¿Necesitas Ayuda?
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Animation, Comedy
Señora Concha is determined to get through the Tijuana airport alone, but when her stubbornness clashes with an eager wheelchair attendant named Jorge, chaos ensues for both of them! Will they learn to see eye to eye, or will Concha’s flight leave her stranded?
¿Necesitas Ayuda?
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Animation, Comedy
2 Campaigns | California, United States
26 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,150
Goal: $6,000 for production
Señora Concha is determined to get through the Tijuana airport alone, but when her stubbornness clashes with an eager wheelchair attendant named Jorge, chaos ensues for both of them! Will they learn to see eye to eye, or will Concha’s flight leave her stranded?
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
“¿Necesitas Ayuda?” is a proud recipient of the Spark Animation Fellowship 2025-26, presented by Latino Film Institute and sponsored by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity. The final completed film will be screened at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) 2026.
(Link to announcement)
While the grant from this fellowship will be able to cover the majority of our costs, we are raising an additional $6,000 to help us make the best film possible. This additional funding will help us cover:
ARTIST COMPENSATION
COMPOSITING
COMPOSER + ORIGINAL SCORE
(with live instrument recording)
VOICE ACTING + RECORDING
SOUND DESIGN + MIXING
~ ~ ~
WHAT'S THE STORY?
Our story is set in Tijuana, Mexico. Concepción (Concha) has always traveled to Guadalajara with her son, Nicolas (Nico), through the Tijuana Airport because even though they live in Los Angeles, it’s just cheaper to travel to Mexico via Tijuana!
But this time, Nico is just dropping his older mother off at the airport. Despite her persistence, Nico just doesn’t want to go to Mexico anymore HOWEVER he didn’t leave her alone..
Meet Jorge!
A young and a little too eager wheelchair attendant determined to make Concha’s time at the airport as smooth as possible. Regardless, Concha’s a bit too stubborn to accept his help and these two strong personalities clash their way through the zany and chaotic Tijuana airport!
Will Concha be able to make it to her flight on time despite insane lines, ridiculous documentation, a massive swarm of soccer fans, and worst of all, Jorge’s bubbly attitude?!
WHAT'S THE VIBE?
We want to pay homage to the cartoons we grew up watching in the late 90s, early 2000s! We're leaning heavy into the UPA/Hanna-Barbera art style with a splash of classic Looney Tunes in there!
~ ~ ~
We are thrilled to be partnering with
DINAMITA ANIMACIÓN
They will be completing the final animation for the short film.
~ ~ ~
WHY THIS STORY?
“When I flew from Tijuana to Guadalajara recently, I saw so many older people flying by themselves, but there were young flight attendants who helped them get around.
I thought to myself, these poor folks must not have family around to help them. Whether their children no longer want to go to Mexico or they can’t go, it was sad to see.
Older Mexicans love to go back to where they come from, to be with their family, and enjoy the place they grew up; nothing matters more to them. I know my grandparents always loved taking me.
Sometimes, as their children assimilate, they may not enjoy going back to Mexico, and that leaves these older folks traveling by themselves. We love our older relatives, but they can be a bit prideful.
Papi and Mama Lupe always travel together, but this story was sparked by the idea of what if she had to travel alone, and what if she made a friend along the way.
Angel Ruvalcaba Jr.
Writer/Director
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Design
Costs $2,000
We're bringing on an amazing team of artists to make the film look as beautiful as possible!
Post Production
Costs $1,500
Finishing funds to complete the final stages of the film, including but not limited to Voice Acting, Sound Design/Mix, and Color.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Angel Ruvalcaba Jr.
Writer/Director
Angel is a second-gen Mexican-American filmmaker who enjoys carne asada fries, Spider-Man,
and can tell you everything about cartoons!
Carlo Padilla
Producer
Carlo is a first-gen Mexican-American producer of animation who
enjoys coffee and organizing 2D animated shows/films.
Ivan Aguirre
Art Director
Ivan Aguirre is an Emmy award winning Animation designer & painter with 15 years of experience. He has worked on critically acclaimed projects such as “Mickey Mouse Shorts, The Cuphead Show, Rick and Morty, Book of life, and Primos.
Elizabeth Hopwood Ruvalcaba
Animation Director
Lizzie Hopwood Ruvalcaba is a 2D animator and character designer who has worked on the HBO series Ten Year Old Tom and several past SparkShorts recipient films. She loves making clay sculptures and writing fanfiction!
Asia Vigil Ellington
Character Designer
Asia Vigil Ellington is a multi-cultural character designer and illustrator, who’s worked for Disney Television Animation’s “Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse”, “Primos”, and more.
Juan Carlos Enriquez
Composer
Juan Carlos is a composer from Guadalajara, Mexico who has worked on projects such as Narcos, Furious 7, Maya and the Tree, and The Simpsons, and is currently working on becoming an acclaimed tequila sommelier.
