Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Julia Vickerman

Julia Vickerman is an American artist, screenwriter, animation director, and television director. She is most well known for having created the Netflix animated series Twelve Forever. She has also worked as a writer and director on the shows The Powerpuff Girls, Clarence, and Yo Gabba Gabba!.

Last revised
Jul 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 4 min
Length
912 w
Citations
20
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Julia Vickerman
EducationMinneapolis College of Art and Design
Occupations
Notable workTwelve Forever
SpouseTom Scharpling

Julia Vickerman is an American artist, screenwriter, animation director, and television director. She is most well known for having created the Netflix animated series Twelve Forever. She has also worked as a writer and director on the shows The Powerpuff Girls, Clarence, and Yo Gabba Gabba!.1

Career

Vickerman started her animation career in Minnesota, where she graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.2 She was hired out of college for the show Yo Gabba Gabba!, on which she served as a writer, animation supervisor, and storyboard artist.3 In 2009, production artwork that she created for Yo Gabba Gabba! was exhibited at a Minneapolis art show about the series.4 In 2011, Vickerman co-curated an art show in Los Angeles called the "JP (Just People) Show" with art focusing on the human characters in the Jurassic Park franchise.5

In 2015, Vickerman created a pilot animation for Twelve Forever for Cartoon Network. The pilot gained popularity and spawned a petition to expand it into a full series.6 Vickerman announced in 2017 that the show had been picked up by Netflix.7 In 2016, Vickerman wrote and did storyboards for The Powerpuff Girls reboot.8 In 2017, she voiced the character Sarah in the animated series Too Loud.9 That same year, she signed an open letter by women in the animation industry condemning workplace sexual harassment.1011 In 2023, she co-directed the music video for MGMT's song "Bubblegum Dog" alongside Tom Scharpling.1213

Twelve Forever premiered on Netflix in 2019. The show follows a 12-year-old girl named Reggie who creates a fantasy world so that she never has to grow up.14 The premise show is loosely based on Vickerman's own childhood experiences and she was the show's creator, and executive producer.15 She was fired from production of Twelve Forever the same year that it premiered. The reason for her firing was initially undisclosed, but EW noted that there were rumors on social media about "a hostile work environment".16 Twelve Forever has been described by Screen Rant as being on indefinite hiatus.17

Personal life

Vickerman lives in Los Angeles, California.15 In 2022, she helped Ricki Lake adopt a puppy.18 Vickerman and Tom Scharpling married in 2024.19

References

References

  1. Flores, Terry (2017-12-01). "Netflix Picks Up New Animated Series 'Twelve Forever' for 2019". Variety. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  2. Milligan, Mercedes (September 28, 2019). "Catalyst Content Fest To Present Nancy Cartwright with Lifetime Achievement Award". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on January 13, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  3. "Julia Vickerman | Animator and Storyboard Artist". AICAD. November 2, 2012. Archived from the original on March 5, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  4. Amidi, Amid (July 7, 2009). "The Art of Yo Gabba Gabba!". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  5. McGinley, Tara (November 30, 2011). "Amusing Jeff Goldblum portraits for 'Jurassic Park' themed art show". dangerousminds.net. Archived from the original on June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  6. Milligan, Mercedes (December 4, 2017). "Netflix Orders 'Twelve Forever' Series from 'Powerpuff,' 'Clarence' Vet". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on November 7, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  7. Flook, Ray (December 7, 2017). "Twelve Forever: Netflix Nabs Julia Vickerman Animated Series for 2019". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  8. McLean, Tom (April 10, 2016). "A Deeper Reboot". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on December 11, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  9. "Julia Vickerman (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  10. Lee, Ashley; Stanhope, Kate (October 20, 2017). "Female Animators Demand End to Sexual Harassment in Open Letter: "This Abuse Has Got to Stop"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 15, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  11. Milligan, Mercedes (October 10, 2017). "Open Letter: Animation Workers Demand Changes in Harassment Response". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on October 6, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  12. Minsker, Evan (November 29, 2023). "MGMT Go Full '90s Alt-Rock in Video for New Song "Bubblegum Dog"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  13. Legaspi, Althea (November 29, 2023). "MGMT Conjure the Nineties in New 'Bubblegum Dog' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  14. Flook, Ray (December 7, 2017). "Twelve Forever: Netflix Nabs Julia Vickerman Animated Series for 2019". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  15. "Julia Vickerman". Brea Gallery. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  16. Romano, Nick. "How 'The Bravest Knight' is turning the tide for LGBTQ kids programming". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2026. EW has learned the producers on Twelve Forever parted ways with series creator Julia Vickerman. While a reason wasn't given, various claims shared over Twitter allege a hostile work environment. A rep for Netflix declined to comment.
  17. Womack, Lacey (May 3, 2020). "10 Shows To Watch If You Miss Steven Universe". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  18. Wenger, Stephanie. "Ricki Lake Posts Photos of New Rescue Pup Following Death of Beloved Dog Mama: 'She Is Perfect'". People. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  19. Vickerman, Julia (October 21, 2024). "Yesterday was officially the last day of our honeymoon! ..." Instagram. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
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