Meet Alex Badillo

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alex Badillo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alex, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I’ve learned to accept that things can fall apart at any given moment — but they can also turn out really well. Both can be true. It’s not that I don’t care about outcomes anymore, I just try to adjust my expectations. These past few months have been some of the roughest and most transformative of my life. A lot of things fell apart, but others managed to thrive. I lost control over situations that, in hindsight, I never really had control over to begin with.

For a while, everything felt like it was crashing down all at once, and I couldn’t see past it. I was scared that this was going to become my new normal — constantly feeling disappointed and distraught. I found myself in a dark place, and while I’ve made progress, I’m still working through it.

I don’t think you ever fully overcome sadness. You grow around it and learn how to carry it — it bonds to you in a strange way. At my lowest, I leaned on my family and closest friends. That definitely helped, but it wasn’t quite enough. Not long after, I started seeing a therapist. It’s been really helpful to have someone who challenges my thinking and encourages me to keep going despite all the negativity. I’ve never been the type to ask for help, but learning that there’s no shame in it has been an important part of my journey. It’s in your darkest moments that you learn who truly stands by you — so hold on to those people.

Over the last year and a half, my biggest goal was to finish my thesis short film By a Hare, which I created with my thesis partner, Max Coffin. I worried that everything I was going through might get in the way, but I found something inside me that kept me going. I had this will to see the project through — to see something I made reach completion — and that gave me the motivation I needed. Willpower is a powerful thing. Now that it’s done, I’m really excited to start sharing more about it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a 3D generalist who loves creating worlds that feel both inviting and whimsical. Right now, I’m a senior at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, majoring in 3D Animation & VFX. I was born and raised in Mexico City and moved to New York almost four years ago. It wasn’t exactly what I expected — but it definitely hasn’t disappointed.

Outside of animation, I have a deep love for video game design and development, instant photography, and collecting vinyl records. I’m drawn to anything analog or retro — there’s something about it that just captivates me. I’ve always loved video games and the way they can transport you into another universe, even if just for a little while.

Growing up, I was constantly building stories with my toys and Legos. My brother and I would create these epic campaigns, mixing action figures and building elaborate scenes and storylines. Looking back, that’s where my love for storytelling and world-building really started — and working in 3D has allowed me to fully realize those ideas. It might sound cliché, but the creative possibilities in this medium truly are endless. Seeing all the different thesis films from my classmates has made that even clearer — each one is so distinct, so personal.

For the past 15 months, I’ve been working on my thesis short film By a Hare, which I co-created with my friend and collaborator, Max Coffin. It’s a wholesome story about friendship. I produced the film while Max directed it, and the entire process taught us so much — both personally and professionally. Looking back, working on it became a bright and grounding part of my life during a tough period. I’m incredibly proud of how it turned out. Max and I poured so much effort and love into it, and I’m really excited to share it with a wider audience this May.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three qualities I believe were most impactful in my journey are self-trust, self-awareness, and action.

First, self-trust. In any creative field, there’s a lot of external feedback, opinions, and advice. While feedback is important, it’s important to trust your own instincts and knowledge of your craft. For a long time, I struggled with this, often second-guessing myself and seeking validation from others. Over time, I’ve learned that while it’s important to consider others’ perspectives, you have to protect your original vision. That vision is uniquely yours, and no one else can bring it to life the way you can, there’s power in that. Trusting yourself is key to making decisions that are true to your creative nature.

Second, self-awareness. Being aware of your strengths and, just as importantly, your limitations is essential. No one can know everything, and trying to do it all on your own can quickly become overwhelming. I’ve had moments where I’ve hit walls and couldn’t figure things out. For example, when we were finalizing By a Hare, there were challenges that my team and I couldn’t solve on our own. Asking for help wasn’t easy for me, but it was necessary. Reaching out to friends and colleagues for assistance not only helped us solve the problem, but it also taught me that there’s strength in vulnerability and collaboration. Being aware of where you need support and being open to asking for help will make a huge difference in your growth.

Lastly, action. The most important thing is to just do the work. So many ideas come to mind, and I can easily get caught up thinking about what could be, but it’s only when you take the leap and start something that you learn and grow. I’ve had moments where I hesitated to start a project because I wasn’t sure it would be perfect, or I feared it wouldn’t be as good as I imagined it. But the truth is, the best way to develop as an artist or creator is to act, to make mistakes, and to keep pushing forward. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it will never come. For me, one of the things I’m working on now is pursuing more of my personal projects, even when I feel uncertain.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

That’s an interesting question, and honestly, it makes you think about how you’re living right now. I would definitely dedicate a lot of time to my hobbies — the things that make me feel most alive and connected to who I am. My family and my closest friends would be at the center of that. I’d like to spend more time with them, creating memories that we can look back on together.

First, I’d probably spend countless hours listening to music with my dad. He’s always had an incredible influence on my taste in music, and we could sit together for hours just talking about different albums, artists, and experiences. I’d also ask my mom a million more questions. There’s so much wisdom in her, and I want to absorb as much as I can while I can. I’d make an effort to spend more days watching movies with my brother. Growing up, we used to binge films together, and I miss that. Just spending time with them feels like a moment of warm sun on a cloudy day.

The funny thing about questions like this is they often make you realize you already have the power to do more of the things you value. It makes me think: why wait for a hypothetical deadline when I could be spending more time with my loved ones, getting back into the things I enjoy, and being more present right now?

Moving forward, I’d try to let go of the things that weigh me down — whether they’re unnecessary worries or grudges — and focus on building stronger connections with those who matter most. And of course, I have a backlog of music that I need to dive into, so that would definitely be a part of my daily routine.
In the end, I think it’s less about how much time you have and more about how you choose to spend it. So, I’d focus on making every moment with the people I love count and just soaking up as much of the joy that life has to offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alexbadillo.com
• Instagram: @_alexbadillo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/02-ale-badillo

Image Credits

Portrait taken by Mariola Garcia

“By a Hare” Short Film:
Max Coffin: Director, Animator, Lighting Lead, Concept
Alex Badillo: Producer, Environment Lead, Look Development Lead, Character Rig