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Denisse De La Cruz, a proud Dominican American born and raised in Washington Heights, New York City, has built her career as a writer in children’s entertainment. She has contributed to beloved companies like Disney, Sesame Workshop, DreamWorks Animation, Moonbug, and BrainPop to bring stories filled with love, laughter, and meaningful lessons to young audiences. Whether developing characters, pitching episodes, or crafting scripts, De La Cruz finds joy in using storytelling to spark giggles and kindness in kids everywhere.
What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Surprisingly, I’d say that one of my greatest career accomplishments comes in the form of a developed skill! I think as a creative it’s been important to embody and be comfortable with the idea of “rolling with the punches.” You need to know how to pivot at any given moment and have a new take / new idea. It’s pivotal to being a writer and working in development! To be at a point in my career where I can bounce back after feedback, send in a new take on an episode, pitch without feeling too self-critical when the pitches don’t land—I’m proud of myself!
What is your greatest personal accomplishment to date?
Getting a scholarship and attending college! I will forever be grateful for the POSSE Foundation and how it changed my life by helping me continue my education. I was able to turn my passion for movies and TV into a degree at Middlebury College—where I eventually graduated with honors.
What do you do today to impact your community?
My close friend, producer Karinil Figueroa, and I started a podcast together called LATINAS UNSCRIPTED. The idea for the podcast came to us after a conversation where we realized we both had a desire to be “big sisters”/ “mentees” to people who may be in the same position we were in when we first started in the industry. Kari moved from Florida, and I had moved from New York, and neither of us had a point of reference—someone who understood all the first-time experiences we were navigating in the entertainment industry. Our podcast was a way to answer questions and share advice to those who needed it. We even made the episodes available in English and Spanish because we wanted to broaden the scope of our audience. It was a labor of love for the community, and it was meant to provide information we may have been seeking ourselves when we first entered the entertainment industry.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
It feels like this industry is changing and evolving so rapidly these days! In five years, I’m sure there will be some new form of media or content viewing that has gone viral. I can only hope to adapt to the field of trending creative formats so that I can continue to help diversify the pool of content children see.
What is the biggest issue that you want to help solve, and why?
I’m very blessed to have been born and raised in the melting pot that is NYC. I was exposed to so many cultures, traditions, languages and so much more … but it wasn’t one to one with what I saw on the screen growing up. I guess that’s a big part of what fuels my determination to continue helping enrich children’s programming with colorful narratives that reflect our world—the vastness and vibrancy of different people all around us. I want to help see that reflected in heartfelt and entertaining shows for kids.
What is a moment when you realized the impact of your work?
I wouldn’t say it’s been just one single moment that has shed light onto the impact of my writing but a summation of little moments—usually around family members or friends with kids. When parents inform their children of TV shows I’ve written on, there’s usually a giddy curiosity that I see sparkle in those young eyes. And then the shy, or overly excited, stream of questions comes at me. It makes me smile. And it reminds me of why I love writing characters that children can identify with.
What advice would 10-year-old you be shocked to hear you followed?
“Don’t let fear stop you from taking big chances.” I’ve made a lot of choices to further my career and my future that were big leaps of faith. Even when the chances of things going sideways seemed so high … I’m lucky and grateful to have family and close friends that have always encouraged me to “give it a try!”
What’s a cultural tradition that always brings you joy?
I immediately think food, music, and dancing. These are such staples engraved in Dominican culture and tradition, and I indulge, especially every time I’m home. I’ve had the privilege of working on a show inspired by the Caribbean, and it was so FUN to pull from those traditions to write stories influenced by my childhood.
What song do you listen to that motivates you?
Whenever I write I tend to listen to lo-fi playlists online. My space and immediate environment are things I try to keep calm and light! It helps me hone into my work and get my words onto pages!
