Learn about the making of this meaningful and whimsical animated movie!
Follow and come along for the journey of this animated story
About the Film Our Collaboration The Filmmakers Newsletter
About the film
"The Code of the Heart, Taught by the Moon" is an upcoming animated short written by Marita De La Torre and animated by Laura Davila that celebrates kindness and Mayan traditions for audiences of all ages.
Kay Ka’an and Kay Kisiin begin this story in the sea as two precocious fish playing together under the moonlight. The ambitious Kay Kisiin excitedly tries to bring the moon and its great light down for the both of them to keep to themselves. As Kisiin swims to the surface to try, the glowing moon transforms into the mystical Moon Goddess, Ixchel, and comes down to the horizon line of the sea. As she radiates before them, she teaches the little fish about In La’kech, or the Code of the Heart.
This story, originally written and performed for stage, celebrates Mesoamerican folklore with a magical twist, inspired by our heritage and the mythology of the moon. As a collaboration of two Latina women from Texas, we hope to create a whimsical world that feels timeless and classic, like a storybook or fable of our childhood.
The goal of this project is multifold: celebrate stories inspired by cultural traditions, create our own independently animated film with Latina and women of color creatives, and inspire everyone, especially other Latine and Indigenous creatives, to tell their stories, too.
Our collaboration and progress so far...
It feels like fate brought Marita and Laura together. In the era of the pandemic, a small group hosting virtual creative sessions for Tejanas would be how these creatives met in historic times.
Laura shared she had been seeking storyboard projects to practice her skills. As it so happened, Marita had a wonderful short script she had performed for stage and always wanted to bring to screen in animation, given the magical and folktale aspect of this particular story.
The two collaborated virtually between LA and Austin to produce a first draft of the animation storyboard. The collaboration flowed like the ocean, with waves of progress and lulls as the two got busy with other work and projects. However, as the two collaborated and worked so well together, it was clear the project should move beyond just a storyboard, and Marita began seeking grants for the film.
"The Code of the Heart, Taught by the Moon" was selected as a Finalist for the Latinx in Animation Spark Grant sponsored by Netflix. Being among the top 10 shortlisted films from hundreds of entries re-ignited the creative spark. With feedback from the grant panel, Marita and Laura took to developing a revised storyboard and have planned for production on a part-time basis in the coming months. So the fish shall swim and the moon shall shine!!
More serendipity with the project happened when actor Raul Cardona (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mayans M.C.) who played one of the fish in the stage production agreed to be featured as the voice of the fish! Raul is also part of the cast of Marita's live-action short film, "LODO".
The Filmmakers
@MARITACINE 🌙 WEBSITE 🌙 IMDB
About Marita De La Torre
Marita was born and raised in the border town of Brownsville, Texas. From a very young age, she took to her parents' love of art and culture and was producing plays alongside her Mom and siblings with their father's support.
What this project means to Marita:
The World! It means the world to me to complete this project and have it be the best it can be. I wrote this story actually inspired by a conversation I had with fellow actor, Raul Cardona. At the time, he was teaching at a school in Los Angeles and he had worked into his curriculum the Mayan greeting of In La’kech, which translates to "the code of the heart". I went home that night which happened to be on a full moon. I sat and wrote the story using the little fish characters and the Moon as the one teaching the greeting. "The Code of the Heart, Taught by the Moon" was very soon a stage play and in production by the Arroyo Arts Collective in the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park.
As I watched the kids intake the message from the stage production, I instantly knew this story had to be an animated film. For years I searched for the right partner and one fateful day, in the middle of the pandemic via a creatives' zoom call, I met Laura. She magically said, "I am looking for a short script to animate". I beamed. I raised my hand and here WE are!! To complete this alongside my fellow Tejana and someone I admire for her talent, tenacity and vigor will be the fulfillment of many years of work. Our hearts are full with the joy of sharing this culturally relevant and socially relatable journey with you!
