Two artists from vastly different worlds are bringing a silent, musical tree to life — and hoping it changes how kids see nature. The Tree with the Big Red Scarf, a Corazón Latino project, premieres on social media on October 30th, 2026.
Rolando Villazón, the internationally celebrated tenor and director who has conquered opera houses worldwide, is taking on a role unlike any other in his career. He’s lending his voice to a tree — one that sings, but never speaks a word.
Villazón joins forces with José Trinidad Camacho Orozco, better known as “Trino,” the renowned Mexican cartoonist or “monero” whose work appears in syndicated newspapers across Latin America. Their collaboration, The Tree with the Big Red Scarf, is a new animated short from the nonprofit Corazón Latino that will premiere Friday, October 30, on Instagram and YouTube.
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The film tells its story entirely through music and animation, without a single line of spoken dialogue. Trino’s distinctive artistic style brings the visuals to life, while Villazón voices a singing tree that silently observes a family over many years. The result is a wordless narrative that transcends language barriers.
The unlikely pairing came together thanks to Felipe Benítez, Executive Director and Founder of Corazón Latino, who invited both artists to the project. As it turned out, Trino and Villazón were already longtime admirers of each other’s work.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Rolando Villazón for years, so when they asked me if I’d like to turn him into a singing tree, I thought, well, that’s certainly one way to meet your idol!” said Trino Camacho, the film’s animator and illustrator. “I’ve drawn a lot of interesting characters in my career, but turning one of the world’s great tenors into a tree was a first. What I admire most about Rolando, beyond his extraordinary talent, is his kindness and enormous heart. I never imagined I’d get to work with someone I admire so much, let alone turn him into a tree! I can’t wait for the world to see the film.”
“As a nature lover, an admirer of Trino Camacho’s work, I’m delighted to make my animated debut in The Tree with the Big Red Scarf,” said internationally acclaimed tenor Rolando Villazón. “I’ve graced many stages around the world, but this is the first time I’ve sung one of my favorite arias as a cartoon character! I hope this little film brings a smile to kids and adults alike and reminds us how important trees are to all of us.”
This short marks Villazón’s third film collaboration with Corazón Latino, following earlier projects shot in New York and Austria for the Stories of Trees platform. But where those were live-action works, this new direction is purely animated. The film was written by Stacy Whittle, who also serves as musical director and voices the baby character.
“After working on two films together, what better to do than turn Rolando Villazón into a tree that can belt out arias?” said Stacy Whittle, the film’s writer and director. “And what a joy it’s been to work with Rolando and Trino, two enormously talented artists who are as kind as they are gifted.”
The Tree with the Big Red Scarf is a project of Corazón Latino, made possible by funding from the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. The organization intends the film to introduce more people — especially children — to the importance of trees through a story that requires no explanation or translation.
“One of the great pleasures of this project was bringing Rolando and Trino together, especially when we discovered they were already fans of each other’s work,” said Felipe Benítez, Founder and Executive Director of Corazón Latino. “Stacy and I wanted to create something kids would genuinely enjoy, and Trino’s wonderful sense of humor and unmistakable drawings, together with Rolando’s incredible voice, made that possible. If kids come away loving trees a little more, and maybe even developing a taste for opera, then we’ve done something worthwhile.”
Beyond the Film
Corazón Latino is developing free downloadable coloring sheets and an educational discussion guide to accompany The Tree with the Big Red Scarf. The materials are intended for teachers and families who want to explore the story with children and discuss the importance of trees in their own communities.
The educational resources will be available at https://storiesoftrees.org/animation.
Instagram Premiere: October 30th
Interviews may be requested through the media contact below.
About Corazón Latino
Corazón Latino is a nonprofit organization that uses culture and the arts to connect communities with nature and expand access to environmental education.
Learn more at www.corazonlatino.us.
Stacy Whittle
Heart Theatre / Teatro del Corazón
+1 202-664-4013
Why it matters: By blending opera, cartooning, and wordless storytelling, this short makes an environmental message accessible to children regardless of language or background. The accompanying free educational resources extend the film’s reach into classrooms and homes, showing how creative partnerships can plant lasting seeds of ecological awareness in young audiences.
