Gerardo’s Wish Turns His Passion Into a Real-Life Studio Experience
Burbank, California – It felt like a California dream for Gerardo, experiencing one of those pinch-yourself moments. He stepped straight into the world he loves most, animation, during his visit to Titmouse Animation Studios. Surrounded by top animators, writers, voice actors, and creators, he was invited behind the scenes to spend time with their team and watch the magic of animation happen right before his eyes.
Gerardo was given a VIP tour of the studio’s departments and got to see the production process of the animated television series The Mighty Nein. “We got to see how they record the voiced lines for the show and the process of how they create it,” said Gerardo. They spent hours going from room to room, seeing each part of the process unfold.
Another highlight was getting to create something himself. Gerardo went into the recording studio to voice and record some scripts with his brother. “It was fun and we were laughing a lot,” he said. The team also gifted him a hoodie, hat, tote bag, plushy, and a Super Mario hand-drawn picture as special mementos. For Gerardo, whose passion is drawing pictures of movie characters and anime, visiting Titmouse Animation Studios turned a dream into a real-life animated adventure.
His animation fun continued at Universal Studios Hollywood. “My favorite part was Super Nintendo World because I’ve always wanted to go there,” said Gerardo. “You just can’t experience it through a phone. It’s very colorful and so much stuff’s happening and it’s so fun to be there.” Having express passes was also a game changer, allowing him to bypass the lines and take in all the top attractions.
Yard House further celebrated Gerardo with a special dinner, decorating his table with colorful animation images and cards containing well wishes from staff. “It was really cool that they did that just for me,” said Gerardo with appreciation. They also gifted him animation-themed gifts. “Everyone gave him a lot of attention, and I’ve never seen him talk that much and smile,” said his mom Ana. “They made the whole family feel special.” Gerardo also made a meaningful connection, meeting a staff member who went through medical challenges as a kid and had their wish come true. It was an unforgettable evening.
Being a burger lover, Gerardo also raved about their dinner at Hook Burger, including how nice the staff was. These restaurants provided more than just his family’s meals, they gave Gerardo treasured family celebrations.
Accommodations and roundtrip flights were provided by Kids Wish Network.
Gerardo’s personalized wish was a time where he could get away from the stresses of his medical condition, something he’s coped with for as long as he can remember. He’s struggled with many infections and the complications from his diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. It’s a rare blood condition causing blood clots to form in blood vessels throughout the body, restricting blood flow to essential bodily organs. He’s had multiple plasma infusions and continues to have weekly transfusions to help his immune system fight infections.
Wish Sponsors:
Kids Wish Network could not have provided this wish to Gerardo without the help of Titmouse Animation, Yard House, Hook Burger, and the many supporters who believe in making wishes come true for kids who need hope.
Titmouse: Home - Titmouse
FB: https://www.facebook.com/titmouse.cartoons/
IG: https://instagram.com/titmouseinc
Universal Studios Hollywood: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/UniversalStudiosHollywood
IG: https://www.instagram.com/unistudios/
Yard House: Burbank - Downtown Burbank | Locations | Yard House Restaurant
FB: https://www.facebook.com/YardHouse
IG: https://www.instagram.com/yardhouse/
Hook Burger: Hook Burger - Home