I never cared much about cartoons as a kid. It wasn't until high school that a friend introduced me to more modern, narrative-driven animation, and I quickly got hooked on the seamless blend of art, color, motion, music, and story.

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One show in particular stole my heart — And then stomped it into cosmic dust. I was 16 and visiting my homeland, Mexico, for the first time on a trip generously paid for by my Tía Nena. The eighth and final season of my favorite show was set for a streaming drop while I was there, so I downloaded the season in advance to watch it unimpeded by the shoddy Mexican WiFi... And spent the next 3 days in bed, depressed, nay, devastated by what amounted to the utter annihilation of the story I loved. 

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Oh, and did I mention my bed was about three steps away from the beach?

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Understandably, my aunt was pissed. She berated me relentlessly for being a sad sack on her dime. 

 

"What's the big deal about a cartoon anyways? Just get over it."

 

"Tía, you don't understand. I've thought about this show every day for the past two years. I can't just get over it."

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"Well then, do something about it!"

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"What am I supposed to do? I don't work in Hollywood."

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It hit me days later while popping seaweed pods on the beach Nena finally managed to drag me to: I could work in Hollywood.

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Now I'm a student at ArtCenter, and that spite carries me through every grueling day of five-hour classes and zero hours of sleep — And then some. I've had the honor of directing two animated short films, Not So Little and GULABI, and becoming the first ArtCenter student to pursue three Minor areas of study: Business, Creative Writing, and Designmatters for Social Innovation.