Member Spotlights

Storyboard Revisionist
I’m Nazul Sobrino and currently a storyboard revisionist with Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Previously, I worked at Stoopid Buddy Studios. Right before I started college at California State University Fullerton, I made a last-minute decision to change my major to arts. I think that was the best decision I’ve ever made! As second-generation Mexican-American and member of the LGBTQ+ community, I’m proud to be a LXiA member.

Director / VFX Artist
I’m very honored to be interviewed by Latinx in Animation (LXIA). My name is Lazaro Hernandez; I’m a 3D visualization artist and Director. I have been working in the film industry since 2017. Prior to that, I worked as a director and VFX artist in Central America mostly doing TV commercials in Costa Rica

Animation Mentor
A second generation Mexican American who is very passionate about animation and film. He is always interested in learning and trying something new and wants to make his family proud! He has a Bachelor’s degree in Film Making from Arizona State University (ASU). Currently, he is teaching sixth graders the animation process and having a blasting doing it! He has experience working at all kinds of places but his current calling is working in animation production. He is so excited to see where animation goes from there!

Visual Development Artist
A Visual Development Artist and aspiring high school art teacher who was born in Los Angeles and moved to the city of Tracy, California at the age of five. She attended San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton where her love of art drove her to pursue Art and Design as a professional career. Soon after, Vannessa was accepted into San Jose State University’s rigorous Animation/Illustration program, where she spent five years of her life focusing on Visual Development and Illustration.

Prop and Character Designer
An artist currently working in the animation industry, focusing on prop and character design. She grew up in Los Angeles county and to this day resides within the county. Currently, she is working as a prop/fx designer at Nickelodeon on The Loud House spinoff, The Casagrandes. In the past, she has worked for both the animation and video game industry. In addition to her current full time position at Nickelodeon, she also does freelance for various game and animation studios. Some of her past clients include JumpStart Games, Supercell, Titmouse Inc, LEGO, and other independent clients.

Story Artist and Political Cartoonist
Charis JB is a 2nd generation immigrant raised in South Carolina after her mother and grandmother came over from Paraguay. She is a graduate of The Cooper Union, the 2018 recipient of the Locher Award for comics journalism, and an ongoing contributor for The Nib. Currently, she lives in LA looking to pursue storytelling within animation.

A Producer from Texas currently living in Los Angeles, CA. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Film from the University of Notre Dame. She has worked in animation, motion graphics, and design for clients such as FX, Netflix, Apple, Fox, AirBnB, NFL, ESPN, and Lyft. She was also a part of the animation team for the feature documentary film “He Named Me Malala.” She is the co-founder of a monthly motion graphics meetup group called R&D. She is currently a staff producer at State Design.

Stop Motion Animator
Christian Ibarra is a stop motion animator who grew up in East LA, and West Covina with his Mexican immigrant parents who are both educators. He attended Mt. San Antonio College, then transferred to Cal State Fullerton where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Art. He works at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and has worked on Robot Chicken, Crossing Swords, Supermansion, Lego Masters, and more. Currently he’s working on Gloop World set to stream on Quibi!

Writer
Maria is a first generation Cuban-American raised in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood. Yes, that Washington Heights. The one that Lin-Manuel Miranda sang about: In The Heights! — complete with abuelas spying over the neighborhood from their windowsill; Bodega owners chasing graffiti artists; and Latino kids with big dreams.

Lead Lighter & Compositing Artist
Growing up in Mexico, a country full of color in its folklore, would inspire Iveth Bueno to focus in the arts. Coming from a family of scientists and designers would motivate her to combine her interests with technology, resulting in a career in CG lighting and compositing for VFX and animation. For over 8 years, she has worked in the animation industry for companies such as Disney, DreamWorks and Rainmaker. Working as a lighting artist for Zootopia, Trolls, Boss Baby, and other movies.

Character Designer and Concept Artist
Alicia Estrada is a Character Designer and Concept Artist from Burbank, CA. In 2014, she received her Bachelors degree in Animation from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She has worked in consumer products as a Concept artist for Quantum Mechanix and most recently as a Junior Designer for Spin Master, Inc. Alicia enjoys drawing everyday and is dedicated to broaden her artistic skills in animation.

Writer, Producer, and Political Cartoonist
Alicia Estrada is a Character Designer and Concept Artist from Burbank, CA. In 2014, she received her Bachelors degree in Animation from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She has worked in consumer products as a Concept artist for Quantum Mechanix and most recently as a Junior Designer for Spin Master, Inc. Alicia enjoys drawing everyday and is dedicated to broaden her artistic skills in animation.

Composer
EMMY®-nominated composer Tony Morales has traversed the worlds of drama, animation, and documentary for both film and television. This year has seen the release of the ESPN documentary “The Dominican Dream”, which premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and “Wish Man”, the true story of Frank Shankwitz, who established the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Morales is also the composer for the Disney animated series “Elena Of Avalor” for which he received two Daytime EMMY nominations and an Annie Award nomination.

First Assistant Editor
An assistant editor working in animation. She is currently the First Assistant Editor on a feature at Skydance Animation, with previous experience working at DreamWorks Animation Television and Warner Bros. Animation. Before working in post-production, Sarah worked as a software developer at a startup in Los Angeles. She holds degrees in Computer Science and Critical Studies from the University of Southern California.

Visual Development
Mirelle Ortega is based in LA but originally from the southeast of Mexico, and has a passion for storytelling, sci-fi, film, tv, color and culture. Mirelle has a BFA from the Tecnológico de Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico) in digital art and 3D animation, and a MFA from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is fluent in Spanish and English.