Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita Castro

Hi Rita, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

My story starts with a little girl, daydreaming a lot and constantly trying to find real magic in her life.

I was born in Vila Nova de Famalicão, in Portugal, in 1995. That’s a small city located between three big cities in the North: Porto, Braga, and Guimarães.

I was always someone who was happy drawing and creating things and constantly sharing them with loved ones around me.

I grew up with Cartoon Network series like Power Puff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Dexter’s Laboratory, series from Disney Channel like Kim Possible, Proud Family, American Dragon, Recess, Brandy and Mr. Whiskers… And there was especially one comic that deeply marked me: W.I.T.C.H., drawn by Alessandro Barbucci.

It amazed me how such beautiful things were created, I consumed all of this vividly, but I somehow didn’t understand people were doing this as their profession.

I still remember one day during High School, when we were shown a beautiful animation short film “Tragic Story with Happy Ending”, by Regina Pessoa, who has become one of my favorite Portuguese Animators. It blew my mind away that people in Portugal were creating this sort of art, and it planted a very important seed in me.

I had a phase in High School where I felt discouraged to keep drawing my own characters, due to a not-so-sensitive teacher and a curriculum of tons of observational and repetitive drawing exercises to prepare us for the exams.

Luckily, by the time I started my Bachelor in Fine Arts – Media Art at the Fine Arts Faculty of the University of Porto, in 2013, I sort of fell back into my love for drawing, since the things taught were brand new and exciting.

In these studies, we had contact with many optional classes like Printing, Photography, Sculpture etc. And it was by doing all the available animation film classes that I started to realize this art form was what made my heart beat faster.

In 2018, after hearing good things about the Erasmus+ program from other students, I decided to apply for it and got selected to study in Ghent (Belgium), at KASK School of Arts, in the Animation Film Bachelor.

That was the last year of my bachelor, and it completely blew my mind away.

The school was so well equipped for Animation, the teachers were motivating me so much to create the kind of art that made me most happy, the students around me were so talented… And the beautiful City of Ghent stole my heart. It is one of the greatest examples of a Medieval Magical Historical European city.

And my heart and art kept blooming there.

I went back to Portugal at the end of my Erasmus+ and Bachelor but one year later I was back at the same place for a Master in Animation Film. I was so surprised by how homesick for Ghent I had felt, and this return felt like coming back home.

The animation short film I created during my Bachelor and later my Master film had some recognition by International Festivals, which allowed me great opportunities like travelling to South Korea, for the BIKY Festival, getting interviewed by the Portuguese TV and Radio, thanks to the YMOTION Festival in my hometown, and the awards were just the cherry on top of a beautiful experience that told me “Come on, even with some self-doubts, you can do this, go chase your dreams”.

I find myself at present working for the Animation Film Industry for 4 years, still living in the area around Ghent, and with a fulfilled heart, still motivated for new creative adventures.

Over all those years, I always kept developing my own artwork and voice, which allowed me to open up the reach of my creativity. Today I animate, but I also illustrate, and go to art markets where I sell prints of my artwork, bookmarks, clay figures, Zines (fanzines) where I explore my storytelling further… I join the skills of drawing and writing in my Zines, Blog, Newsletter, and I’m currently starting to write my own film ideas.

What I have learned so far, is that the magic was there for me to find it, in the storytelling I create and the one I devour, through books, films etc. I have come to realize a big part of my work goes into that magical witchy atmosphere, and a lot of it also wants to serve others, to inspire and motivate other people to find their paths, be happy, and bloom in their creativity, such as I continue to strive for.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

When I have the chance to tell my story, I always try mentioning the struggles and lessons I take with me, because I believe that is what makes sharing it the most impactful for others.

Choosing to follow my passion for the Arts has more often than not felt risky and unpredictable. It starts with the uncertainty you see in the people around you when you mention your choice (especially if you come from a small town or an environment where people don’t choose that often, in a country that struggles financially).

It passes through a lot of people trying to take advantage of this sort of work because they don’t see it as a “real job”, and having work stolen, emotionally misbehaving bosses, people deserting mid-collaboration, and clients using the fact we are not taught the legalities of the job during school, to protect ourselves with contracts etc. And not to mention the challenges of being a sensitive person and dealing with self-doubt.