@LAURITA.LUNA.DRAWS 🌙 WEBSITE 🌙 IMDB
About Laura Dávila
Laura Davila grew up on the border in Laredo, Texas, loving all things animation and art. She spent her youth drawing characters and writing stories, and went on to study at The University of Texas where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Radio Television and Film. You may know her work from the rotoscope-animated bumpers of famous storytellers featured on seasons 4 through 6 of OnStory, the award-winning television series produced by the Austin Film Festival. Laura lives in Austin, TX where she works as a Software Engineer by day and creative by night.
What this project means to Laura:
It’s been such a pleasure getting to know fellow Tejana creative, Marita, and collaborate on this beautiful project. It’s a kind of story with characters I know I would have loved if I had it growing up, especially since it features Latina characters like the Moon Goddess! I love the idea of bringing that sense of wonderment to the next generation of Latina animation lovers and give them characters that remind them of the people in their lives. I have always enjoyed creating characters with my art, and it’s been so cool to bring my perspective to the character designs for Marita’s story. I always try to incorporate all the things I love into my art style, so the visual world for "Code of the Heart, Taught by the Moon" takes cues from favorite animated stories like Sailor Moon and Finding Nemo, as well as drawing from real world Mayan artifacts (with lots of inspiration from Daniel Piradas beautiful illustration of Mexica fashion and practices). I bring myself into the work in a few ways, from my approach to facial expressions and soft curves on Ixchel’s design, meant to evoke the moon, to even giving her a bunny familiar that just happens to resemble my own little bunny, Sabrina (which is a nod to my own love of rabbits as well as an acknowledgment of the “rabbit in the moon” from other cultures). Bringing these connections together in one place has been an honor, and I’m so grateful to have a collaborator like Marita who has helped me feel empowered to add those little touches that make it ours. This project means a lot to me as it is my first narrative animated project since my undergrad days at UT. While I’ve been proud to contribute to some other film and television projects over the years, prioritizing my own has always been challenging with a full-time day job. That said, it feels amazing to dedicate my time and energy toward this project so close to my heart that has a beautiful message which resonates deeply with me. I am really excited to see what we can make together and can’t wait to share these characters and this message with audiences everywhere!
About Lance Simon
Lance Simon is the founder of Phoenix FTA Multimedia and co-produced the award winning short film “LODO”. To further its mission of supporting media content makers Phoenix_FTA Multimedia is a proud sponsor of the Highland Park Independent Film Festival.
What this project means for Lance:
I know that this story is of great meaning and I know it will touch many souls. I am excited for the production of this promising project and look forward to support in its completion.
Voice Talent
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Marita De La Torre as the Moon Goddess
Known for and award-winning films “LODO” (MUD), “Plane Pretend” and “Ponyboi”
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Raul Cardona as the little fish friends
Known for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Mayans, M.C.
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Jeanette Godoy as the Narrator
Interdisciplinary Artivista (Actor, Costume Designer, Director, Producer and Social Justice Educator), founder of TIZAPAPALOTL Productions which focuses on film and theatre for social justice.
About Raul
About Jeanette
Jeanette Godoy is an Interdisciplinary Artivista (Actor, Costume Designer, Director, Producer and Social Justice Educator).
She was raised in Inglewood, California and holds an MFA in Theater with a double focus in Acting and Costume Design from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television. Most recently, she costume designed all episodes of the reboot of X-Factor-Beyond Belief starring Jonathan Frakes.
Jeanette is founder of TIZAPAPALOTL Productions which focuses on film and theatre for social justice, and owner of LA PACHUCADA, which specializes in vintage and recycled clothing. You can follow her work via IG: @misskahlo
About Marita
Marita is an actor, storyteller and creator of film and theater. She will be reprising her role as the Mayan Moon Goddess for this production as voice talent. She performed the role live for the one-act theater she created. Recently, she acted in the award-winning short film “LODO” which she also produced and co-wrote and she starred in the sci-fi film “Sunshine Room”. Her love for film and theater led her to become the Executive Director of the Highland Park Independent Film Festival and a Producer for Teatro Arroyo and the Arroyo Arts Collective. www.maritadelatorre.com
Crew
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Luis Perez Inoxetli
Music Composer
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Claudio Ciampi
Musical Composition Song
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Mark Reitman
Recording Engineer
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Beau Mathews
Sound Designer
