Short Film
Mala
A cinematic short film about wonder, starlight and the stories we find in the night sky. Created as part of my master's project, Mala combines storytelling, character animation and stylized 3D environments into a personal exploration of curiosity, nature and imagination.
Stars Calling
My animated short film Mala — the clearest introduction to how I build worlds and bring characters to life.
Stories written by
Starlight
Mala is a narrative short film created as the centerpiece of my master's project. More than any other work in my portfolio, it represents my interest in storytelling, atmosphere and character-driven worlds.
The film follows Mala, a young stargazer whose connection to the night sky becomes a way of understanding the world around her. Inspired by themes of wonder, nature and imagination, the project explores how simple moments can carry meaning when viewed through a different lens.
From the earliest story concepts to the final rendered shots, the project required the development of characters, environments, animation, lighting and visual storytelling. Over the course of production, it evolved from an initial idea into a complete short film, allowing me to combine many of the disciplines I enjoy most into a single cohesive piece.
Mala became more than a technical exercise. It was an opportunity to create a world, establish a visual language and tell a story that reflects the kind of work I want to pursue in the future: thoughtful, atmospheric and driven by emotion rather than spectacle.
- Story development & screenplay
- Character design & development
- Environment design & worldbuilding
- 3D modeling & texturing
- Character animation & cinematography
- Lighting & rendering & final editing
