Rafael Motamayor

Rafael Motamayor is a freelance writer specializing in animation and below-the-line coverage with experience in the field since 2018. Aside from reviews and critical analysis, he provides making-of features and in-depth interviews, including a profile on Guillermo del Toro's career in animation, and a guide to the hugely popular anime "Attack on Titan". As a longtime fan of animation, he has championed and covered everything from the biggest Disney and DreamWorks releases to seasonal anime shows and independent features. As Guillermo del Toro once said, "Animation is a medium, not a genre." Rafael believes in the power of animation to tell all kinds of stories and works to spotlight the medium to new audiences. Has interviewed such creators as "Neon Genesis Evangelion" Hideaki Anno, Guillermo del Toro, "Vinland Saga" creator Makoto Yukimura, and "Attack on Titan" creator Hajime Isayama.

Honors include being part of a team of writers that won an award from the New York Press Club for a feature about the 100 best animated sequences in history. In addition to contributing to IndieWire, he has written for publications like The New York Times, Vulture, IGN, British GQ, Polygon, Inverse, /Film and others, writing quick news, in-depth reporting, Q&A interviews, critical analysis, reviews, and more. He received a BA in Journalism from the University of Stavanger, and an MA in Documentary Production from the University of Stavanger. A Venezuelan native, he is currently based in Stavanger, Norway. He is on social media and can be found on Twitter (@RafaelMotamayor).