“The Seventh Sea,” a 2D animated indie series, follows the story of contract-bound hunter “Zim” as he kills throughout the seas in exchange for money. Ariel Rojas is a member of the small, tight-knit team contributing to the series, which is still in the production phase. The pilot is set to release December 24, 2026; in the time preceding, trailers and documentations are released in order to build an audience.

The process of creating “The Seventh Sea” is lengthy, involving various specialized jobs. In the planning stage, the script is created, followed by rough drawings depicting the storyline.

“Animation is hard,” Rojas noted; it involves sketches, line-art, color and shadows. A background artist works on the detailed setting accompanying the animation. To finish, sound and visual effects along with voice acting is added; finally, the pilot is posted onto The Seventh Sea’s YouTube.

Rojas developed a love for art after reading her brother’s DC comics; DC president Jim Lee remains her main inspiration. Yet her inspiration is not only limited to comics, but also painters of the Romantic Era, such as Eugenio Lucas Velazquez.

“If anyone devotes their heart to their craft, I think that’s pretty cool, and it makes me want to do the same,” she said.

Rojas is currently the youngest on the team, which initially made her worry about feeling out of place. But these fears were quickly dispelled by the friendliness and fun she experienced working on the project. The show’s creator, Jake, ensures his team feels comfortable working on the pilot while maintaining a steady workflow, contributing to an efficient team despite the small size.

Rojas feels “incredibly lucky” to work on the project, as the experience enables her to pursue work in the animation field after high school. We hope Rojas and “The Seventh Sea” will continue to flourish and grow.