Although he started his career in the art departments of live-action films, Spanish designer Carlos Zaragoza has developed a newfound fondness for animated projects over the last few years.

Last year, Zaragoza created the background elements, sets, and environments for the film “Gnomeo & Juliet,” an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic tale “Romeo and Juliet,” where lawn gnomes fill in as star-stressed sweethearts.

EXTRA: I’m guessing you had to look at a lot of front lawns as an artist and designer on “Gnomeo & Juliet.”
Carlos Zaragoza: Yes, it was crazy. In Spain I didn’t really know about garden gnomes. I had to do a lot of research in garden and gnome culture. It was really fun. We looked at a lot of photographs. I also visited several gardens. It was good to go to real-life locations for inspiration.

Besides lawns, did you have to become familiar with things like water fountains, flowers and other objects you’d find in a garden?
Yes, we had to design everything. We did research on a lot of garden elements. Apart from the architectural elements of the houses and the environments, we did a lot of research on plants and flowers and all kinds of other tacky decorations as well.

Do you think garden gnomes are tacky decorations for front lawns?
That’s what I thought at the beginning. At the end, I ended up liking the gnomes. They’re still tacky, but they make good characters for this story.

What do people in Spain put in their front lawns if not garden gnomes?
(Laughs) It depends. We have some tacky stuff, but not gnomes. It’s very different.

Next you’re working on the animated film “Madagascar 3.” How do you go into a film like that not having worked on ...