In animation, every frame is a labor of love—a mix of imagination, design, and emotion fine-tuned over hours, days, even years. And at the heart of some of the industry’s most beloved stories is Bobby Pontillas, a Filipino-American animator who has worked across film, television, and video games. With credits on Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6, and Moana, Pontillas has long been part of the visual language that defines childhoods. But it was his Academy Award-nominated short film One Small Step that cemented his place as a storyteller with emotional precision and vision. That instinct for storytelling—whether in a few minutes or across an entire feature—has been shaped by years of navigating different creative landscapes.

Pontillas has spent years moving between platforms, and each medium, he says, has its own unique rhythm. “In video games, it’s more mission-oriented,” he shares with ZEEN. “TV is episodic, and a feature film is one epic story. So the way that you approach storytelling and design kind of depends on those three mediums being very different—but also being complementary.” Adapting between the three requires not just technical agility but also a sensitivity to structure and pace: how a moment lands in a three-minute cutscene isn’t the same as how it resonates in a 90-minute arc or a weekly series.

His love for animation began long before his first job in the industry. “I grew up drawing silly stuff like dinosaurs,” he laughs, “but when I was in art school, I saw Tarzan—and that was it. That movie was the perfect amalgamation of adventure, dynamics, and heart. I knew then I wanted to become a Disney animator, and I never looked back.” That moment wasn’t just inspiration—it was a call to action, setting him on a path that would bring him to the halls of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The leap from animator to Oscar nominee came with One Small Step, a seven-minute short film that made a global impact. “The main thing we wanted to celebrate,” Pontillas says, “was the idea that if you’re working for a goal—really hustling for it—you should remember the people who supported you along the way.” That central message, delivered with heartfelt clarity and visual poetry, struck a chord with audiences worldwide. Crafting such emotional resonance in such a tight format speaks to Pontillas’ ability to distill big feelings into small moments—something he’s honed over years of experience.

But his time at Disney, he admits, was both humbling and transformative. “You get into a place like Disney, and there’s an animation team of hundreds,” he says. “I always kind of felt like I was the worst one there.” But that sense of humility only deepened his learning. “At the end of the day, you get to be part of something that resonates globally. It’s surreal, really. You’re a small part of a big machine, but it makes all the difference. And we were lucky to be there during a time when some really successful movies were being made.”

For the animator, the emotional core of any story begins with the characters. “It starts with the feeling—the emotion that sparked the story,” he explains. “And then you transpose that emotion onto characters that feel real to you. The visuals come after. They’re the byproduct of the tone you’re trying to set.” This philosophy—anchoring plot in emotion—has guided his storytelling process regardless of the medium.

His identity as a Filipino-American has also shaped his creative lens. “Trying to get in touch with my culture, tapping into those experiences—it’s 100% going to color the kinds of projects I pursue,” he says. “Hopefully what anyone can take away from this is the importance of leaning into your own background.” That self-awareness has brought a deeper layer to his recent work, especially as he begins developing stories that reflect the Filipino experience.

In the early days of his career, Pontillas simply wanted to work in Hollywood. But over time, his creative focus shifted. “Now I want to tell more Filipino stories,” he tells ZEEN. This evolution reflects a growing desire to use his platform not just to entertain, but to represent.

As for the future of the industry, Pontillas is paying close attention to the rise of AI—but not with fear. “Artists who can recognize what AI brings to the table and then recognize what they bring—that’s exciting. What can I do that AI can’t? That’s where creativity gets interesting.”

To aspiring animators who dream of directing right away, he offers grounded advice: “You should spend some years really understanding what every department does—not just your own. If you want to lead a show or movie, you have to be able to empathize with what everyone’s going through.” Leadership in animation, he stresses, is built on mutual understanding and deep respect for the collaborative nature of the work.

Asked about the biggest creative risk he’s taken, Pontillas doesn’t hesitate. “Every few years, your creative dream changes. So take the plunge. If you have the means, chase that new dream—even if it means upending your career. Don’t be afraid to go off-path.”

Pontillas’ newest project, Sun Chaser, reflects this very ethos. Created with Bernard Badion, together with Toon City and Playlab animation studio, the series recently won the MIFA Animation du Monde Prize at the Annecy International Animation Festival. Rooted in Filipino mythology, this achievement is another bold step forward for Filipino animation and a career built on heart, vision, and a willingness to take risks.

Through every chapter of his journey—from sketching dinosaurs to standing on animation’s biggest stages—Bobby Pontillas has shown that stories told with sincerity and soul will always leave a mark. In a fast-evolving industry, his voice is one that reminds us: the best stories aren’t just drawn, they’re also lived.

Photos: Bobby Pontillas (via Instagram)