Jorge R. Gutierrez
Gutierrez in 2026
Born
Jorge Ramirez Gutierrez

(1975-01-25) January 25, 1975 (age 51)
Mexico City, Mexico
Alma mater California Institute of the Arts (BFA, MFA)
Occupations
  • Animator
  • writer
  • producer
  • director
  • voice actor
Years active 1998–present
Known for El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera
The Book of Life
Maya and the Three
Spouse
Sandra Equihua
​
(m. 2001)​
Children 1
Website https://jorgergutierrez.com/

Jorge Ramirez Gutierrez (born January 25, 1975), also known as Super Macho[1][2][3] is a Mexican animator, writer, producer, director, and voice actor. He co-created the Nickelodeon animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera with his wife Sandra Equihua, and co-wrote and directed the film The Book of Life and the television miniseries Maya and the Three. He and Equihua founded the production studio Mexopolis in 1994.

Biography

Jorge Ramirez Gutierrez[4] was born on January 25, 1975[5] in Mexico City and raised in Tijuana.[6] As a child, he adopted the nickname "Super Macho" after his grandfather told him "there are two types of Mexicans: Macho and Super Macho".[7]

Gutierrez attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he received his BFA (1997) & MFA (2000) in Experimental Animation under Jules Engel, and was mentored by Maureen Selwood.[8] There he created the 3D short Carmelo, which won the 2001 Student Emmy Award in animation and was screened at Kodak's Emerging Filmmakers Program at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.[9] In 2000, Gutierrez worked under animator Maurice Noble, for the art direction of Chuck Jones' Timberwolf for Warner Bros. In 2001, he began creating Jorge Gutierrez' El Macho, an animated web series for Sony Pictures.

Gutierrez has also done character design on many animated series including Nickelodeon's ChalkZone, as well as Kids' WB's ¡Mucha Lucha!, Cartoon Network's Class of 3000, and Disney's The Buzz on Maggie for which he was nominated for a 2006 Annie Award in character design. As a writer, he's worked on Scholastic's Maya & Miguel as well as Disney's Brandy & Mr. Whiskers and Vampirina.

In 2008, Gutierrez won two Annie awards (Best TV Animated Show & Best TV Character Design) and one Emmy (Best TV Character Design) working on his passion project for Nickelodeon, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, along with his co-creator and wife, Sandra Equihua who also won an Emmy for her character designs.

In 2010, he created some of the sketches in Cartoon Network's Mad including "Dear Reaper...", "Dog vs Mailman" (part 1, 2 and 3), "Video Game Cheats", "Arcade Boy" and "Dog vs Fire Hydrant".

In 2012, Gutierrez directed and co-wrote an animated adventure feature film with a Romeo and Juliet style love story set against a Mexican "Day of the Dead" backdrop.[10] The film, with the official title The Book of Life, was co-produced with 20th Century Fox Animation and was released on October 17, 2014.[11][12] He earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Animated Feature Film in 2014. He was also nominated for three Annie awards (Best Film, Best Director & Best Character Design).

In February 2015, Reel FX and Gutierrez announced a multi-year, multi-picture deal which included Kung Fu Space Punch and The Book of Life 2.[13][14]

In 2016 Gutierrez designed, voiced, wrote and directed the Annie and Emmy nominated Son of Jaguar VR short for Google Spotlight Stories.

In 2016, Gutierrez was awarded an Impact Award by the National Hispanic Media Coalition for his "Outstanding Direction in a Motion Picture".[15]

On August 2, 2017, it was reported that Gutierrez would write and direct The Billion Brick Race, a spin-off of The Lego Movie, for Warner Animation Group.[16] However, on February 8, 2018, it was reported that Gutierrez had permanently cancelled the project.[17]

In October 2020, he signed an over-all-deal with Netflix.[18] He directed the Immigration music video for the Emmy Award-winning series We the People, and wrote and directed the Annie (Best TV Animated Show & Best TV Music) and Emmy (Best Writing, Best Promo, Best Sound and Individual Achievement for Color) Award-winning Maya and the Three, a nine episode animated limited series for Netflix Animation. He had been developing a follow-up series to Maya set in the same universe for Netflix titled Kung Fu Space Punch, however, it was scrapped in 2022 along with many other planned animated series.[19] He was also set to direct an original animated film titled I, Chihuahua from a script he wrote with Gabriel Iglesias.[20] However, the film was cancelled in April 2024, due to creative differences.[21] In February 2026, it was announced that the film got revived by United Kingdom studio Snafu Pictures.[22] In May 2026, it was announced that the film distribution rights would be shopped to different studios during the Marché du Film 2026.[23]

