Episode cover
They Designed The Sims… and They Have Stories | SpeakEasy #34 w/ Jessica & Lacey)
June 13, 2025 · 52 min

Ever wondered who animated your Sim yawning, or who decided they should clean toilets with that much personality? In this episode, we go behind the scenes with two of the creative minds who have shaped The Sims for over a decade.🚀

✨ Jessica Stites (Art Director) and Lacey Banister (Senior Animation & VFX Director) from Maxis join Ninel Anderson to talk about everything from:

Animating weird but lovable Sim moments

Staying creative while working on the same game for years

The necessity of cheat codes, 

The evolution of inclusivity and expansion packs

The real work behind making The Sims feel fun and familiar

Being female team leaders in a male-driven industry

And yes… someone had to model every toilet. 🧼

Watch the video version:

https://youtu.be/7ZBwRHHLUtY

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