Ananda
Directors statement
In 1893, a 13-year-old girl was taken from Java to Paris, where she worked as a maid and model for artist Paul Gauguin. Known as Annah la Javanaise, I identified myself as a woman of Indonesian origin. Who was she? What happened to her? She is forgotten, an anecdote in art history. Her story was never told, erased from the archives.
In our film Ananda, I reimagine her life. She is Ananda, a girl trafficked to Paris in the 1890s, but the story is hers, not Gauguin's. It is an adventure told from her point of view, in the spirit of Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Coco, and Moana. The film explores her healing journey and return home.
Rooted in Javanese culture, Ananda shares a deep bond with a tiger captured alongside her. The tiger mirrors her soul; both must heal to be free. Animation brings to life the magic, pain, and resilience of a girl between Java and France. The story is also inspired by Miss La La, a real circus performer of African-Russian descent who worked with Degas. In Ananda, she and her partner Miss Kaira support the young heroine.
Ananda is a universal tale of home, identity, and love: love of self, family, and all beings. It's about survival, truth, and reclaiming one's voice. A fictional story based on real events, Ananda puts women of colour at the centre.
Born in Magelang, Java in 1992, Ariel Victor Arthanto is an animation filmmaker, illustrator, and writer. He holds an MFA in Animation Direction from Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (Germany) and a BA from RMIT University (Australia). Based in Berlin, he specialises in 2D animation and creates colorful, imaginative worlds. Ariel developed his practice in Jakarta, working on animated music videos, the series pilot Traveling Richie (2018), and Annah la Javanaise (2020, dir. Fatimah Tobing Rony) as visual and art director. The latter premiered at Annecy and won 15 international awards. His latest film, I Am A Flower (2024), explores themes of family, queer identity, and self-discovery.
- DirectorsFatimah Tobing Rony, Ariel Victor Arthanto
- ProducersSébastien Onomo, Nia Dinata
- ScreenwriterFatimah Tobing Rony
- Production countriesFrance, Indonesia
- Production companySpecial Touch Studios
- Age6+
- Duration80 min
- GenresAdventure, Family
- TypeFilm
- Year2027
- Spoken languageFrench
Contact persons
Company profile
Special Touch Studios is a production company whose ambition is to renew the imagination by proposing other views on the world.
An editorial line focused on Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and the Urban Cultures and the emergence of talents carrying strong stories with a universal dimension.
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We are looking for : international sales, broadcasters, co-producers, and public and private funds.
Representatives at JCM and contact details
Lisa Zecca
lzecca@specialtouchstudios.com
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