In December 2024 and February 2025, Gutierrez hinted that he and Equihua had meetings with The Walt Disney Company on a potential new project.[24][25][26][27] In April 2026, Gutierrez confirmed that he was developing a new animated project for Disney hinting that it is "based on an IP they own".[28]

On June 20, 2025, it was announced that Gutierrez was developing an original animated independent film La Venganza Rodríguez at Spanish animation studio Hampa Studio.[29]

On July 4, 2025, Gutierrez announced El Guapo vs. the Narco Vampires, an adult animated pilot in collaboration with Ánima Estudios that would be shopped to streamers and studios.[30] The pilot debuted in January 2026.[31]

In December 2025, Gutierrez teased that he was developing a Speedy Gonzales feature film at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.[32][33] The project was greenlit at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation on January 16, 2026.[34]

Promotional image released by Amazon for Punky Duck.

In May 2026, Prime Video announced the production of Gutierrez's animated project Punky Duck as a part of the GenAI Creators' Fund, an Amazon MGM Studios initiative for integrating artificial intelligence to professional animation pipelines including the use of generative AI tools.[35] In a statement to Cartoon Brew, Gutierrez said that he would be cautious with artificial intelligence, saying, "artists driving tech, and not the other way around, is my goal."[36] The announcement was met with backlash from his fans on social media, with many calling him a sell out after his long career in the animation industry and his history of supporting artists' rights. Gutierrez backed out of the project days after the announcement, saying on X: "My sincerest apology to those I upset. I promise to do better moving forward."[37][38][39]

Personal life

Gutierrez did not speak until the age of five. As an adult, he was diagnosed with autism following his son's diagnosis.[40][41]

Filmography

Short film

Year Title Director Writer Voice
actor		 Role Notes
2000 Carmelo Yes Yes Yes Carmelo's Father Won Student Emmy
2017 Son of Jaguar Yes Yes Yes Son of Jaguar VR short
Also character designer and art director

Storyboard artist

  • Lint People (2001)

Feature film

Year Title Director Writer Notes
2014 The Book of Life Yes Yes Also character designer and additional music composer
2015 Guardians of Oz No Yes Also executive producer and character designer
N/a Untitled Speedy Gonzales fim Yes TBA [32]
N/a La Venganza Rodríguez Yes Yes [29]
N/a I, Chihuahua[20][42] Yes Yes

Voice roles

Year Title Role
2014 The Book of Life Skeleton Carmelo
2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Additional Voices
2024 The Casagrandes Movie Felipe the Street Vendor
2025 The Bad Guys 2[43] Lucha spectator
2025 Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires Toltecatzin
N/a Untitled Speedy Gonzales film[32] TBA

Television

Year Title Director Writer Creator Executive
producer		 Notes
2001 El Macho Yes Yes No No Web series
Also character designer
2004–07 Maya & Miguel No Yes No No 8 episodes
2006 Brandy & Mr. Whiskers No Yes No No Episode "Big Girls Don't Body Slam"
2007–08 El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera No Yes Yes Yes Character designer, production designer
2010–13 Mad Yes Yes No No Various skits; Animator
2021 We the People Yes No No No Episode "Immigration"
2021 Maya and the Three Yes Yes Yes Yes Miniseries

TV pilot

Year Title Director Writer Creator Character
designer		 Voice
actor		 Role
2005 Pepe the Bull Yes Yes Yes Yes No N/a
2010 Carmen Got Expelled Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Butcher
2026 El Guapo vs. The Narco Vampires[31] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes El Guapo/Judas

Guest works

Year Title Role
2003 ChalkZone Art director for "Pumpkin Love/Chip of Fools/Irresistible/Please Let Me In"
2007 Class of 3000 Music video art director for "Love is in the Hair...Net"
2024 The Simpsons Director/writer/designer for the opening and credits of "Treehouse of Horror XXXV"

