Bringing a Mexico City Experience to Life in USC Annenberg Magazine

For the Summer Issue of USC Annenberg Magazine, I was commissioned to create a series of animated illustrations for the First Person Story feature. These visuals capture the essence of the author's immersive experience during her Spring Break immersion experience in Mexico City.

The illustrations bring to life key moments from her journey, such as the emotional moment she discovers her acceptance into the program and plays Alejandro Fernández’s “Como quien pierde una estrella” while thinking about her trip. They also depict her experiences in the city—exploring Frida Kahlo’s iconic blue house, savoring traditional chilaquiles, enjoying a boat ride in Xochimilco, and watching Lucha Libre.

After the initial sketches were approved, I crafted the cut paper scenes, bringing all the elements together. To animate these scenes I used Adobe Premiere Rush to make a stop motion animation. The final touches and edits were done in After Effects.

You can read the full article and delve deeper into her Mexico City adventure here.

Initial Sketches