About this Project: The Northstar

The Northstar began as my MFA thesis in Visual Development for Animation at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Developed between 2012–2014, this original concept was inspired by Native American spirituality, origin myths, and coming-of-age tales grounded in love, identity, and destiny.

Set in a distant future where Earth is fractured by environmental collapse, The Northstar follows Sacha, a young orphan thief who discovers she is the heir to a powerful ancestral lineage. As she unlocks her true identity and spiritual gifts, she must rise to challenge the corrupt ruler of her homeland and embrace her destiny as a beacon of hope—known as the Northstar.

Originally developed as a concept for a short animated film, The Northstar evolved into a collaborative effort with over 20 creatives contributing to story, design, and early animation production.

Though the project didn’t go into full production, it laid the creative foundation for my current graphic novel series, The Forgotten Earth—a more mature, post-dystopian reimagining of the same characters and themes.