Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Montijo
Hi Elena, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For as long as I can remember, art has always been my passion—whether for fun or as a career. My journey has taken me from school art classes to becoming an illustrator, graphic designer, and eventually a freelance digital artist. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of illustrating and animating for children’s content, commercials, video games, editorial illustrations, and more.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on many projects in children’s media. Creating memorable characters and visually appealing educational content has been a deeply rewarding experience. More importantly, it’s been a tool to encourage young learners to engage in their educational journey and personal development.
This has inspired me to develop my own intellectual property: Elenita the Chicken Whisperer, based on my childhood. Through Elenita, I hope to teach children how wonderful chickens can be as pets while imparting valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility, nature, and Latin culture. My ultimate goal is to evolve Elenita into a bilingual animated preschool series for family entertainment.
I have contributed as a game artist to the Apple Design Award-winning Doodle Jump and the relaunch of the beloved Flappy Bird app. Additionally, I’ve collaborated with major clients, including Scholastic, PBS Nova, El Nuevo Día, Hewlett-Packard, and Discovery Channel.
Along the way, I partnered with Tommy Gonzalez, a producer and director with a passion for animation. And today, I’m the CCO and co-founder of ManaT Studios along with Tommy Gonzalez, CEO & Founder. Together with the passionate team of animators at ManaT, we are fully dedicated to crafting compelling stories that entertain, inspire, and educate audiences internationally.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I was younger, I thought freelancing meant having total freedom—managing my time and traveling whenever I wanted. I quickly realized it wasn’t that simple. In the beginning, finding work or managing multiple projects was tough. I lacked business experience, and freelancing wasn’t a common path for someone fresh out of college at the time.
Over time, I discovered that success doesn’t come from working alone. Collaborating with others who share your vision can lead to achieving greater dreams. This shift in perspective made my journey more enriching, supportive, and creatively fulfilling leading me into becoming an entrepreneur.
Owning and managing a business comes with its challenges, especially for someone with a creative background rather than an administrative one. While it’s not an impossible task, it does require time, immense patience, and a willingness to navigate legal and administrative complexities. Nevertheless, my motivation fuels me to keep pursuing my goals and turning them into reality.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about ManaT Studios?
For several years, Tommy and I have attended global industry events, forming alliances and expanding our network across the mainland U.S., Mexico, Canada and Canary Islands.
We also wanted to do business in Puerto Rico. However, we saw that the island wasn’t participating in the thriving global animation market despite having talented animators. Without dedicated workspaces or industry support, many aspiring artists had to leave the island or work in unrelated fields. Tommy and I wanted to change that and offer them what we didn’t have at a younger age.
In 2019, we co-founded ManaT Studios LLC with a vision to provide a space for emerging talent while building international connections to grow Puerto Rico’s animation industry.
Today, our studio specializes in full-production 2D and 3D animation services, script development, comics, graphic novels, illustrated children’s books, multimedia educational content, and consulting. We’re also developing animated series for both children and adults.
Our mission is to celebrate local and Latin culture while supporting the creative industries in Puerto Rico, Miami, and beyond. We’re proud to foster emerging talent and expand our global partnerships, showcasing latinos as a competitive force in the animation industry.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Attending career-related events, workshops, tech expos, and licensing fairs has been invaluable for me. These gatherings bring together amazing, talented individuals from all over the world who share your interests. Some become lifelong friends or colleagues.
Putting yourself out there is essential—you never know who you’ll meet or what opportunities might arise. Talk about your goals, listen to others, and make lasting connections. These events are not only inspiring but also help expand your network in ways you may never have imagined.
Always be yourself and leave a positive impression. You’ll be surprised how small and interconnected the world can be when you’re open to collaboration.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.manatstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenamontijo
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/manatstudio/
Image Credits
Portrait photo; Milena A. Jiménez Lorenzo
© Doodle Jump (space image)
© Elena Montijo
