A Dragon in Name Only: A Story of Imagination, Innovation, and Inspiration

At Media Design School, the possibilities are endless for students driven by passion and creativity. This was proven yet again by an extraordinary all-female team that brought A Dragon in Name Only to life, a short animated film that recently won the Wēta FX Best VFX award at the New Zealand Youth Film Festival. The film was created and produced by a team of third year female students studying the Bachelor of Art & Design (Animation and 3D VFX) Jacynta Scurfield, Megan Liddell, Jacqueline Jiménez, Irieani Nili, Vanessa Mirabel Prayogo, Aojie Ma and Shiya Wang.

The film tells a whimsical tale of Koru, the lonely Komodo dragon, who dreams of becoming a "real" dragon with the ability to soar through the sky. With a stunning blend of 2D and 3D animation reminiscent of Harry Sinclair’s animated kid’s show Kiri and Lou, the film displays humour, heart, and an uplifting theme for audiences of all ages.

The inspiration for A Dragon in Name Only came from Jacynta’s childhood pet peeve: why were Komodo dragons called "dragons" when they couldn’t breathe fire or fly? What started as a slapstick comedy evolved, under the guidance of Executive Producer and Learning Facilitator, Manny Piña, into a heartfelt story about dreams, determination, and self-discovery.

The team faced challenges that pushed them out of their comfort zones, requiring the team to learn new techniques, including animating flight and adapting constantly evolving character designs to fit the story’s stylised world. These challenges didn’t just produce a visually stunning film—they taught invaluable lessons about perseverance and creative problem-solving.. "We only had 12 weeks to pull everything together," Megan explained. "At times, we felt defeated, but Manny really kept us focused and motivated. He encouraged us to explore a more unique art style, even when it meant more work, and it truly paid off."

While the all-female team came together through random assignment, it became an unexpected advantage. Jacynta noted, "We didn’t choose to work together, but we really enjoyed having an all-girls team. It was a great dynamic."

The experience also shed light on the evolving landscape for women in animation and visual effects. "A lot of the rigging tutorials you see online are done by guys, which makes it feel like the industry is male-dominated," Megan observed, "but at MDS, we had more girls than guys in our class, and they were excelling in those areas. It’s inspiring to see what’s possible when you push boundaries."

Both Megan and Jacynta encourage other young women to dive into the world of animation. "Let your imagination run wild," Jacynta said. 

"You’ll learn how to do things along the way. As long as you have ideas, you’ll get there."

Megan and Jacynta seemed to have walked a similar path, with both starting their animation journeys at Yoobee. Megan was in Christchurch before moving to Auckland to study at MDS, while Jacynta first studied at Yoobee’s Wellington campus. Megan was keen to study 3D Art and was planning on moving anyway, while Jacynta discovered that 3D Animation was her calling and decided she wanted a more specialised approach. 

Their time at MDS didn’t just result in an award-winning film; it launched their careers. Megan is freelancing and working with a group of fellow MDS alumni on a new film, while Jacynta has joined Wēta FX in Wellington as a Motion Production Assistant. "The skills we learned at MDS transfer so well," Jacynta said. "There’s a strong network of alumni everywhere you look, and it’s amazing to see how the big productions function."

A Dragon in Name Only is proof that the future of filmmaking is limitless for those bold enough to pursue it. For young women dreaming of creating worlds through animation, Media Design School offers not just the technical expertise but also the inspiration and support to turn those dreams into reality.

If you’re ready to let your imagination take flight, Media Design School could be your next step. Get in touch to find out more!