Oniko - オニコ

I’m dying to, but if I told you what Oniko means in Japanese, that would probably set off the spoiler alert sirens! So, I won’t – I will just urge you instead to watch Oniko, a collaborative group project by Masters of Animation and Visualisation 2025 students at the UTS Animal Logic Academy in Sydney, Australia.  Don’t look up why it’s called the Animal Logic Academy – I’ve done it for you.  It isn’t a bizarre veterinarian college with a quirky little animation wing added on at the back. It’s named after the famous Australian animation and VFX studio Animal Logic, which partnered with the University of Technology Sydney to create the academy.  So, now on to the animation - and it is rare to see such an exquisitely crafted piece from a professional animation studio, let alone from a group of students.  I suspect that might sound a little patronising, which I don't mean in any way - I can only give the highest praise for this exceptional piece of art.

It opens with a young high-born woman fleeing a palace in Edo-period Japan, carrying her infant son in a sling.  She escapes through the snowbound landscape as seemingly supernatural samurai pursue her through the darkness.  When there seems to be no escape for her something inexplicable happens that will change her life – and that of her baby – forever.  Developed by the student cohort through all its stages of development and production, Oniko will leave you on the edge of your seat to the very end.  Already, commenters on YouTube are calling for a sequel of for this to be developed into a full animated movie.  I can only say that I agree with them!