I think it’s also important to mention how AI starts to tempt some employers to use it instead of hiring artists, and many other entities disrespecting workers, and how the generative platforms are based on stolen artwork, which doesn’t help an industry where work runs project by project, and where artists are often exposed to uncertainty and unemployment breaks between projects, a workforce that is already vulnerable.

For the longest time, all I had to fight off the insecurity was an absolute instinct that this sort of work was the one I needed to do, for my soul to be happy, even if I had no specific idea of how that would translate to a job in the future. I had to make the decision for my type of studies when I was 15 years old, and I still remember that day vividly. I was so young and uninformed, but I have never regretted the decision.

I have gone through moments of feeling uninspired to create, and I have also learned to break a lot of limiting beliefs I had while growing up as a creative, such as thinking I can only create from a place of sadness, that if I do a great drawing in one day I’m used up for that day etc.

Nowadays I often read books, listen to podcasts, and follow mentors who teach about the creative act and the common struggles and ways to overcome them, but for many years I didn’t know this information was out there.

That is also why I enjoy sharing about my journey and its hiccups through my Blog and Newsletter, so others can learn, feel less alone, and recover and thrive more easily.

I have had to learn that moving abroad is not a sign of weakness or fear of staying, but rather a sign of braveness, being true to myself and listening to my heart.

I am committed to growing and showing others that artists don’t have to be struggling and starving people.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am a storyteller, 2D animator, and illustrator, creating under the name Rasto.

“Rasto” came out of a wordplay, by merging my first and last name when signing my artwork during University.

In Portuguese, “rasto” means trail, and I found that very poetic and perfect for me.

I hope that, overtime, I can look back and see a beautiful inspirational path left behind in my life and creative career, with all the deviations and struggles and lessons put together. It is a constant reminder that the process is the most enjoyable part and the best teacher and that good work takes time to take shape.

I find inspiration mostly in daily life. My works are born from observations of small moments in time, being in nature, autobiographical work, immersed in storytelling and intriguing visuals.

I am a big fan of witches and magical stories, but especially the ones rooted in stories connected with what it means to be a human being going through life, with its pains and joys. I enjoy combining humor with difficult topics and am a big fan of surrealistic approaches.

I am very proud of the path that my student films took, and how interesting and laborious it was to create them. I am also super grateful to have worked on some really beautiful animation projects, like the movie “Nayola” by one of my animation heroes, José Miguel Ribeiro, two shorts from “Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures” for BBC, and “Monster Loving Maniacs” the series screened on CBBC, among others.

I also got invited for some important events, like drawing live with concerts for the World Refugee Day 2020 (organized by Radio Rood in Ghent), I have done an explainer animation video with VC Studios (background, characters, animation) for the Museum Sint-Janshospitaal, in Bruges, Belgium, and had my Animated Portrait exhibited as part of the Film Fest Ghent 2023 (organized by 50x Animated and Maï Calon).

I think my strength comes from accepting my high sensitivity, taking the time to grow as a person and artist, being vulnerable and honest with my writing and art, and having a deep love for life and beauty and a sense of deep connection and service to others.

I am deeply grateful to my family, for their unconditional support and love, all the people who helped me discover more of myself, be it through therapy or coaching, especially coach Scotty Russell (Side Hustler’s Perspective Podcast, in which I participated once, after the amazing coaching program) and Antonina Radeva, from Spellbond, my wonderful Emotional Intelligence coach (6seconds.org).

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?

I believe it’s having a deep understanding of myself, knowing what my strengths and challenges are, and accepting and working with them.

I think many things can get in the way of success, and it takes dedication and love to keep showing up throughout the years. And a clear vision of our values and mission.

I love this expression I heard in a documentary about Charlie Mackesy, the author of “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”:

“He is an overnight success, thirty years in the making”.

To me, it reflects the importance of committing to the craft out of love and trusting the process. And never stopping having fun!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ritarasto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rita_rasto/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/ritarasto