Director’s Statement

Yarnia is a film born from both imagination and love—a story that bridges the everyday world of home with the magical wonder of a jungle universe alive with color, texture, and spirit. At its core, this project is about connection: between siblings, between humans and animals, and between the worlds we know and the ones we dare to dream.

Visually, Yarnia is a blend of mediums designed to heighten that sense of contrast and discovery. Of its twenty minutes, fifteen are fully realized in 3D animation, while the remaining five weave together live action and 2D animation, experimenting with how one realm transforms into another. Part of why it was important for me to include live action is deeply personal—and a little whimsical. I promised my beloved cats, Mila and Autumn, that I would make them movie stars, and capturing some of their real-life presence on screen is my way of keeping that promise.

The muted palette of the cats’ home life gives way to the lush, saturated vibrancy of Yarnia itself—deep greens and bold flora inspired by the jungles of Southeast Asia. The portal that bridges these worlds shimmers in purple and blue hues. For me, purple is not just a favorite color; it is also the color of transformation and transmutation, representing the spiritual seventh ray of the “I Am” teachings.

Our production is built entirely from the ground up. Every character has been modeled and rigged by our team in a semi-realistic style, with fur created in Maya XGen to elevate the sense of touch and life on screen. The entire ecosystem of Yarnia—though magical and fictional—is rooted in the real biodiversity of the Southeast Asian jungles, specifically the Bangladesh region. This grounds our story in a cohesive, believable world that makes sense even in its wonder. Many of the flowers, plants, and trees you’ll see on screen were carefully modeled by our 3D artists, chosen directly from that ecosystem. The world of Yarnia itself has been meticulously constructed inside Unreal Engine, where we are using 360-degree animation techniques that give us intuitive freedom in shaping camera movement and perspective.

This project is also a celebration of collaboration. Yarnia is being brought to life by a dedicated collective of volunteers—recent graduates, advanced students, and animators eager to stay close to their craft. On a shoestring budget, they are pouring their skill, vision, and love of storytelling into a film that aspires to look and feel much bigger than its means.

Yarnia is also the first installment of a planned trilogy, a proof of concept that will position us to grow the series with increased resources, partnerships, and support from studios and funders.

It is also deeply personal to me. Animals have always been so connected to my heart, and I want this film to increase compassion, appreciation, and respect for all animals. My hope is that Yarnia sparks in others the same passion and love I feel—because when we make the world safer and kinder for animals, we not only improve their quality of life but also enrich our own. Human life is deepened when we open our minds, strengthen our hearts, and expand our compassion.

Finally, this project is also a quiet homage to my own community. As a lesbian filmmaker, I am intentional in positively representing LGBTQ families on screen—with a wink to the old saying that every lesbian couple has at least one cat. Through this film, I hope to acknowledge and celebrate this community while telling a story that is universal, playful, and filled with wonder.

At its heart, Yarnia is an invitation: to dream, to imagine, and to remember that even when we cross into other worlds, the greatest magic lies in love, family, and the bonds that carry us home.