I'm Maria Fuentes Banegas, a 3D animator and modeler based in Berlin with two years of experience in short films and indie video games. I specialize in modeling, rigging, keyframe animation, and motion capture cleanup using Blender and Maya, and I enjoy developing assets for both stylized and realistic projects. Beyond 3D work, I contribute as a scriptwriter and storyboard artist, and I have experience in Unity with Visual Scripting and basic web graphics. I’m a collaborative creator who thrives in cross-disciplinary teams from concept to final render.

Maria Fuentes Banegas

I'm Maria Fuentes Banegas, a 3D animator and modeler based in Berlin with two years of experience in short films and indie video games. I specialize in modeling, rigging, keyframe animation, and motion capture cleanup using Blender and Maya, and I enjoy developing assets for both stylized and realistic projects. Beyond 3D work, I contribute as a scriptwriter and storyboard artist, and I have experience in Unity with Visual Scripting and basic web graphics. I’m a collaborative creator who thrives in cross-disciplinary teams from concept to final render.

Available to hire

I’m Maria Fuentes Banegas, a 3D animator and modeler based in Berlin with two years of experience in short films and indie video games. I specialize in modeling, rigging, keyframe animation, and motion capture cleanup using Blender and Maya, and I enjoy developing assets for both stylized and realistic projects.

Beyond 3D work, I contribute as a scriptwriter and storyboard artist, and I have experience in Unity with Visual Scripting and basic web graphics. I’m a collaborative creator who thrives in cross-disciplinary teams from concept to final render.

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Language

English
Advanced
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
German
Beginner

Work Experience

Self-Employed 3D Modeler and Animator at Self-Employed
July 1, 2025 - October 11, 2025
Integrated forty-four blend shapes and twenty-two drivers in Blender into a human-based character from Character Creator 4, enhancing an AI-training synthetic data pipeline based on human motion. Modeled eight game-ready props and designed four procedural materials in Blender, following the art style guidelines and technical specifications in a volunteer game demo development. Executed cleanup of twelve animations based on body motion capture data and performed quality control of ninety-six motion capture-based animations, refining animation error detection and correction in Blender.
Animation Intern at Mimic Productions
July 1, 2024 - October 11, 2025
Processed raw motion capture data utilizing OptiTrack Motive technology and refined body and facial animations by retargeting and cleaning up processed motion capture data for four animation projects in Maya. Managed camera equipment, prepared talent, and calibrated motion capture systems in OptiTrack Motive, ensuring animation data collection for two motion capture sessions. Handled camera calibration and scan reviews for three photogrammetry sessions.
Scriptwriter, 3D Character Modeler and 3D Character Animator at UNITEC (Short Film “Sonrisa Perdida”)
September 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
Refined the short film script and created both the literary script and shooting script along with the film’s director, optimizing production’s workflow. Created 3D models for two humanoid characters and integrated their body and facial rigs, ensuring correct motion in Maya. Produced character and camera animation for four shots in Maya.
Director, Producer, Scriptwriter and Lead Animator at UNITEC (Short Film “Pequeño Visitante”)
March 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
Directed and led the production of the student short film over a 10-week span, achieving an official selection in seven international festivals. Refined the short film script and developed the storyboard and animatics, facilitating the three production stages for a 5-minute short. Modeled and textured characters, backgrounds, and props in Blender and animated seventy-eight shots across the project.
Self-Employed 3D Modeler and Animator at Self-Employed
July 1, 2025 - October 11, 2025
Integrated forty-four blend shapes and twenty-two drivers in Blender for a human-based character from Character Creator 4, enhancing an AI-training motion data pipeline. Modeled eight game-ready props and designed four procedural materials aligning with style guides. Cleaned up twelve animations and performed QC for ninety-six motion-capture sequences.
Animation Intern at Mimic Productions
July 1, 2024 - October 11, 2025
Processed raw motion capture data with OptiTrack Motive, retargeted and cleaned body and facial animations in Maya for four projects. Managed camera equipment and talent, calibrated MoCap systems for two sessions. Conducted camera calibration and photogrammetry scan reviews for three sessions.
Scriptwriter, 3D Character Modeler and 3D Character Animator at UNITEC
September 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
Refined the short film script and prepared literary and shooting scripts with the director, optimizing production workflow. Created 3D models for two humanoid characters and integrated their body and facial rigs in Maya. Produced character and camera animation for multiple shots.
Director, Producer, Scriptwriter and Lead Animator at UNITEC
March 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
Directed and led the production of a student short film over a 10-week span, achieving official selections in seven international festivals. Refined the script and developed storyboard and animatics, overseeing production across three stages. Modeled and textured characters, backgrounds, and props in Blender and animated seventy-eight shots.
Self-Employed 3D Modeler and Animator at Self-Employed
July 1, 2025 - October 11, 2025
Integrated forty-four blend shapes and twenty-two drivers in Blender into a human-based character from Character Creator 4, enhancing an AI-training synthetic data pipeline based on human motion. Modeled eight game-ready props and designed four procedural materials in Blender, following the art style guidelines and technical specifications in a volunteer game demo development. Executed cleanup of twelve animations based on body motion capture data and performed quality control of ninety-six motion capture-based animations, refining animation error detecting and correction in Blender.
Animation Intern at Mimic Productions
July 1, 2024 - October 11, 2025
Processed raw motion capture data utilizing OptiTrack Motive technology and refined body and facial animations by retargeting and cleaning up processed motion capture data for four animation projects in Maya. Managed camera equipment, prepared talent, and calibrated motion capture systems in OptiTrack Motive, ensuring animation data collection for two motion capture sessions. Handled camera calibration and scan reviews for three photogrammetry sessions.
Scriptwriter, 3D Character Modeler and 3D Character Animator at UNITEC
September 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
For the short film Sonrisa Perdida, refined the script and created both the literary and shooting scripts with the director; created 3D models for two human-like characters and integrated body and facial rigs; produced character and camera animation for four shots in Maya.
Director, Producer, Scriptwriter and Lead Animator at UNITEC
March 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
Directed and led the production of the student short film Pequeño Visitante in a 10-week span, achieving official selections in seven international festivals; refined the script, developed storyboard and animatics, and oversaw production; modeled/textured characters, backgrounds and props in Blender and animated seventy-eight shots including characters, objects, cameras, and lighting.
Self-Employed 3D Modeler and Animator at Self-Employed
July 1, 2025 - October 11, 2025
Integrated 44 blend shapes and 22 drivers in Blender into a human-based character from Character Creator 4, enhancing an AI-training synthetic data pipeline based on human motion. Modeled eight game-ready props and designed four procedural materials in Blender, following the art style guidelines and technical specifications in a volunteer game demo development. Executed cleanup of twelve animations based on body motion capture data and performed quality control of ninety-six motion capture-based animations, refining animation error detecting and correction in Blender.
Animation Intern at Mimic Productions
July 1, 2024 - October 11, 2025
Processed raw motion capture data utilizing OptiTrack Motive technology and refined body and facial animations by retargeting and cleaning up processed motion capture data for four animation projects in Maya. Managed camera equipment, prepared talent, and calibrated motion capture systems in OptiTrack Motive, ensuring animation data collection for two motion capture sessions. Handled camera calibration and scan reviews for three photogrammetry sessions.
Scriptwriter, 3D Character Modeler and 3D Character Animator at UNITEC (Short Film 'Sonrisa Perdida')
September 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
Refined the short film script and created both the literary script and shooting script along with the film’s director, optimizing production’s workflow. Created 3D model for two humanoid characters and integrated their respective body and facial rigs, ensuring their correct motion in Maya. Produced the character and camera animation of four shots in Maya.
Director, Producer, Scriptwriter and Lead Animator at UNITEC (Short Film 'Pequeño Visitante')
March 1, 2023 - October 11, 2025
Directed and led the production of the student short film in a 10-week span, achieving an official selection in seven international festivals in Guatemala, Spain, Romania, United States and the Russian Federation. Refined the short film script and developed the storyboard and animatics, facilitating the three stages of production for a 5-minute short film. Modeled and textured characters, backgrounds and props in 3D using Blender. Animated characters, objects, cameras, and illumination of the seventy-eight shots that constitute the short film in Blender.

