La Joya ISD student becomes state champ with animated film

Countless hours of work in the summer and school all paid off for La Joya Early College High senior Jancarlo Vela as he was crowned University Interscholastic League Young Filmmakers State Champion for Traditional Animation.

The 2025 UIL Young Filmmakers Festival took place Feb 26-27 at the Hogg Auditorium at the University of Texas which showcased student films from across the state in four categories which include digital animation, documentary, narrative and traditional animation.

The films were reviewed by a panel of judges based on originality, cinematic storytelling and technical execution.

Vela set his expectations low and just aimed for a top six finish but as the places were called out, it was starting to sink in that he had a chance to be named state champion.

“Me and my friend were there and it was like ‘I’ll get sixth and I’m fine with that.’ And then they picked someone else. And then fifth place and then fourth place and … and then second place … it was like a flash at the moment, I just completely blanked out,” he said.

Walking up to get his state championship award, Vela said it was like tunnel vision and slow motion with everybody else disappearing while looking at the plaque.

“(My family and friends) thought it was great,” he said. “I got a bunch of messages saying congratulations and that I deserved it. It was really fun.”

Vela said his short animated film “Race of Warriors” had a simple concept. Five characters compete in a race to see who will become the city’s hero.

Focusing more on the animation, music, voices and transitions of the film, Vela said his focus on those aspects rather than the story is based on experience he had with a previous film he created about two years ago that advanced to the semifinals of the competition.

Jancarlo Vela holds up a screenshot of his award-winning short animation film named “Race of Warriors” on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Omar Zapata | The Monitor)

His passion for the animated arts started in middle school with flip books and transitioned into other mediums such as stop motion, clay motion and eventually he received an iPad that he used to make his award-winning film.

Vela said for his film, he first would sketch out scenes on note cards and then would adapt them into his iPad. Spending about two to four hours a day in the summer and some time during the semester to finish the film, Vela also had to learn how to use GarageBand for the music and voices.

“I made the music on GarageBand and that was pretty challenging.” he said. “The music was really difficult. I think that took me … at least a week to get it how I wanted it, and even then, it’s still a little choppy for me.”

Vela said the film’s animation is inspired by old animation from the 1920s, a very cartoonish style.

“I really wanted to show that in my film, so I exaggerated certain things,” he said. “Things in the background for comedic effect and just to make things a little more loose and fun.”

La Joya Early College High senior Jancarlo Vela wears his UIL state champion medal while holding his plaque for traditional animation on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Omar Zapata | The Monitor)

Planning to study mathematics at UTRGV to become a teacher, Vela said he will continue making animations as a hobby as long as it stays fun for him.

Vela has ideas to submit films to the South Texas International Film Festival in the near future.

“If you have something you think is fun and have a passion for it, you should do something with it, even if you’re not going to do something with your life with it,” he said. “If you’re happy, that’s the main goal.”

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