From El Tigre and The Book of Life to I, Chihuahua, and El Guapo vs. the Narco Vampires, Jorge R. Gutierrez has built one of the most unmistakable visual worlds in modern animation—where Lucha Libre spectacle, Mesoamerican mythology, bold Meximalist design, and raw emotional storytelling collide. In this exclusive WonderCon conversation presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, Gutierrez reveals how the theatrical energy of wrestling—its masks, archetypes, legacy, and larger-than-life drama—transforms into unforgettable animated characters and richly layered worlds. He is joined by character designer and voice actress Sandra Equihua (El Tigre, The Book of Life, Maya and the Three, El Guapo, and I, Chihuahua,) and art director/visual development artist Roman Laney (El Tigre, The Book of Life, El Guapo, and I, Chihuahua). This creative team shares behind-the-scenes insights into their collaborative process, artistic evolution, and the fearless world-building that defines their work.
