FICM profiles: interview with Christian Arredondo, GOBELINS fellow

Gabriela Martínez @GabbMartivel

Christian Arredondo is originally from Celaya, Guanajuato, México. After studying communication, Christian decided to follow his true vocation: drawing and animation. Currently he is one of the three Mexican winners of the ANIMEXICO scholarship granted by Guillermo del Toro, along with Cinépolis support, to study the Master of Arts: Animation of Characters and Animation of Animated Cinema at GOBELINS, l'ecole de l'image, the best animation school in the world.

The Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) had the opportunity to talk with Christian Arredondo, who told us about his career and the artists who inspire his own works.

Christian Arredondo's work.

FICM: Does Guillermo del Toro inspire you in any way?

CA: Yes, a lot. I think he is someone who motivated me to get into animation. The animation allows the use of fantastic elements and I felt that there were no such things in Mexico, but when I saw that del Toro's work followed this line, it motivated me a lot. It gives as a kind of hope, it's exciting.

FICM: Is there any other artist that inspires you?

CA: Yes, as far as the drawing is Jean Giraud "Moebius", also Francisco de Goya. In animation, Hayao Miyazaki, Michaël Dudok de Wit, who is the director of The Red Turtle (2017). Also the cartoonist Hugo Pratt.

FICM: After GOBELINS, what are your plans?

CA: I don't know, I don't like to make plans because then they don't come out as you imagined them, but I want to go back to Mexico to open a studio in Guanajuato, where I am from.

FICM: Do you have a story in mind that you would like to tell?

CA: Yes, many. I have one in mind based on the relationship with my girlfriend about a man who must imperiously climb a mountain.

Learn more about Christian Arredondo's work here and here.