Drawing, drafting and dreaming

Graphic design sophomore Jonathan Orduña is an artist with the dream of producing his own unique style of anime, dubbed “Tejano Anime,” which combines Japanese animation styles with Hispanic storytelling themes. 

Orduña was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and moved to the United States when he was 3 years old. He was raised in Brownsville.

From a young age, he spent his time watching anime, which sparked his interest in the animation style as an art form.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve had the ability to draw,” Orduña said. “But the thing that inspired me the most was to draw as best as I can with my own style of art was my time [spent] in seclusion as a child watching nothing but anime and cartoons.”

Already doing well in school, Orduña decided that following his artistic passion is what would make him happy.

“Growing up, as a child, I pretty much had anime as my sole companion before I started to socialize with other kids,” he said. “Throughout all that time, I pretty much have been doing the best I can to pass my classes, but after getting a harsh shouting [from] my sister about what am I going to do with my life, that’s when I finally found my purpose after a little soul searching and discovering my inner strength.”

Orduña derives motivation from his siblings, who after completing their education did not have a clear goal afterward, and his mother.

“The person who inspired me to work hard and to be proud of myself the most and pretty much took care of me and my older siblings all [on] her own when we first came here is my mother,” he said. “She wanted to give us a better life than what we had in Matamoros and make sure we’re taken care of long after she’s gone.”

He developed a career plan for himself, which includes finishing his degree and networking with other students who may be interested in the animation industry.

“[My] dream is to become an anime director and to start my own anime production company,” he said. “It’s not impossible to make a dream come true. Even though anime originated in Japan, it could also be created in the U.S. as well.” 

He was artistically inspired by series such as “Dragon Ball Z,” “Naruto” and “Bleach.” Additionally, he hopes to inspire others with his creations.

“There are other people, may they be children, teenagers, or adults, who get entertained, as well as motivated when they watch anime,” he said. “From that happiness comes motivation.” 

Coming to UTRGV made him want to branch out into more entertainment fields, including manga, video games and anime films.

Lecturer III Stephen Hawks taught Orduña this past semester in Design I.

Hawks admires Orduña’s dedication and fresh concept.

“[I appreciate] his persistence and unique vision,” he said. “[He has] a perspective and [doesn’t] really [back] down from it, but he was also open to learn. He would get frustrated, but you’d see the very next class that he’d incorporate the suggestions you made to him without changing his personal perspective … for improvement.”

Hawks also recommends that, going forward, he stays open-minded. 

“I think he just needs to persevere,” he said. “The advice I continue to give him is to allow the teachers to help him, you know, to allow them to give them their insight and not to be closed off to [new] ideas, so he can grow.”

Orduña encourages students to believe in and surround themselves with supportive peers.

“No matter what, never be afraid,” he said. “Never doubt yourself in what you can achieve in your lives because as long as you have people who not only love you, but also pretty much understand and support you and your dreams, you’ll have enough in order to make them a reality.”

Orduña has high-functioning autism. Despite the obstacles he has faced, he encourages other students with disabilities to not let anyone or anything hold them back from following their dreams.

“Also, for those of you who have a disability similar to me, don’t ever doubt yourself,” Orduña said. “Never let anyone [who] insults you because of your disability get to you. Ignore them, or tell an authority about what they’re doing to you and they’ll take care of it. And most of all, never be ashamed of you or the disabilities you may have.”