Shawnee' Gibbs & Shawnelle Gibbs
Shawnee' Gibbs and Shawnelle Gibbs (b. Oakland, CA), known professionally as The Gibbs Sisters, are an Emmy-nominated writing team with a dynamic career spanning television, animation, and comics. They have served as Lead Writers for Cartoon Network’s Jessica’s Big Little World and have written for major studios, including DreamWorks Animation, Disney Television Animation, and Marvel Comics. Their debut YA graphic novel, Ghost Roast (HarperCollins/Versify), received a 2024 Harvey Award nomination for Best Young Adult Book and an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Graphic Novel. Originally from Oakland, California, the duo now lives and works in Los Angeles.
Early Career in Comics[]
The Gibbs Sisters began their journey in independent comics, writing and publishing their own webcomic, Fashion Forward and later, the comic book series, "The Invention of E.J. Whitaker." The latter, a steampunk adventure, received the 2018 Glyph Comics Award for Best Writer and has been widely recognized for its innovative storytelling and historical depth. Their work has also been featured in Ladies' Night Anthology, a comic collection founded in 2012 by attendees of Chicago’s Graham Cracker Comics’ Ladies’ Night events. Their storytelling style, often blending comedy, adventure, and multicultural narratives, has earned them acclaim in both the indie and mainstream comics scenes.
Expansion into Animation and Mainstream Comics[]
[1] Women of Marvel, Marvel Comics
The sisters’ passion for storytelling extends into animation, where they have written for studios such as Warner Bros. Animation, Mattel Studios, and Cartoon Network. Their independent animated projects have been showcased at major film festivals, including the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and the New York International Children’s Film Festival. In March 2023, they made their Marvel Comics debut with the story "Energy Vampires," a Photon and Ms. Marvel team-up featured in Women of Marvel (2023).
In 2024, The Gibbs Sisters were nominated for a Children's & Family Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program for Jessica’s Big Little World's “Glow Toy” episode.
Creativity Beyond Comics[]
The Gibbs Sisters' creativity knows no bounds. In addition to their work in comics, television and animation, they collaborated with the San Francisco Pocket Opera to produce a groundbreaking live-action/animated adaptation of The Magic Flute, which won the Opera America Award. Their diverse portfolio continues to push the boundaries of storytelling across multiple mediums.
Ghost Roast (Published by HarperCollins / Versify)
References[]
- Ghost Roast (HarperCollins/Versify): Publisher’s Page
- Women of Marvel (2023): Marvel Comics
- The Invention of E.J. Whitaker: BopSee Books
- Ladies' Night Anthology: Graham Cracker Comics