The Impossible is a 2012 English-language Spanish disaster drama film directed by J.A. Bayona and written by Sergio G. Sánchez, based on the true story of the tragic experience of Spanish doctor María Belón and her family during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

"Sandra Hermida from Apaches contacted me. J.A. Bayona, who had already directed El Orfanato, needed drawings for many of the sequences in his new film. We met at the director's home and workspace in the Eixample district of Barcelona. I remember feeling comfortable from the very beginning. Perhaps I sensed that J. appreciated those early drawings of what would become a key film in his career. The atmosphere was intense and focused, yet pleasant. Everything in those workspaces exuded cinema. He, as a good director, is demanding in everything, and that led to me receiving a warning from the lovely Sandra regarding the delivery deadlines for the shooting boards—which were many.

There were some rather difficult days of work reviewing disturbing documentation about the disaster in order to approach the corresponding sequences of the tragedy. Especially drawing the most graphic scenes of the injuries suffered by the protagonist. I was focused on my work while J., on the phone, was asking María Belón (played by Naomi Watts) whether the cut that tore across her chest was like this or like that. I also remember J. reflecting on who would be better suited to play the father, Matt Damon or Ewan McGregor.

Spending so many hours drawing with J.A. Bayona made me realize firsthand the intense and almost overwhelming work a director has, as he must—together with the production team—make countless decisions about hundreds of details that stand between his vision and ensuring it is faithfully and convincingly translated onto the screen."