Animation director Jorge R. Gutiérrez and his wife and creative partner Sandra Equihua, who have brought several acclaimed animated projects inspired by the art, traditions and culture of Mexico to screens, are embarking on a new animated feature film project titled La Venganza Rodríguez. Set in Tijuana, the film centers on a young woman on a quest restore her family’s honor in the lucha libre ring.
“I have always dreamt of doing an adult animated feature bursting with hilarious violence and heart. Tijuana was such a magical place for me growing up and I really want to share that with the world. La Venganza Rodríguez is all this and more,” Gutiérrez told Animation Magazine.
“The visual style is going to be a bit more experimental (I graduated from the Experimental Animation program at CalArts!) in that we’re going to be mixing 2D and CG in really inventive ways,” said the talented writer-director. “We’re currently making a 2.5 minute-long trailer that will not only showcase the entire movie’s story but also showcase the rather crazy look and feel of the animation. My hope is for the audience to get drunk with their eyes!”
The Spanish/Mexican project is being produced through Valencia-based Hampa Studio (Black Is Beltza, Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, Paradise Buffet), and is one of 15 Ibero-American animated feature film projects recently selected for the IBERMEDIA NEXT program, as announced at Annecy’s MIFA market. Gutiérrez will direct, collaborating with Equihua and continuing their partnership on projects like the Nickelodeon hit El Tigre: The Many Adventures of Manny Rivera and the multiple Annie and Children’s & Family Emmy Award-winning Netflix limited series Maya and the Three, as well as the 2014 feature film The Book of Life (released by Fox).
Synopsis: When tragedy strikes her wrestling family, 18-year-old Leonora Rodríguez must step into the ring to honor their legacy and avenge their defeat. Armed with a burning determination, eccentric training, and a flair for the dramatic, Leonora will face outlandish rivals and her greatest nemesis in the explosive and over-the-top combat of La Venganza Rodríguez!
The film’s creative team includes Emmy-winning production designer, art director and concept artist Almu Redondo (Star Wars: Visions, Wolfwalkers) and visual development & concept artist Pakoto Martinez (The Book of Life, Maya and the Three), who will both serve as art directors; story artist Gustavo Cosío (My Dad the Bounty Hunter, Maya and the Three); rising animation stars Sebastián and Diego Ramirez (a.k.a. the Awesombrosos); and Emmy-nominated editor Myra Lopez (Maya and the Three, El Tigre).
“The visual style is going to be a bit more experimental in that we’re going to be mixing 2D and CG in really inventive ways…My hope is for the audience to get drunk with their eyes!”
— Jorge R. Gutiérrez
La Venganza Rodríguez offers a fresh opportunity for fans of Gutiérrez’s work to look forward, after a string of canceled projects have occupied the artist’s time in recent years, including the LEGO feature The Billion Brick Race and two Netflix projects: the feature film I, Chihuahua starring Gabriel Iglesias and the martial arts sci-fi Western series Kung-Fu Space Punch. The trailer for the movie will be ready by early 2026.
The third edition of IBERMEDIA NEXT, organized by IBERMEDIA Program and the ICAA (Spanish Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts), aims to support the development of ‘innovative animation proposals through the use of disruptive technologies, open-source software and experimental formats.’ This year’s 15 selections represent 12 Ibero-American countries, and will receive up to €2,500,000 in financial support, which includes direct grants of €150,000 per project, as well as indirect support in the form of customized training programs, consulting, and participation in strategic markets through a partnership established with the Ibero-American Animation League.
In addition to La Venganza Rodríguez, this year’s selected projects are:
- Tagamanom. Hidden World | OuO Time SL, Intifx Animation Studio SAS, Studio Z Design e Animaçao LTDA | Spain, Ecuador, Brazil
- Los Mukis | Apocalipsis Producciones SL, Desfase Films SAC, Tunche Films INC, Intifix Animation Studio SAS Spain | Peru, Panama, Ecuador
- I Don’t Know | 12 Penguins Cartoons SL, Pataclaun Cultural Association, IntiFX Animation Studio SAS, Soda Productions | Spain, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela
- Urpi and Ziggy | Lightbox Animation Studios SL, Intifx Animation Studio SAS, Apus Estudio, Estudio Lunes SPA | Spain, Ecuador, Peru, Chile
- Olivia and the Mysteries | Once Upon a Time Films SL, Juan Luis Carve Pascale “Chucho”, Chatrone Latam LTDA, Cultural Space of Peruvian Animation | Spain, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru
- Waspa and Hummingbird | Take It Easy Produções Audiovisuais LDA, University of Guadalajara, Strokes Animation Guillermo Sainz “Waso” | Portugal, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia
- Santa Sombra | La Mola Films SL, Patricio Gabriel Plaza “Ojo Raro”, Fedora Productions SA de CV | Spain, Argentina, Mexico
- Pinkooland | Vanova Films SLU, Mattegraphics CIA LTDA | Spain, Ecuador
- Lily & Kyle | Mago Audiovisual Production SL, Alopra Estúdio, Apapacho Films SA de CV | Spain, Brazil, Mexico
- Lucila | Cornelius Films SL, Bernardita Ojeda Audiovisual Production EIRL, Copa Studio | Spain, Chile, Brazil
- I Ask for Pause | Canned Sardinha Unipessoal LDA, Animaciones Salvajes SAS | Portugal, Argentina
- Is there anyone dead in the room? | Inaudita SLU, Sísmica Studio | Spain, Mexico
- Sometimes Silence | Filmakers Monkeys SL, Carltz EIRL, Comercial Hamburgo LTDA | Spain, Peru, Chile
- The Mysterious Island | Studio Kimchi SL, CS Produçoes e Filmes LTDA, Cola Quente | Spain, Brazil, Portugal
See more details of the IBERMEDIA NEXT projects here.
[Source: Variety]
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