In a crowded subway station in Mexico City, a man watches a girl acting strange. He realizes she might be attempting to commit suicide by jumping to the tracks. The man tries to stop her, but she accuses him of being a molester and insults him. After the man is taken away by a police officer, she jumps in front of the oncoming train.[5]
El héroe was the first Mexican short film to win the Palme d'Or and it was the second time a Mexican director was awarded the Palme d'Or since 1946 when Emilio Fernández won the Grand Prix with María Candelaria.[4]
Though it was not the first Mexican animated film, Carrera's short film and its award at Cannes are credited for bringing attention to animated films to the Mexican film industry and to a new generation of Mexican filmmakers.[13][14]
Since, El héroe, Carrera has made a few animated short films. In 2017, he premiered Ana y Bruno, an animated feature film with an estimated budget of US$5.35 million, making it the most expensive animated Mexican film.[15]