Writer, Director, Lead Animator, Editor

Fantoche and the Magic Paintbrush(2025, dir. Katie Hatt)

Fantoche, a lonely yet imaginative being, escapes into books, games and painting. When his brush gains magical powers, he journeys through fantastical worlds, discovering the power of transformation and creation. Fantoche and the Magic Paintbrush celebrates the universal language of animation, paying homage to its history as Fantoche explores diverse styles, finding friendship and magic along the way.

As the practical component of my thesis project, this short film holds a very special place in my heart, a true celebration of animation. Through a combination of 2D drawn animation, stop-motion, and video game design, I explored how animation can communicate stories beyond the need for script or dialogue. Although the film includes dialogue in multiple languages, the visual storytelling allows the audience to follow and understand the narrative regardless of whether they understand the spoken words. I learned a lot through this film that I hope to take with me in my future animated films.