I am a young professional and recent graduate from RE:ANIMA, the Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degree in animation. I have 5+ years of experience in stop-motion, direct animation and illustration. During my career, I have explored the tangible dimension of animation through installations, using projections to encourage the interaction between the public and the space. I have also worked on award-winning animated documentaries focusing on social themes, working alongside vulnerable groups. I am able to communicate with the client, come up with original concepts and be a team player in any phase of the production process. I am a multidisciplinary animator and illustrator with a solid foundation in traditional techniques and a penchant for collaborative, socially engaged projects. My work spans installations, documentary animation and freelance commissions, where I strive to tell meaningful stories with a hands-on, experimental approach.

David Espitia Calderón

I am a young professional and recent graduate from RE:ANIMA, the Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degree in animation. I have 5+ years of experience in stop-motion, direct animation and illustration. During my career, I have explored the tangible dimension of animation through installations, using projections to encourage the interaction between the public and the space. I have also worked on award-winning animated documentaries focusing on social themes, working alongside vulnerable groups. I am able to communicate with the client, come up with original concepts and be a team player in any phase of the production process. I am a multidisciplinary animator and illustrator with a solid foundation in traditional techniques and a penchant for collaborative, socially engaged projects. My work spans installations, documentary animation and freelance commissions, where I strive to tell meaningful stories with a hands-on, experimental approach.

Available to hire

I am a young professional and recent graduate from RE:ANIMA, the Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degree in animation. I have 5+ years of experience in stop-motion, direct animation and illustration. During my career, I have explored the tangible dimension of animation through installations, using projections to encourage the interaction between the public and the space. I have also worked on award-winning animated documentaries focusing on social themes, working alongside vulnerable groups. I am able to communicate with the client, come up with original concepts and be a team player in any phase of the production process.

I am a multidisciplinary animator and illustrator with a solid foundation in traditional techniques and a penchant for collaborative, socially engaged projects. My work spans installations, documentary animation and freelance commissions, where I strive to tell meaningful stories with a hands-on, experimental approach.

See more

Language

Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Advanced
Italian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Freelance Animator and Illustrator at Self-employed
January 1, 2020 - Present
Commission-based work including portraits, editorial illustrations with analogue techniques, and animations in stop-motion and direct animation. Created installations with projections to interact with public spaces.
Animation Class Monitor at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Animation class monitor (2020). Supervised students, aided with project development and managed animation stop-motion sets.
Co-director and Animator at RE:ANIMA Master’s Students – Animated Documentary Short 'Over seas'
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022
Co-director and animator of the animated documentary short 'Over seas', produced by RE:ANIMA master’s students; collaborated with peers on concept development and production.
Director and Animator at Changing the Story / Comisión de la Verdad
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022
Director and animator of the short-film 'Anatomy of a Murder' using direct animation and stop-motion; part of the documentary series exploring childhood and war in Colombia.
Co-director and Animator at RE:ANIMA Master’s Series
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022
Co-director and animator of the short-film 'I got lost in a dark world', from the same RE:ANIMA series.
Researcher and Curator at Changing the Story
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023
Young Research Board member; contributed to a virtual and on-site exhibition about peace projects; designer and illustrator of an editorial publication collecting youth and peace activism perspectives.
Freelance Animator and Illustrator
January 1, 2020 - Present
Independent freelance animator and illustrator with 5+ years of experience in stop-motion, direct animation and illustration. Develops installations with projections to engage audiences; produces portraits, postcards and editorial illustrations using analogue techniques; communicates with clients, develops original concepts, and collaborates across production phases.
Animation Class Assistant at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Co-director and animator of the animated documentary shortfilm Over seas, made by all RE:ANIMA master’s students.
Freelance Animator and Illustrator at Freelance
January 1, 2020 - Present
Independent freelancer delivering stop-motion, direct animation and illustration projects, including installations and editorial commissions. Responsible for client liaison, concept development and end-to-end production.

Education

Master of Arts in Animation (RE:ANIMA European Joint Master in Animation) at RE:ANIMA (Aalto University, LUCA School of Arts, Universidade Lusófona)
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia – Audiovisual and Graphic Expression specialization
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2022
Master of Arts in Animation at RE:ANIMA European Joint Master in Animation
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022
Bachelor of Visual Arts at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2022
MA Animation at RE:ANIMA European Joint Master in Animation (Aalto University, LUCA School of Arts, Universidade Lusófona)
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2022
BA Visual Arts at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2022

Qualifications

Sophia Estudante Awards - Best Master’s Film
January 1, 2025 - January 7, 2026
IELTS Certification (C1)
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026
SOPHIA ESTUDANTE AWARDS WINNER FOR BEST MASTER’S FILM
January 1, 2025 - January 27, 2026
IELTS Certification - C1
January 11, 2030 - January 27, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Government, Other