DANIELA RODRIGUEZ

Animator for Puerco y Babosa

Daniela Rodriguez De La Peña (she/her) is a 2D Animator who joined BuzzFeed in 2024. Her work involves taking animated episodes of Puerco y Babosa from script to post-production. Daniela loves the storyboarding and development process during pre-production, where she has a lot of autonomy to interpret scripts in her own style. 

Initially an art major, Daniela's passion for animation started when she took a storyboarding class in her penultimate year. This newfound love led to a career as a storyboard artist and eventually an animator. She draws inspiration from movies, especially those by Steven Spielberg, and enjoys action and horror films.

In the next five years, Daniela aspires to become a director in the animation industry or work as a storyboard artist on an epic action/adventure show. Through her work, she hopes to inspire others to tell their own stories.

Daniela advises aspiring animators to "keep making more art" despite setbacks. She emphasizes the importance of revisiting the basics, studying favorite artists' work, and applying those lessons to one's own portfolio.

Originally from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, Daniela now resides in Pasadena, California, where she enjoys the local food, especially boba. In her free time, she watches Japanese anime, documentaries, horror, and action movies. Her favorite shows include Breaking Bad, Shogun, and Better Call Saul. She also practices Pa Kua Kung Fu twice a week, a practice she deeply enjoys.

Find Daniela on Instagram @Danirodarts