What’s the story behind the name Charis Story Lab?
Charis (χάρις, pronounced KHAR‑iss) is an ancient Greek word often associated with grace, kindness, goodwill, and a gift freely given.
That resonated with us — because sometimes life hands us something we didn’t ask for, but we can find a gift hiding inside it.
For me, that something was a reset. After two decades in the corporate world, my role as an HR executive was eliminated in a restructuring. Instead of jumping right back into a similar role, I reflected on the gifts God has given me and my son.
We both love art and being creative, and our imaginations really took off when my son showed me a pixelated frog he’d created. We named him George and started chatting about who this little frog was, what he liked, and where he lived. Soon we were writing his story, sketching characters, and joking that maybe one day we could turn it into an animated series.
That idea grew into Charis Story Lab, our little creative studio, where we make stories meant to be gifts — little worlds where people can see a bit of themselves and find something new. George is our first, and more stories and characters are on the way.
We call it a Story Lab rather than a studio because it’s a place for experimenting — with ideas, with characters, and with the tools that help bring our stories to life, from pencil sketches and pixel art to 3D worlds. Some experiments work beautifully. Others become bloopers. You can peek at both in The Lab.
The two of us, where it all started.
Our Vision
We want to make stories that kids can simply enjoy and that grown-ups can recognize themselves in, too. Stories with heart and humor, and the reminder that there is more than one way to find your path. A character might be silly. An adventure might be totally ridiculous. A story might make you laugh, or surprise you, or hit a little closer to home than you expected.
We want our stories to be enjoyed together, to mean something a little different to everyone who steps into them, and to remind us that it’s never too late to dream what’s possible.
