Mar Exposito

Between teaching 2D animation at Tokyo Design Academy in Japan and directing an anime production studio in Tokyo, most of my day is spent drawing my own character art or correcting what my staff or students deliver. Animation trained me to understand drawing at the deepest level because you can't fake as much in motion as you can in a single illustration. That eye is what makes my feedback different: corrections that go beyond surface fixes to build drawings that convey emotion and story, with foundations that hold up under scrutiny.

I hold a degree in Audiovisual Communication from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain (graduated 2013). After moving to Japan, I studied 2D animation at Tokyo Design Academy in Tokyo, where all coursework was conducted entirely in Japanese. I graduated with distinction in 2018, receiving both honors and the school's Presidential Award for my work in the 2D Animation department.

In 2020, I founded Maru Exposito Studio in Tokyo, directing 2D animation projects for international clients. My production credits include directing and storyboarding the 5-part animated ad campaign for ZenMarket, the award-winning short film "Return the Favor," layout and key animation work for Scott Pilgrim EX, and music videos and narrative animation for clients across North America and Europe.

Since April 2026, I have been a digital animation instructor at Tokyo Design Academy in Shinjuku, Tokyo. I teach four subjects per academic year, focusing on Clip Studio Paint, digital layout, and 2D animation foundations to classes of 20+ students, entirely in Japanese. I am the first international instructor in the school's history. I also mentor digital art students remotely through recorded video critiques and draw-overs.

Looking to build a student-to-pro portfolio or level up from a junior position at an art studio? Book a session and bring your art. I'll show you exactly what to work on to improve on whatever YOU specifically need most.

Two things drive every session: what works in your illustration, and what can improve. 

You bring 1-2 pieces you're working on. I share my screen, draw directly over your art, and walk you through corrections in real time: anatomy, proportions, posing, composition, line work, coloring, whatever your piece needs most. When something isn't working, I won't just point it out. I'll explain why and show you how to fix it. You can ask questions as we go, and you leave knowing exactly what to practice next. 

I specialize in digital illustration, character art, and anime/manga-style drawing. If you're looking for traditional media instruction like oils or watercolor, I'm not the right teacher. But if your work is digital and character-driven, this is what I do every day.

Sessions available in English, Spanish, or Japanese.