My name is Tania del Rio and I’m a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a BFA in animation. In 2003, my manga entry, Lovesketch, was selected to appear in TOKYOPOP’s Rising Stars of Manga Anthology, Volume 2.
This soon led to my next gig, working for Archie Comics as the writer and artist of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, a monthly comic that was given a shoujo manga makeover in 2004. Over the course of 5 years I completed 42 issues, ending the series with issue #100.
I’ve also done additional work for Archie, such as art and writing on Sonic the Hedgehog, Josie and the Pussycats, Cheryl Blossom, and stories featuring the rest of the Archie gang. I’ve also written for Marvel (Spider Man/Araña Special: The Hunter Revealed), and edited a book called Mangaka America, a gallery and tutorial book featuring some of the hottest emerging North American manga artists of the time.
I had a popular webcomic, www.mypoorlydrawnlife.com, which is now available as a 400-page book. I will soon be re-launching my webcomic as “My Newly Blonde Life”, which will be about my life as a single woman.
I also run a business with award winning graphic designer Will Staehle of www.silhouettemasterpiecetheatre.com. We make and sell Victorian-inspired art, stories, and merch at www.thebazaarium.com.
I currently reside in Los Angeles with my two corgis.
I can be contacted at taniadelrio@yahoo.com if you want to get in touch! I’m always interested in hearing about new projects, commissions, and opportunities!
Favourite Visual Artist
Hayao Miyazaki, Yayoi Ogawa, Ai Yazawa, Rumiko Takahashi, Fuyumi Soryo
Favourite Movies
Anything by Studio Ghibli, Step Up 3, O Brother Where Art Thou, Best in Show, Office Space, Anchorman, The Social Network
Favourite TV Shows
Game of Thrones, Dexter, 30 Rock, Modern Family
Favourite Bands / Musical Artists
Zero 7, La Roux, Lady Gaga, Dragonette, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails, Beirut, Daft Punk, Bat for Lashes, Cake, Foo Fighters, Incubus, Goldfrapp, Miike Snow, Foster the People
Favourite Books
Tale of Genji, Dune, Neuromancer, A Song of Fire and Ice series, Harry Potter series, Hunger Games trilogy, The Scorpio Races, A Visit from the Goon Squad
Favourite Writers
William Gibson, George R.R Martin, Maggie Stiefvater, Suzanne Collins, J.K Rowlings, Jennifer Egan
Favourite Games
Old school Final Fantasy, Just Dance series, Mario, Zelda etc. Don't have much time for games these days!
Favourite Gaming Platform
Gameboy in all its incarnations
Tools of the Trade
Paper, pencil, Copic markers, Bamboo Wacom tablet and Photoshop/Illustrator
Other Interests
Bike-riding, magic, urban dance films, knitting and crocheting, Blythe dolls, going to shows