My name is Justin Hernandez, and I am a Jamaican-born animator and illustrator whose work is rooted in character, performance, and a love for culture. Working between the Caribbean and Canada, my artistic voice has been shaped by movement between places, traditions, and industries. I see animation not merely as a technical craft, but as a performance medium that blends acting, design, rhythm, and storytelling into a living language.

I discovered my love for animation at a very young age, drawn to the artistry and emotional power of storytelling through moving drawings. What began as an early fascination gradually developed into a deeper artistic pursuit, leading me to pursue animation both as a career and as a means of personal expression. Through years of professional experience in television, advertising, and digital media, I have gained an understanding of how storytelling operates within systems of production, collaboration, and audience engagement.

At the core of my work is a fascination with character psychology and performance. I am especially drawn to expressive movement, timing, and the subtle choices that give animated characters emotional credibility. My approach is informed by acting principles, careful observation of human behaviour, the work of fellow animation artists, and the oral storytelling traditions of the Caribbean.

Ultimately, my practice is about presence: making characters feel alive, making stories feel honest, and creating work that reflects where I come from while speaking to where I am now. My long-term goal is to develop original animated work that is culturally grounded, emotionally resonant, and economically viable. With this in mind, I aim to create projects that can live across platforms while remaining rooted in human storytelling.