Leonardo Morales Pitalua, a 20-year-old animator who lived in Red Bank until February, will have two short films shown at FilmOneFest in Highlands.
The films are Driving and Warping and Draft Board Duel. Driving and Warping was shot in Red Bank and follows a small Lego Lamborghini as it drives around town. Draft Board Duel is a stick-figure animated short about two figures who find a pencil and fight over it.
Morales Pitalua said he began making films in 2022 after attending FilmOneFest and realizing he wanted to try making one himself. He has made 10 films so far, usually completing about two a year.
He is the founder of Lanali Visual Arts, an independent animation studio he started from his Red Bank home in 2020. On its website, the studio says it is inspired by classic American cartoons and aims to make cartoons “the classic way.”
Morales Pitalua said having the two films accepted felt like an accomplishment after four earlier submissions were not selected. He said he hopes viewers leave feeling glad they saw the films.
More of his work can be found at Lanali Visual Arts, on Instagram at @lanali_visual_arts and on X at @lanali_vis_arts.
