Ako Castuera was born on September 20, 1978, in California, United States. She grew up in Southern California, including the Claremont area, and cultivated an early passion for art.

She pursued formal education at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and later graduated from the California College of the Arts (CCA), where she studied ceramics and illustration. Initially focused on ceramics, she later found a compelling career in animation, combining her artistic talents with storytelling.

Ako Castuera began her professional career in the animation industry with roles as a character designer and storyboard artist. One of her earliest significant positions was as a character designer on the animated television show "Metalocalypse" from 2006 to 2009. 

She then joined the creative team of the influential Cartoon Network series "Adventure Time," where she worked as a writer and storyboard artist from 2010 to 2017, contributing to 59 episodes. Her work on "Adventure Time" was highly regarded for its innovative storytelling and artistic creativity, significantly impacting the show's success and critical acclaim.

In addition to her television work, she contributed to projects like "City of Ghosts" (2021), where she was a writer and storyboard artist, and provided character design for the animated feature "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" (2021).

Her animation career is noted for collaborations with other prominent artists and involvement in projects that received critical praise and industry recognition.

Parallel to her animation career, she maintained an independent art practice focused on painting, sculpture, and ceramics. Her artwork is characterized by hybrid forms that merge animal, human, landscape, and architectural elements, exploring themes of interconnectedness between living beings and their environments.

She has exhibited her work in galleries and museums across the United States, emphasizing the fluidity of life and the interconnectedness of different forms of existence.

Ako Castuera has been recognized with several awards and fellowships in the arts, including residencies and grants such as the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award in 2017 and the Davidoff Art Initiative in 2018.

These accolades underscore her contributions to both the fine arts and animation fields. While her work in animation has received critical praise, particularly for "Adventure Time" and "City of Ghosts," and her art exhibitions have been widely respected, she is noted more for her creativity and versatility than for mainstream acting or traditional film award nominations.