Meet Javier Ledesma Barbolla | Storyboard artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Javier Ledesma Barbolla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Javier, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
The thing that I always liked to do since I was a toddler was drawing, to me that was like playing. Later on, when I was at school, one teacher told us – OK guys, let’s observe how all the seconds pass to do a minute.- We all wait watching our clocks. When the minute passed, the teacher said – well, now you guys have to realize that this minute will never come back, it is lost forever.- From that moment on, I knew that I didn’t want to waste my lifetime, When I grew up and I was studying in high school, I didn’t know what job I wanted to have, the only thing I had clear in my mind was that I didn’t want to have a job where I was suffering 5 days per week and looking forward to the weekend to come. Later on, when I was doing my Chemistry degree at the University, I quit to pursue an artistic career as I felt that those years were a turning point in my life that would head me one way or the other.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m from Spain, and I came to the USA to work in the animation industry. I worked at Disney Animation Studios as a storyboard artist for 3 years and a half until I joined Skydance Animation to work in the next Brad Bird movie. I’ve also worked as a director, animator, and character designer in different studios throughout my career. Despicable Me, Rio, Smallfoot, Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, Strange World, and the upcoming Disney’s Wish are some of the titles in which I’ve been involved in the last years. Prior to this, I co-founded my own studio, Able & Baker, in Madrid, the city where I grew up. The journey has been long and sometimes not easy. I always wanted to become a comic book artist, but I have no idea how to do it.
I was teaching tennis classes during the weekends to get money to pay for a small comic academy in Madrid while I was studying at the University for a Chemistry degree. It happened that some friends of my comic book teacher were working in an animation studio called Tridente Animation. These guys told my teacher that the studio was looking for artists and I did a test to try to get a job there. After one year I didn’t get any answer, but one day, the phone rang, and that studio offered me a job there. That was the beginning of my career.

During the first few years, I was jumping from one studio to another because in Spain there was not a real animation industry at that time. We had periods of time when there was no production anywhere, so I worked in the videogame industry, I Illustrated books for kids and even modeled miniatures. I tried to keep moving and learn different artistic skills which could open new options for me. I suppose that these circumstances made me develop a multitasking profile that would help me in the future to get different kinds of jobs and positions when I come back into the animation industry.
I had a chance to direct a TV show called Jelly Jamm, and after that, I even cofound my own studio, Able & Baker, to develop my own projects. I really enjoyed these experiences, but after some years, I decided to focus my career on Feature films.

When I look back, I remember that the decision to quit my Chemistry degree to try to work in something related to drawing was tough for me and my parents, as it was a risky profession to choose in my country, but now I know it was a good decision. Even if I get it or not, I think I would feel unhappy if I wouldn’t try it.

Along the journey, I’ve realized that you can have more and less talent, but perseverance and hard work are a must for everyone who wants to become a good professional, but to be honest, a certain amount of luck is also necessary.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For sure I would do an urban art tour around the city, starting at the Arts District, but driving from one mural to another, but not only the famous ones. There are all kinds of amazing murals all around the city, artistic stickers, graffiti that create a unique contrast between the old and dirty abandoned buildings and the life and energy of all these vibrant colors.

The next visit would be an art deco buildings tour starting at The mid-Wilshire and checking other areas with these awesome architectural pieces.

A drive along Mulholland drv would be another experience to do. Griffith Park or any other hiking routes around Burbank I sure would do.
Downtown LA, the Bradbury building, The Last Bookstore. To eat I would go to The Original farmers Market or Grand Central Market.

I don’t know, there is a lot to discover in LA

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Of course!, My parents for all the efforts that they made to give me and my sister the opportunity that they couldn’t have for them.
My sister Natalia, as she was always my number one fan!
And finally, Teresa and Juan, my first mentors, for teaching me the foundations of what I do and the respect for the job that others did before us in this profession.

Instagram: @Jaledbar

Image Credits
Walt Disney Animation Studios( Except for the image with the two broken leg statues )