Professional Experience
Mighty - Mexico
Background Artist | October 2024 – November 2024
Worked as a Background Artist on A Philly Special Christmas Special, translating the animatic into detailed layouts and background paintings to support the project's visual storytelling and production needs
Background Artist | September 2022 – January 2023
Worked as a Background Artist on Rey Mysterio vs. La Oscuridad, a Cartoon Network animated series. Responsible for translating the animatic into detailed layouts and background paintings, contributing to the visual development of the project.
Esdip Animation Studio - Spain
Visual Development Artist, Colorscript Artist & Assistant Art Director | October 2022 – July 2023
Contributed to the animated short film Blue Island as a Visual Development Artist, Colorscript Artist, and Assistant Art Director. Assisted in the development of the project's visual style, style guide, and background artwork, supporting the overall artistic direction.
Colorscript Artist | January 2022 – April 2022
Worked as a Colorscript Artist on the animated short film Toxic, collaborating closely with the Art Director to develop the film's color narrative, mood, and visual atmosphere.
Apus Studio - Peru
Freelance Layout Artist, Character Designer & Background Artist | September 2019 – March 2020
Contributed to various 2D animation projects as a freelance artist, creating layouts, character designs, and background artwork while supporting different stages of production.
Red Animation Studios - Peru
Visual Development Artist, Character Designer & Background Artist | January 2020 – February 2020 / January 2018
Contributed to multiple animated productions as a freelance artist. Worked on visual development and character design for Little Angels and created background artwork for Os Chocolix, collaborating remotely with the production team.
Plan B Animation Agency - Peru
Lead Artist, Graphic Designer & Visual Development Artist | August 2018 – March 2019
Led the development of visual concepts, character designs, and art direction for 2D and 3D animated advertising projects. Collaborated across creative teams to develop engaging visual campaigns and promotional content.
Bicicleta Casa Audiovisual - Peru
Color Artist | May 2026 – June 2026
Worked as a Color Artist on Hua Awakens, collaborating directly with the director to develop the initial color script and create color keys that defined the film’s mood, lighting, and visual narrative.
Da Crew Animation – Peru
Art Director | February 2026 – July 2026
Served as Art Director for the 2D animated short film Milan. Led and supervised the art team, establishing and maintaining the project's visual direction and artistic consistency throughout production.
Garabato Animation – Peru
Visual Development Artist & Art Director
Led the visual development and art direction for the animated short film Ikumi, directed by Claudia Villanueva. The film was awarded Peru's DAFO Economic Stimulus funding
Boulder Media – Ireland
Location Concept Designer | December 2024
Worked as a Location Concept Designer for an unannounced animated project, creating environment concepts and visual development artwork under the direction of Stephen McGann.
Background Designer | May 2023 – July 2023
Worked as a Background Designer on Lulu Is a Rhinoceros, an Apple TV+ animated special. Responsible for background layouts and painting, collaborating closely with the art department under the art direction of Maria Pareja
Malpraxis Studio – Colombia
Background Artist & Visual Development Artist | November 2025 – April 2026
Worked as a Background Artist and Visual Development Artist on an NDA feature film in development. Responsible for translating the trailer animatic into detailed layouts and background paintings, contributing to the project's visual storytelling and environmental design.
Origami studio - Peru
Colorscript Artist & Background Artist | November 2016 – March 2017
Worked on the trailer for Nuna, a 2D animated feature film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. Responsible for developing the colorscript and creating background artwork to support the project's visual narrative and atmosphere.
Awards
RIA International Residency - 2023
Argentina, Córdoba - March 2024
DAFO state funding competition 2024
Lima, Perú 2024
Selected participant of the Women Creators Program at Animation! Ventana Sur 2025
Argentina 2025
Shortfilm Pétalos: Winner Funding Competition at the “Cortos de Vista” Festival
Chiclayo, Perú 2015
Shortfilm Pétalos: Official Selection: 12th ANIM! ARTE International Student Animation Festival
Río de Janeiro, Brazil 2015
Shortfilm Pétalos: Special Mention from the Jury at the University Film Festival “El cine que nos mueve”
Chiclayo, Perú 2015
Education
Master’s Degree in 3D Animation for the Entertainment Industries
UNIR 2024 - 2025
Complete Course in Animation and Cinema
ESDIP- Escuela de Arte Madrid 2020 - 2023
Bachellor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de América latina 2010 - 2016
Hi! I’m Carla Montalvo, an Animation Artist from Peru.
I grew up building worlds out of boxes and painting the walls as backdrops for my games and stories. Over time, I discovered that animation held the same kind of magic — the power to comfort, inspire, and sometimes, to heal. The stories I watched as a teenager gave me strength during difficult moments, and that’s when I realized: animation can save lives.
Today, I carry that same sense of wonder into my work as a Background Designer and Visual Development Artist. With over 6 years of experience in animation, I’ve contributed to projects featured on Cartoon Network, HBO Max, and Apple TV+. I’m also the creator of the 2D animated series “Agridulces Aventuras de Ari & Rumi,” currently in early development — a project born from my desire to explore identity, tenderness, and the living culture of Abya Yala.
I’m always excited to connect with creative teams and projects that aim to build meaningful worlds and tell stories that stay with people.
