I was first captivated by animation during the summers of my childhood, when I would walk around the house with my portable CRT TV and find a new spot to rewatch The Lion King on VHS. I felt that sitting in a different part of the house would recreate the magic of watching it for the very first time. FUN FACT: I was named after Simba from The Lion King. I still have debates with my parents about whether they meant to spell it with a “Z” instead of an “S”. They argue they intentionally spelled it differently, but given that their first language is Spanish, I’m convinced they just assumed it was spelled Zimba, like zapato (shoe). As a Mexican-American artist, I believe I can offer a very unique perspective to the work that I create. Having spent many holidays with my large extended family (21 cousins under one roof!) I have a library of experiences and character interactions that are itching to get out of my brain and onto the screen. While I do have the love and support of my family, there is still a lot of concerns about whether I can make a career out of telling stories. Nobody in my immediate or extended family has had a career in the arts. But it is that very fact that motivates me to fight for what I love to do and work toward achieving this dream. My goal is to create stories that will transport audiences to someplace magical--whether it be a place of wonder and joy, or a dark place where fears and anxieties manifest into creatures of the night! We all need to escape sometimes, and animation is the perfect vehicle for the journey.