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Q&A with Ana Aranda Rico

Freelance motion designer and animator

My name is Ana, I live in Seville and I dedicate myself  to making 2D animation and motion graphics videos as a freelance, and I also develop the creativity, script and storyboard of those who require it.

Who are the  animators and designers in Spain who inspire you today?

Some of my favorite Spanish animators are Zenzuke, Moncho Massé and Pedro Alpera, because they get very fluid and fun animations. I have worked with Pedro Alpera, animating some of his illustrations for a Mapping show in our city, and I would love to work with the others too.

Do you prefer to work at home or in the studio?

I used to work at home but I am a person who needs a lot of order to feel focussed and it ended up being a bit stressful. I used to working at the wrong time and answering emails until very late and had problems to disconnect from work and relax, so I ended up looking for a coworking to work and I am more productive this way: separating both environments.

Have you ever dreamed about another place to live and work in?

I think it would be very interesting to be able to work in one of the best studios in London, like Buck or Animade, but the truth is that I started to focus my career towards working remotely because I really like the city where I live: Seville. The climate and the environment is great, and living in a quiet city brings me a lot of peace.

Illustration by Marina Fernández, animation by Ana Aranda Rico

What is the  basic toolset you use for animation? In general, what are the most important components  of the effective work for you?

The basic tools for me, related to software, are After Effects and Illustrator.

But the most important thing to create a good animation, is the previous time that is dedicated to plan it well, find references, think a good storyboard etc. This is what really helps me to make my work method work better.

If you could get back to the beginning of your career and suggest how to become a motion designer, what would be your advice?

I think I've gone around a lot before deciding to focus on animation. I studied Advertising at the University, and then Audiovisual communication, and although it always provide experiences an new perspectives, having begun to focus on something concrete before, perhaps it would had made me feel much more secure technically now.

I would also advise someone who is beginning his/her career now, to invest time in good courses, because there is a lot of material to learn on the internet, but little is of quality, and I have wasted a lot of time trying to find it. Sometimes paid courses are the best option to take advantage of your time and effort.

Illustration by Marina Fernández, animation by Ana Aranda Rico