The directors Gabriel Osorio (“Historia de un Oso”), Hugo Covarrubias (“Beast”) and Cristóbal León (“La Casa Lobo”) were the protagonists of a conversation panel that took place at the Gabriela Mistral University.
Three Chileans internationally renowned for their work in the world of animation met to discuss their successful careers and share their experiences with students, academics and special guests who attended the First Digital Arts Festival of the Gabriela Mistral University.
The event – which included talks, colloquiums, workshops and awards – culminated with a conversation featuring three award-winning directors. one of them was Gabriel Osorio, winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2016 for “Story of a Bear”, which made him the first Chilean to receive this award. He was also awarded at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and his work has been recognized in several editions of the Quirino Awards, which celebrate Ibero-American animation.
“Although in Chile the area of animation is still small, it is developing. In fact, we at production companies are competing to find good animators, because the demand exists and is growing. The good thing is that this is already being noticed. For example, that international production companies like Lucasfilm trust the work of Chileans shows that from the outside there is a positive vision about what is done here,” points out Osorio, who is also screenwriter and director of the short “In the Stars” in Stars Wars Vision 2.
Hugo Covarrubias, winner of an Annie in 2022 for the short film “Beast”also participated in the UGM discussion. This award, given by the International Animated Film Association, is considered the “Oscar” of animation, an award for which it was also nominated.
“Beast was the result of a collective effort, meticulous attention to detail and the challenge of bringing to life such a complex story, based on historical facts and with a powerful narrative,” Covarrubias explained. The director attended the meeting in the company of Cecilia Toro, producer of this audiovisual productionwho regretted the limited financing that exists in Chile for this type of projects. “We try to create spaces and contribute to the country; We are like high-performance athletes looking to leave their mark. “The financing is not for our personal benefit, but to work and contribute to the development and growth of this industry,” Toro assured.
«The Wolf House» is a Chilean stop motion animated film released in 2018, directed by Christopher Leon y Joaquín Cociña. It was acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival and was also awarded at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, one of the most important in the world.
Responding to a Design student who asked her about the obstacles that can arise during the exercise of the profession, Leon pointed out that “constant work is key. That’s the advice I would give to someone starting out: work, work, work. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Today, there is a generational logic of social networks that encourages immediate gratification, but an artistic career is different: it is a long path that requires years of effort and dedication.”
For its part, Joaquín Cociña sent a special message for the UGM students: “enjoy what you do. Do it all the time, don’t look for excuses not to do it and turn your hobby into your profession and your daily life. In the art world, if you keep working consistently, the results will come.”
Unique is our perspective and the rich cultural heritage we draw from. We have stories that resonate on a global level, but they also have local flavor that we bring to the animation. The challenges we face include limited funding and resources, but we overcome them by collaborating with other artists and organizations to share knowledge and create innovative projects.
As the website editor for world-today-news.com, I had the opportunity to interview Gabriel Osorio and Hugo Covarrubias about their careers in animation and the current state of the animation industry in Chile. Here’s the edited transcript of our conversation:
Q: First of all, congratulations on your successful careers in animation! Could you please tell us more about your journey in the industry, and what motivated you to pursue a career in animation?
Gabriel Osorio: Thank you very much! My passion for storytelling and the art of animation has been with me since I was a child. I grew up watching movies and cartoons, and I always dreamed of being part of that world. Once I discovered the possibility of studying animation, I knew it was the path for me. It was a wonderful experience to be able to turn my hobby into my profession.
Hugo Covarrubias: For me, it was also about my passion for storytelling and the magic of bringing characters to life. I fell in love with animation while watching classic Disney movies as a child, and I have always wanted to create something that could touch people’s emotions and transport them to different worlds. The challenge of creating a captivating story is what drives me in this industry.
Q: You both have had remarkable achievements in your careers, including winning prestigious awards. How did it feel to be recognized on an international level for your work?
Gabriel Osorio: Winning an Oscar was definitely a dream come true. It was a great honor to represent Chile on such a global stage and have our work acknowledged by the international animation community. It also inspired us to continue pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in the industry.
Hugo Covarrubias: Winning an Annie was an incredible experience. It’s a well-respected award in the animation industry, and it validated all the hard work that went into creating “Beast.” It was particularly gratifying to see our work recognized not only in Chile but also on an international level.
Q: As Chilean animators, what do you think sets you apart from other animators around the world? What challenges do you face in the local industry, and how do you overcome them?
Gabriel Osorio: I think what makes Chilean animation