Voice roles

Year Title Role Notes
2001 El Macho El Macho
2007–08 El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera Gordo Gordo
2018 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ghostbear 4 episodes
2019–22 Victor and Valentino Sal Recurring role
2019 The Loud House Lucha Libre Commentator Episode "Lucha Fever with the Casagrandes"
2021 Animaniacs Diego Rivera Segment "The Warners Are Present"
2021 Maya and the Three King Teca
2021 The Casagrandes Lucha Libre Commentator / Pigeon Referee Episode "Saving Face"
2024 Star Trek: Prodigy Dr. K'ruvang Episode "A Tribble Called Quest"
2024 Helluva Shorts The Farmer Episode "Mission: Chupacabras"
2025 Big City Greens Customer Episode Mulligan'd[44]

Other credits

Year Title Role
2004 ¡Mucha Lucha! Character designer for Season 2 and 3
2005 The Buzz on Maggie Character model design supervisor
2015–16 The Adventures of Puss in Boots Executive consultant
N/a Kung-Fu Space Punch[45] Canceled[46]

Bibliography

Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes Ref
2014 The Art of The Book of Life Dark Horse Books ISBN 978-1616555337 Author & illustrator [47]
2018 Día de los Muertos Little Simon ISBN 978-1534415157 Illustrator [48]
Border Bang Cernunnos ISBN 978-2374950419 Author and illustrator [49]