Education

Degree in Digital Animation and Interactive Design at Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC)
January 22, 2020 - September 14, 2024
Degree in Digital Animation and Interactive Design at Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC)
January 11, 2030 - September 1, 2024
Degree in Digital Animation and Interactive Design at Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC)
January 11, 2030 - September 1, 2024
Degree in Digital Animation and Interactive Design at Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC)
September 1, 2024 - October 11, 2025
Degree in Digital Animation and Interactive Design at Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC)
January 11, 2030 - September 1, 2024

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet
    uniE608 Cajita de Música - A Tiny Music Box
    The reason behind the creation of this animation (aside from experimentation) was to evoke a feeling of nostalgia and comfort, inspired by the vintage and ballet-themed music boxes. Cajita de Música is an animation created to experiment with ilumination and camera motion using Blender, while a ballerina-style music box is playing a melody (Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Waltz).
    uniE608 Ollie's (Unscary) Escape
    Ollie's (Unscary) Escape is a student low-poly minigame created during October 2022. The main purpose was to create an ingenious puzzle minigame in which the player has to interact with the world in order to solve the puzzle and help Ollie get back home. The minigame also serves as a test of mechanics for 3D games using Unity
    uniE608 A 1970's Uneven Bars Routine
    A fascinating uneven bars routine competed by a talented gymnast, inspired by the dynamic and graceful gymnastics routines of the 70's
    uniE608 Pequeño Visitante (A Small Visitor)
    Dusky is taking an exam to obtain his "frightener's license", but the presence of an old man will change the course of his evaluation. Will Dusky approve his exam? Pequeño Visitante is a student animated shortfilm created by María Fuentes and produced between January 2023 and March 2023 in a 13 week span.