Jacynta Scurfield

For Jacynta, animation was always a natural combination of two lifelong interests: art and acting. As a child, she loved drama classes and drawing characters from her favourite films. Later, she began creating stop-motion movies and animated short films of her own. After winning a youth film competition as a teenager, she realised animation could become more than just a hobby.

Jacynta initially began studying 2D animation elsewhere before discovering a passion for 3D animation. Wanting a more specialised and industry-focused learning environment, she made the decision to transfer into the Bachelor of Art & Design (3D Animation & VFX) at MDS. What stood out to her most was the quality of the student work and the school’s strong industry reputation. 

Studying online from Wellington allowed Jacynta to stay close to family and avoid relocating to Auckland, but she says the experience never felt like a compromise. Live online classes, real-time collaboration, and regular communication with classmates helped create a strong sense of connection and community. 

When I saw everyone in person, it felt like I already knew them quite well despite us spending most of our class time hundreds of kilometres apart.” 

One of the defining experiences of her degree was co-creating A Dragon in Name Only. Jacynta served as co-director, co-script writer, and lead animator on the project, while also contributing to areas including concept art, rigging, and character modelling. The team developed a distinctive visual style inspired by 2D animation and stop-motion techniques, helping the film stand out at the New Zealand Youth Film Festival. 

The project also gave her first-hand experience of working in a collaborative production pipeline. She says it reinforced the importance of strong pre-production planning, adaptability, and stepping outside your comfort zone to support a team. 

That experience helped open doors professionally. After applying for a Wētā FX internship while studying, Jacynta later reconnected with talent scouts after A Dragon in Name Only screened at a Wellington film festival. She joined the studio as a Production Assistant before progressing into her current role as a Junior Animator. 

Today, she credits MDS with helping prepare her for the realities of studio life through regular critiques, feedback sessions, and a strong focus on animation craft.