References

  1. ^ ”Jorge Gutierrez” DFW Child. Published June 2015. Accessed digitally January 27, 2026. https://dfwchild.com/jorge-gutierrez/
  2. ^ Gutierrez, Jorge. Jorge Gutierrez (a.k.a. SUPER MACHO) Journal. Dark Horse, 2003.
  3. ^ ”About”. Super Macho. Accessed digitally January 27, 2026. http://www.super-macho.com/
  4. ^ Gutierrez, Jorge. ”Lucha con autismo”. TedxSanAngel. Published to YouTube November 30, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2026.
  5. ^ Post by Gutierrez celebrating his birthday in 2026 on Instagram. Posted January 26, 2026. Accessed January 27, 2026.
  6. ^ ”Jorge Gutierrez”. Dallas Society of Visual Communications. Published digitally 2015. Accessed digitally January 27, 2026. https://dsvc.org/speaker/jorge-gutierrez
  7. ^ ”My Journey from Student to Showrunner - Jorge R Gutierrez Webinar”. Posted to YouTube July 31, 2020. Accessed digitally January 27, 2026.
  8. ^ @mexopolis (January 12, 2023). "my dad saved my first year CalArts review" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Loved Book of Life? Then you need to see this short film by its director". www.vox.com. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  10. ^ "GUILLERMO DEL TORO JOINS WITH REEL FX TO PRODUCE EPIC ANIMATED ADVENTURE DAY OF THE DEAD". Reel FX. February 21, 2012. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  11. ^ McClintock, Pamela (December 12, 2012). "Fox Animation Teaming With Guillermo del Toro on 'Book of Life' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  12. ^ "Fox Sets New Dates for Book of Life, Gone Girl and Frankenstein". ComingSoon.net. October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  13. ^ "Untitled Kung Fu Space Western Is Reel". Big Cartoon Blog. BCDB. 19 February 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ Hopewell, John (April 24, 2017). "'Despicable Me 3,' Pixar's 'Coco,' 'The Big Bad Fox' to Bow at France's 2017 Annecy Animation Festival". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  15. ^ Roterman, Natalie (2015-02-12). "Gina Rodríguez, Carlos Ponce, Elizabeth Peña To Be Honored At NHMC Awards". Latin Times. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  16. ^ Hood, Cooper (August 2, 2017). "Book of Life Director Developing LEGO's Billion Brick Race". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  17. ^ McLean, Tom (February 8, 2018). "Jorge Gutierrez Departs as Director of 'LEGO Movie' Spinoff". Animation World Network. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  18. ^ Thorne, Will (2020-10-14). "'The Book of Life' Director Jorge Gutierrez Inks Overall Deal With Netflix". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  19. ^ Jorge Gutierrez [@mexopolis] (May 27, 2022). "my beloved kung space western is not moving forward at Netflix Animation :(" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ a b "Jorge Gutierrez To Direct Netflix Animated Film "I, Chihuahua" Starring Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias" (Press release). Netflix Media Center. March 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  21. ^ "*since everyone is asking, my beloved "I Chihuahua" is, as of now, officially dead at FAN (Feature Animation Netflix) over "creative differences". I adore the film with all my heart and absolutely plan to get it made somewhere else. Netflix is being really cool about letting me take it outside so I could not be more excited and hopeful for the future".
  22. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (2026-02-10). "Jorge R. Gutierrez Revives Former Netflix Project 'I, Chihuahua' With Snafu Pictures – EFM". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  23. ^ Goodfellow, Andreas Wiseman,Melanie (2026-05-07). "Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias And Diego Luna To Voice 'I, Chihuahua'". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-05-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "visiting friends again".
  25. ^ "visiting new friends".
  26. ^ "visiting new friends".
  27. ^ "visiting new friends".
  28. ^ "Wouldn't it be crazy if someone guesses what it is since it's based on an IP they own? Oh no... I have said too much..."
  29. ^ a b Lang, Jamie (2025-06-20). "Jorge Gutiérrez Unveils 'La Venganza Rodríguez': A 'Violent Love Letter to My Beloved Tijuana, '80s Mexploitation Border Cinema, Lucha Libre, Picasso, Basquiat and Fighting Video Games'". Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  30. ^ Radix. "Jorge Gutiérrez apuesta por la animación para adultos con El Guapo vs The Narco Vampires". Radix (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  31. ^ a b Jorge R. Gutierrez (2025-12-29). El Guapo vs The Narco Vampires (FULL PILOT ANIMATIC). Retrieved 2026-01-17 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ a b c "The 'Speedy Gonzales' film is back on track. Will it make it to the finish line?". Los Angeles Times. 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  33. ^ Azeem, Safwan (2025-12-05). "After 'Coyote vs. Acme' Was Saved, a Divisive Looney Tunes Icon Might Finally Get His Own Movie". Collider. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  34. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (2026-01-16). "Speedy Gonzales Movie in the Works With Jorge R. Gutiérrez to Direct for Warner Bros. (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-01-17.
  35. ^ Sarto, Dan (May 27, 2026). "Prime Video Orders 3 Animated Series From GenAI Creators' Fund". Animation World Network. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  36. ^ Lang, Jamie (May 27, 2026). "Amazon Unveils Its First GenAI Animation Projects, Including A New Series From Jorge Gutierrez". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  37. ^ Lang, Jamie (May 29, 2026). "Jorge Gutierrez Says He's Dropping Out Of Amazon's AI Animation Initiative". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  38. ^ Cramer, Jude (2026-05-28). "Like 'having sex and then they hand you the baby': A beloved animator is using AI—and getting backlash for it". Fast Company. Archived from the original on 2026-05-28. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  39. ^ Comments, Ray Flook | (2026-05-28). "Jorge R. Gutierrez Responds to AI Backlash: "Cautious as Possible"". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  40. ^ "Jorge R. Gutierrez on Twitter: "It's #WorldAutismAwarenessDay ! I'm the autistic father (I was diagnosed 3 years ago) of a wonderful son who also happens to have autism. It has made us who we are and I could not be more proud of him."".
  41. ^ Bennett, Neil (12 February 2019). "Jorge Gutiérrez on the Power Being Autistic Brings to his Creativity". Digital Arts Online. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  42. ^ https://deadline.com/2026/02/jorge-r-gutierrez-netflix-project-i-chihuahua-snafu-1236714562/https://deadline.com/2026/02/jorge-r-gutierrez-netflix-project-i-chihuahua-snafu-1236714562/
  43. ^ Gutierrez, Jorge. "Jorge R. Gutierrez (@mexopolis) on X". X. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  44. ^ "thank you creators Chris and @shanehoughton and director @RedHerington for having me do a little cameo on Big City Greens!".
  45. ^ "Annecy: Reel FX, Jorge R. Gutierrez Announce 'The Book of Life 2,' Unveil 'Kung Fu Space Punch' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  46. ^ Gutierrez, Jorge [@mexopolis] (May 26, 2022). "my beloved kung space western is not moving forward at Netflix Animation" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  47. ^ Gutierrez, Jorge (Oct 17, 2014). The Art of The Book of Life. Dark Horse Books. ISBN 978-1616555337.
  48. ^ Eliot, Hannah (July 24, 2018). Día de los Muertos. Little Simon. ISBN 978-1534415157.
  49. ^ Gutierrez, Jorge (November 8, 2018). Border Bang. Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 978-2374950419.
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