Neil Wilson
Editor
Neil Wilson III is an Emmy nominated and Annie nominated animation editor who has worked on Skybound's Invincible and Disney/Marvel's Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur. He is also eager to start part-time crime fighting on weekends.
José René Bolaños
Production Coordinator
Jose is a Puerto Rican and Guatemalan Chicago native with a passion for storytelling
with 10+ years of experience in live action and animation.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
“¿Necesitas Ayuda?” is a proud recipient of the Spark Animation Fellowship 2025-26, presented by Latino Film Institute and sponsored by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity. The final completed film will be screened at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) 2026.
(Link to announcement)
While the grant from this fellowship will be able to cover the majority of our costs, we are raising an additional $6,000 to help us make the best film possible. This additional funding will help us cover:
ARTIST COMPENSATION
COMPOSITING
COMPOSER + ORIGINAL SCORE
(with live instrument recording)
VOICE ACTING + RECORDING
SOUND DESIGN + MIXING
~ ~ ~
WHAT'S THE STORY?
Our story is set in Tijuana, Mexico. Concepción (Concha) has always traveled to Guadalajara with her son, Nicolas (Nico), through the Tijuana Airport because even though they live in Los Angeles, it’s just cheaper to travel to Mexico via Tijuana!
But this time, Nico is just dropping his older mother off at the airport. Despite her persistence, Nico just doesn’t want to go to Mexico anymore HOWEVER he didn’t leave her alone..
Meet Jorge!
A young and a little too eager wheelchair attendant determined to make Concha’s time at the airport as smooth as possible. Regardless, Concha’s a bit too stubborn to accept his help and these two strong personalities clash their way through the zany and chaotic Tijuana airport!
Will Concha be able to make it to her flight on time despite insane lines, ridiculous documentation, a massive swarm of soccer fans, and worst of all, Jorge’s bubbly attitude?!
WHAT'S THE VIBE?
We want to pay homage to the cartoons we grew up watching in the late 90s, early 2000s! We're leaning heavy into the UPA/Hanna-Barbera art style with a splash of classic Looney Tunes in there!
~ ~ ~
We are thrilled to be partnering with
DINAMITA ANIMACIÓN
They will be completing the final animation for the short film.
~ ~ ~
WHY THIS STORY?
“When I flew from Tijuana to Guadalajara recently, I saw so many older people flying by themselves, but there were young flight attendants who helped them get around.
I thought to myself, these poor folks must not have family around to help them. Whether their children no longer want to go to Mexico or they can’t go, it was sad to see.
Older Mexicans love to go back to where they come from, to be with their family, and enjoy the place they grew up; nothing matters more to them. I know my grandparents always loved taking me.
Sometimes, as their children assimilate, they may not enjoy going back to Mexico, and that leaves these older folks traveling by themselves. We love our older relatives, but they can be a bit prideful.
Papi and Mama Lupe always travel together, but this story was sparked by the idea of what if she had to travel alone, and what if she made a friend along the way.
Angel Ruvalcaba Jr.
Writer/Director
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Design
Costs $2,000
We're bringing on an amazing team of artists to make the film look as beautiful as possible!
Post Production
Costs $1,500
Finishing funds to complete the final stages of the film, including but not limited to Voice Acting, Sound Design/Mix, and Color.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Angel Ruvalcaba Jr.
Writer/Director
Angel is a second-gen Mexican-American filmmaker who enjoys carne asada fries, Spider-Man,
and can tell you everything about cartoons!
Carlo Padilla
Producer
Carlo is a first-gen Mexican-American producer of animation who
enjoys coffee and organizing 2D animated shows/films.
Ivan Aguirre
Art Director
Ivan Aguirre is an Emmy award winning Animation designer & painter with 15 years of experience. He has worked on critically acclaimed projects such as “Mickey Mouse Shorts, The Cuphead Show, Rick and Morty, Book of life, and Primos.
Elizabeth Hopwood Ruvalcaba
Animation Director
Lizzie Hopwood Ruvalcaba is a 2D animator and character designer who has worked on the HBO series Ten Year Old Tom and several past SparkShorts recipient films. She loves making clay sculptures and writing fanfiction!
Asia Vigil Ellington
Character Designer
Asia Vigil Ellington is a multi-cultural character designer and illustrator, who’s worked for Disney Television Animation’s “Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse”, “Primos”, and more.
Juan Carlos Enriquez
Composer
Juan Carlos is a composer from Guadalajara, Mexico who has worked on projects such as Narcos, Furious 7, Maya and the Tree, and The Simpsons, and is currently working on becoming an acclaimed tequila sommelier.
Neil Wilson
Editor
Neil Wilson III is an Emmy nominated and Annie nominated animation editor who has worked on Skybound's Invincible and Disney/Marvel's Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur. He is also eager to start part-time crime fighting on weekends.
José René Bolaños
Production Coordinator
Jose is a Puerto Rican and Guatemalan Chicago native with a passion for storytelling
with 10+ years of experience in live action and animation.