Bre Kaponga

In this project, cultural design through Tā Moko and creature design were my main roles, and the idea driven behind it was my capstone question “How can the themes of belonging and identity be translated into 3d animated characters using cultural design and motion?’.

Through my groups short-animated film “Do You Pledge?” The main protagonist, Ānura, a young witch who is of Māori and Visayan heritage, finds herself torn between making a life-altering decision when she takes the entrance exam for the Rotwood Magic Academy.  With ancestral guidance and the helping hand of her familiar, Kaalam, Ānura will be confronted with challenges she will have to overcome.  The story breaks the stereotypical narrative of taking pieces of different cultures and blending it into one, and instead celebrates cultural diversity that gives both Māori and Filipino cultures an equal platform.