OUR TEAM
El Guiri Studios is an independent animation studio specializing in creating, directing, developing and front-end production for CG content.
Led by Director Rodrigo Blaas, El Guiri Studios offers concept to final delivery services with a focus on high quality and innovation.
Rodrigo Blaas
Founder - Director
Rodrigo Blaas is an Emmy-winning director, producer, and animator with over 30 years of experience. He contributed to successful animated films like Blue Sky Studios’ Ice Age and Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Wall-e, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles.
He was also the showrunner for the acclaimed series Trollhunters for Dreamworks and Netflix, partnering with Guillermo del Toro, which earned six Emmy awards.
More recently, Rodrigo Blaas wrote and directed Sith, an original Star Wars short film for the series Visions 2, available on Disney+.
Cecile Hokes
Founder, Studio Head
Cecile Hokes, co-founder of El Guiri Studios, produced independent projects (Alma, One Morning) and Sith for Star Wars Visions 2. She also promoted French cinema abroad via Unifrance, French diplomacy in Spain and San Francisco, and took part in organizing international film festivals.
Jonatan Catalan
Look Dev Supervisor & Partner
Jonatan Catalan, an Emmy-winning look development supervisor and DOP with 20 years of experience, has crafted unique animation looks for projects like The Bad Guys, Oscar-winning The Windshield Whipper, and Sith (Star Wars Visions). He shaped character looks for DreamWorks, Netflix, Paramount, and Mikros Animation.
Carlos Salgado
Art Director
Carlos is a Concept Artist and Designer with 15 years of experience on films including Pacific Rim and Automata. He has also directed 2D animation projects, like opening titles for Gernika. His short film Wayback (2020) was nominated for 3 Quirino awards and was a Goya candidate. Recently, his art direction for Sith in Star Wars Visions earned him an Annie Awards nomination.
Emilio Ferrari
CG Supervisor
Emilio Ferrari, a VFX Supervisor, specializes in compositing, crowd simulation, mocap, and previsualization. For seven years, he has focused on Unreal Engine and cinematography workflows, contributing to projects like See S3, The Gray Man, and All The Light You Cannot See. An active VES member, he won a Golden Lion in 2021 and was nominated for a 2025 Goya for Best Short Film as Executive Producer.
Monica Fernandez
CFO
Mónica Fernández joins El Guiri Studios as CFO, bringing extensive experience in the accounting, tax, and commercial areas. With 14 years in the audiovisual entertainment industry, including recent years as CFO of Zinkia Entertainment, she has a strong background in listed companies, tax incentives, cash flow and budget management.
Damian Caballero
Animation Supervisor
Damián Caballero has over 18 years in 3D, specializing in animation for over 14 years. He was lead animator for John Wick 3 Parabellum , A Monster Calls (Goya for best VFX), Shadow and Bone, Lost in Space 2, Carnival Row 2, the Sith episode of Star Wars Visions S2, and 4 seasons of Game of Thrones, including the Emmy-winning episode “Beyond the Wall.”
