Hi. I’m Maya -
A Los Angeles based writer and animator.
Writing
Whether it’s documentary or fiction, I always strive to tell compelling, character driven stories with a strong narrative voice.
Colossal Squid Documentary Short
Wrote, designed, and animated this documentary short for the ocean research and media company, OceanX.
Writing Samples:
A comedic standoff between Gina and her bully at The Elementary School for Young Ninjas.
3 Page Narrative Scene
Dive into the deep sea to explore some of the ocean’s strangest creatures.
Documentary Short
Animation
As a motion graphics designer and animator, I aim to breath life into every frame, creating kinetic and joyful moments.
Reel
Design:
Colossal Squid Video Design Frames
About Me
Hi! I’m Maya Hirota. I’m a Japanese-American writer and animator based in Los Angeles, CA. I recently transitioned from my position as lead animator at the Brooklyn based motion graphics studio, Mess Kit, to freelancing full-time.
In 2019, I received a BFA in Film and Television production, and minors in Studio Art and Child and Adolescent Mental Studies from New York University. At NYU, I was able to hone my craft in screenwriting and dive deeper into the larger art of storytelling. After graduating, I combined my passions for studio art and filmmaking, and spent the last four years in the commercial animation world, creating animated spots for large companies, like Shopify, as well as small educational videos for children. Although writing and animation are quite different paths, they both allow me to do what I love - bring stories to life.
Along with telling stories, I love tacos, cartoons, DnD, and having an all around silly, goofy time.