SCULPTURE

STOPMOTION PORTFOLIO

SETS & PROPS

COSTUME

Wildwood LAIKA

PUPPET PAINTER:

I developed color for multiple characters from the design to pigments for the silicone.
Silicone paint and powder paint.
Costume Aging passes
Special effects for costumes and removable blood and dirt.
Development and paint for hands special effects and tattoos.

MOLDS

BIG MOUTH

CORAZON DE MAGUEY

PUPPET HOSPITAL

Paint lead for maintenance and special shots request.
In set paint development.
Hand silicone and paint repair and re-sculpt.
Costume and hair repair.
Armature tension for animation

Learn more

MIS DELICIAS

LAIKA-WILDWOOD

With over a decade of experience in stop-motion animation, Daniela has worked across directing, animation, fabrication, and character production, bringing a highly interdisciplinary approach to every project. Her expertise spans mold making, prop and set fabrication, costume construction, sculpture, and the painting and finishing of silicone and foam-rubber puppets.

Daniela recently worked as a Puppet Maintenance Generalist in the puppet hospital for Wildwood at LAIKA Studios, where she supported multiple departments including animation, puppet paint, costume aging, visual effects, armature repair, silicone maintenance, hair work, and costume restoration. Her adaptability and technical precision made her an integral part of the production pipeline.

Her professional experience also includes work on Big Mouth, Daisies by Katy Perry, and collaborative projects with Open the Portal and Acho Studios in Los Angeles.

Alongside her production work, Daniela brings a distinctive visual language and strong design sensibility to her personal practice, combining storytelling with hands-on experimentation across every stage of creation. Her short films Corazón de Maguey and Mis Delicias were developed as part of her BFA in Experimental Animation at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).

CORAZON DE MAGUEY

PUPPET DESIGN AND FABRICATION:

Model Making
Hair
Costume Fabrication
Silicone Casting
Molds
Puppet and costume Paint.

“Corazón de Maguey” is a magical realism western based in the Mexican Revolution filmed as colorful stop-motion short for my senior project at Calarts.

MIS DELICIAS

Mis Delicias puppets were made with Foam Latex, sculpted in clay and then I created a 3 part mold for both characters, as well as painting foam latex with a watercolor look.

This puppets have replacement parts for facial expressions painted and sculpted by hand.

All the costume is wired for animation, since its made to be removable in camera.

As a personal film I created the props and sets, lighting, puppets and animation. Tying to create a moody but coherent color for the entire film, full of textures that enhance stop-motion techniques.