Nina Delgado Fernandez is currently an intern in TAP’s Virtual Intensive Training Internship. Nina graduated from CUNY Lehman College where they majored in Film & TV Studies and Studio Art with a concentration in computer imaging. We asked Nina a few Qs about their experience as a TAP intern, thoughts on animation as activism, and more.

What is one of your favorite animated characters and why?

I have several but if I had to choose I would say Marinette Dupain-Cheng from Miraculous Ladybug. She has aspects that I personally can relate to.

In her civilian form, she has anxiety and insecurities in her day to day life but tries to remain optimistic and put her best foot forward. Despite her fears, she puts others first and takes on a leadership role in her alter ego self aka Ladybug. She appears to be as strong as Ladybug to everyone, even to Chat Noir, but no one sees how much work or tears she puts into herself to stand tall. I really appreciate that about her.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I like to listen to music. Sometimes certain random songs give me an idea for a story, so I make a playlist to refer back to when I scribble it down. I also ask myself a lot of “what if?” and “how?” questions to see where a story goes or what the character would do, which gives me endless possibilities. It also helps with writers or artist’s block.

What brought you to TAP?

TAP had my interest in animation. I really like storytelling. TAP gave me a chance to explore 3D animation and 3D modeling, especially since my educational background is more based in 2D animation.

How has your experience changed since the beginning of internship to now?

The internship has introduced me to other artists who are so kind and supportive. As an introverted artist, you usually work alone and focus on what you need. You get that feeling and you get to have someone to work with while working on your own project at the same time. I am still adjusting to working with others in a shared space during class time, but I now feel more comfortable opening up and asking for support.

What is something you accomplished at TAP that you are proud of?

I feel like I am starting to gain some friends with some of the other interns, especially during this pandemic and with everything being virtual. I am also proud that I am slowly getting better with Maya since it is a huge learning curve. But I am grateful that I am in a space where I can ask for help.

Do you think animation can be activism? If so, how?

I believe it can be. I’ve seen many artists use their platform to speak about current issues and incorporate symbolism in their work to shine light on injustice.

What advice do you have for BIPOC aspiring animators?

My advice is keep producing work. Don’t worry about how it looks at that moment. The more time you put in your work, the better it gets. Try to separate how you think about yourself and your work as two different things. You will be surprised at how much it can hold you back if you don’t. Don’t take art criticism personally. It's art and it's very subjective. It's like when a writer is asking for editing revisions on their work; critiques are not about you as a person, but as a chance to improve the artwork itself with feedback. At the end of the day, everyone always has artwork they can improve upon so do not compare yourself with other artists. Everyone is on a different speed and journey when it comes to improving their work and skillset.

Intern Exclusive: Nina Delgado Fernandez