Aloha
No virtue signaling. No preaching. Just unfiltered storytelling that makes you think while you laugh.
I’m Darieus Legg. I help people in the creative act—by telling human interest stories in film. Also known as documentaries. I direct, write, animate, and think about leadership a shit ton.
What makes this Substack different from the rest?
I don’t make “how-to content” for film, animation, and storytelling—I tell the adventures of Dar, my cartoon alter ego. Think of it as a comic strip for the real world—funny, raw, and unexpectedly wise. A mix of humor, escapism, and social commentary.
That’s what you’ll find here:
🖋️A Cartoon Living in Selfielopolis Against His Will – Dar (my animated alter ego) navigates a city he swore he’d never return to, somehow directing a huge film while questioning reality.
🎭😂Humor, Escapism & Social Commentary – No how-to guides. No political rants. Just sharp, unfiltered storytelling that makes you laugh, think, and maybe feel a little too seen.
Absurd Adventures & Raw Truths – Surfing legendary waves, dodging Selfie weirdos, and uncovering the secret ingredients of storytelling—all through comics, animation, and words.
🧠Occasionally Questionable Life Choices – Dar documents them so you don’t have to make them.
No fluff, no theory—just real-world lessons from the trenches.
Stoked you decided to be here.
What’s Substack?
Substack is part newsletter, part blog, part publishing platform—but most of all, it’s a way for me to build a stronger creative community with you. Substack is where writers, artists, and storytellers build deeper connections with their audience.
Here’s why I’m here:
✅ It’s ad-free. No algorithms tracking your behavior, no engagement farming—just a direct connection between me and you.
✅ It’s built for readers & creators. No social media noise, just storytelling, creativity, and deep dives.
✅ More value, more access. Stoker Machine has always been an experiment, and this is the next evolution.
✅ Low-key, I’m writing a book and this helps me workshop ideas.
Paid Subscribers Get...
🔥 All the fun stuff from the free side, PLUS:
🎬 Animations.
📓 Exclusive journal entries from DAR.
🎨 Live art sessions—watch me animate & storyboard in real time.
🎁 Giveaways & free digital art downloads.
Think of it as a comic strip for the real world—funny, raw, and occasionally wise.
Subscribe if you like stories that make you laugh, think, and maybe question your own reality. Twice a week.
“Quality questions create a quality life.”
Tony Robbins
I asked myself one day, What makes you Stoked? The answer to that I share in a TED talk which was made possible by the film that changed my life - Stoker Machine. Many people have told me the movie Stoker Machine and my Ted talk have been very useful in helping them approach their own lives. Check it out.
YOU ARE SUPPORTING CREATOR OWNED STORIES.
The truth is I would doing this if no one was watching. Stoke with a capital S starts on the inside. But the best work happens when it’s shared. If you find value here, I encourage you to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Why? Because putting skin in the game changes the way we show up. When we invest in something, we commit at a deeper level. That’s how real progress happens. I’ll keep delivering content - but your support keeps this independent, creator-owned work alive.
No algorithms. No gatekeepers. Just stories, made for people who care enough to take action.
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