As a child, Cristina Zuniga watched in awe as a swirl of magic transformed Maleficent into a fire-breathing dragon in Disney’s animated film “Sleeping Beauty.” That moment inspired Zuniga to pursue a career in animation.
Born into a family of artists, Zuniga’s mother and older sister taught her how to draw and study animation styles from Disney’s Don Bluth to Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki.
Zuniga met several Cal State Fullerton alumni who attributed their professional success to the training and hands-on experiences they received in the College of the Arts. Their praise for the university influenced her decision to choose CSUF.
“I wanted to be a part of a team of creatives to bring stories to life and collaborate on making entertaining art,” said Zuniga ’20 (BFA, art-entertainment art/animation).
The Cal State Fullerton alum has worked as a background designer and supervisor on “We Baby Bears” at Cartoon Network Studios for two seasons. She also worked on backgrounds for a new Netflix show and created designs for the animated television series “Bat Family” and “Super Mutant Magic Academy” at Warner Bros. Animation.
Before she launched her career, Zuniga grew her art portfolio in the WIA club (formerly Women in Animation) at CSUF. Serving as vice president of the student organization, she networked with professionals in the animation industry, developed her creative style and participated in behind-the-scenes preview events with such companies as Warner Animation Group.
“A lot of industry professionals talk about the importance of networking and getting involved with clubs like WIA is one of the earliest steps in growth. The people you meet will one day become your peers in the industry, and it’s through these connections that you gain not only friendship, but opportunities in the field,” said Zuniga.
As a student, she had the opportunity to observe the animation production process for the films “Scoob!” and “DC League of Super-Pets.” Through WIA’s mentorship program, Zuniga also had her portfolio reviewed by Michael Kurinsky, the production designer on “Scoob!”
“After narrowing down what my strengths were and educating myself on the different job positions in the animation industry, I cemented my decision to become the background designer that I am today,” said Zuniga.
Training Future Animators
For more than two decades, the WIA club at Cal State Fullerton has equipped students like Zuniga with the creative and practical skills they need to launch careers in animation.
WIA has grown to include more than 10,000 members worldwide. The CSUF chapter promotes opportunity in the animation industry, provides industry-related resources, and supports students with guest speaker events, workshops and networking mixers.
“The club aims to form a welcoming community of students who are interested in learning more about the animation industry,” said Barbara Malley, lecturer in art and adviser for WIA at CSUF. “At weekly meetings, the officers and the students network and discuss animation news, tips on portfolio development, posting work on social media, and creating and producing content for various platforms.”
In addition to Zuniga, fellow club alumni include Geramiah Profeta, a production assistant at DreamWorks Animation; Teeny Nadeau, who was awarded a $10,000 Skechers Scholarship; and Haley Enos, who landed a production internship with Nickelodeon Animation.