {{ISBN|978-1777373689}} (with Tabitha Rose)
- 2024: Doreen by Doreen {{ISBN|978-1990700286}}
References
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Category:American television producers
Category:American women television producers
Category:American television writers
Category:American women television writers
Category:20th-century American women
Category:American lesbian writers
Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)
Category:20th-century American women writers
Category:21st-century American women writers