Lucas Fruen Barrera is an illustrator animator from Spain whose work stands out for its surreal unconventionality, playfulness, spontaneous energy and dynamism.
His illustrations and animations takes us on an often offbeat and quirky journey of contrasting emotions mixing lighthearted thoughts and observations with darker introspective themes, deftly weaving humour with melancholy, cuteness with vulgarity, realism with fantasy and the mundane with the more profound. Lucas’s work draws inspiration from Expressionism, Dadaism, Surrealism and cinematic storytelling.
He uses multiple techniques to expose his vivid imagination, exploring themes such as identity, vulnerability, family, friendship, cultural differences and human experience. He enjoys orchestrating text, image, narrative, sequence and sound, combining traditional hand-drawn illustration animation with digital 2d interpretation, 3d modeling and live action.
Lucas’s grad film Aquí Me Tienes is a heartfelt tribute to his grandparents, with a focus on his grandfather. The short film captures the essence of the couple’s relationship through an animated phone call conversation, which is both humorous and quirky. The dialogue between Lucas and his grandparents is informal and filled with questions and answers, which reveals their unique personalities. The animation strikes a balance between being touching and warm, while also having moments of cuteness. It’s a sweet and funny portrayal of the love between a grandparent and grandchild.
