Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
Bueno! I’m Jackie, and I’m a Storyboard Artist and Revisionist. I’ve spent my entire career so far working on The Loud House at Nickelodeon, and before that I dabbled in freelance animation on the Lackadaisy pilot. Like a lot of other people in the industry, I’m on the lookout for the next thing.
My time on The Loud House was magic. Amazing people, amazing energy. So much love and pride in the craft. You never forget the audience, but there’s something so special about the thought: “What’ll make everyone laugh in the next meeting?” That kind of togetherness and joy was just euphoric.
Most everyone likes to draw as a kid, and plenty of people never stop liking it. What made me want to work in animation, though, was the love and belonging it gave me. When I felt lonely, or ugly, or helpless, animation made me feel loved, wanted, and worthy. I wanted to give that feeling back to others. Maybe it’s silly to wax lyrical about a comedy show about middle schoolers’ farts, but the love that was there behind the pen? I think we did that—gave back. I think that’s special.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
My whole career spanned a period of upheaval in entertainment. I graduated in 2020 during lockdown. The industry was booming at that time, but it was hard to get your foot in the door in the absence of internships and trainee programs. There was the great SAG and WGA strike, and now the looming presence of Generative AI. It’s hard! All I’ve ever wanted was to connect with and comfort people through stories, and it can feel like the whole world keeps getting in the way. Hardly a unique experience, isn’t it?
Everything feels more uncertain than ever. I think my greatest challenge in my career is just… maintaining it. Having a career at all. I know many share that struggle, and while that is scary, it is also comforting. It was the community that helped me first break in, animation professionals volunteering their time for free mentorships, and eventually guiding me to employment. I’m so thankful for that. I’m not giving up, and neither are all these people! I think that has to mean something—and lead to something.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
I don’t have a unique or surprising answer, I’m afraid! Hayao Miyazaki, Steven Universe, Sailor Moon— they all left a deep impact on me. They’re something like the benchmark I aspire to. Crybaby Usagi, always bratty, always scared, always snacking—I related to her a lot! She was weak and timid in the face of danger, and reacted poorly under pressure. She was also Sailor Moon, Pretty Guardian of Love and Justice! She was so, so loved, just as she was. That meant a lot to me, seeing someone be all of that. Flawed, and loved. Weak, and capable.
Steven Universe came along by the time I’d grown up quite a bit, but it seemed to always tell me exactly what I needed to hear. Steven and the Crystal Gems always knew how to comfort me when I was struggling, and I don’t know how to express how grateful I am for that. Then there’s Miyazaki, and the quiet love all his work seems to capture. So much weight, time, and attention spent on the small, soft moments. A walk home from school, a family cleaning house or preparing lunch. I want to make things like that, something that expresses the magic in just being with the people you love, or loving yourself.
Once upon a time, a magical girl reached through the screen and made it all better, if only for a moment. A magical girl, a magical boy, two sisters, and a magic cat bus—a feeling bottled so it can be shared with everyone. That’s what inspires me in animation.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
Spread the love! Spread so much love, comfort, and connection. I think that comes from putting a piece of yourself in all that you do, and I certainly try to. If I could make even one person feel seen and understood with my work, then I’ll have accomplished everything I’ve ever set out to do. Two people or more? I couldn’t ask for anything greater.
Art, animation, and stories are such powerful things. They go further and farther than any one person ever could. Maybe they can’t save the world, but they can make a sad little girl feel special. To me, that’s everything.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
It means I’m not alone, and that means a whole heck of a lot. Having someone in your corner can be the difference between standing or falling. TAG means I have a whole lot of people in my corner! It certainly makes it easier to focus on drawing my little cartoons.
Learn more about Jacqueleen Lopez on her website.
Follow her on her Instagram and Linkedin.
