At just 11 years old, Kelcie Russell achieved something many adult filmmakers only dream about. She independently wrote, illustrated, animated, directed, and voiced her short film Oaklyn’s Friends, transforming a personal creative project into an award-winning production recognized on the festival circuit. The film earned official selections at the Sidewalk Film Festival (screened in Birmingham, Alabama), Austin Lift-Off, Austin Under The Stars, and Austin Spotlight Film Festival, along with several additional festivals. 

Its strongest showing came at the Arts Hub Kids Film Festival, where it earned Best Animation, Best Acting, Best Writing, and Best Overall Film. The project also received the Rising Star award at Austin Under The Stars, the Luminary Award at Austin Spotlight, and an honorable mention from Hollywood Storytellers in the animated narrative short category. 

In early 2026, Kelcie appeared on Great Day San Antonio, where she spoke about her creative process and the message behind her film. While many children her age are still discovering their interests, Kelcie is already producing animated stories and encouraging others to see their differences as strengths. At the center of her success is Acellus Academy’s flexible, self-paced learning model, which allows her to maintain straight-A grades while actively pursuing a growing creative career. 

Who is Kelcie Russell?  

Kelcie Russell’s creative instincts surfaced early. By age two, she was drawing with noticeable detail and intention. At seven, she stepped into acting, and by four, she was already participating in community fundraisers. Those early fundraising experiences did more than support good causes—they helped her build confidence, strengthen her public speaking skills, and learn how to push past her comfort zone. 

Now 11, Kelcie balances a wide range of pursuits: professional actress, self-taught animator, illustrator, writer, artist, model, and dedicated student at Acellus Academy. Her acting work includes commercials, music videos, web series, independent short films, and print modeling. Each opportunity has strengthened her understanding of storytelling and performance across different formats. 

Kelcie often reflects on how those early community experiences shaped her mindset. Learning to try new things and stand in front of an audience gave her the courage to tackle larger projects independently. That mindset led her to write and illustrate her own children’s book and later adapt it into a fully animated short film. 

With Acellus Academy’s personalized structure, she can move through coursework on her own schedule while maintaining strong academic performance. The flexibility allows her to invest serious time into creative development without sacrificing her education—an approach that supports both discipline and imagination. 

The Birth of Oaklyn’s Friends

Oaklyn’s Friends began as a self-published children’s book Kelcie wrote and illustrated around age 9. She handled every detail—story, characters, illustrations, layout, and publishing—turning her vision of inclusion into a tangible work. 

Inspired to reach more kids, she self-taught animation and adapted the book into a 3-minute short film. She scripted, storyboarded, animated, designed backgrounds, edited sound, and voiced Oaklyn and Victoria herself. The message remains clear: differences are superpowers; when people collaborate, anything is possible. 

Balancing Schooling and Creative Pursuits  

Kelcie incorporates Acellus Academy’s accredited, online school into her routine. This approach enables her to arrange her studies to accommodate filming schedules, acting obligations, and animation endeavors, while pursuing a demanding academic program.

She maintains straight-A grades without sacrificing creative growth. The flexibility of the program allows her to advance through lessons when her schedule permits and pauses when production demands increase. As Kelcie explains, “Due to the flexibility of the program, I’m able to have days on set and come home to finish the rest of my schoolwork.” 

This balance eliminates the need to choose between education and opportunity. Instead, the model supports both—allowing motivated students to pursue ambitious goals while staying academically on track. 

Looking Ahead: Kelcie’s Future Plans  

Kelcie plans to continue creating films, exploring new animation styles, and writing additional stories. She is also updating the Oaklyn’s Friends eBook to reflect her evolving artistic style, with hopes of reaching more readers worldwide. Her long-term vision includes expanding her storytelling across multiple platforms while continuing to promote messages of inclusion, teamwork, and self-acceptance. 

“If we all work together, we can accomplish anything.” – Kelcie Russell

Do you have a story to share about your student’s use of Acellus Academy? We want to hear from you! For a chance to be featured in a student spotlight, submit your student’s experience here:  https://www.acellusacademy.com/spotlight/