Anna Jain is a visual development artist and illustrator passionate about animation. Her interest in the medium began at a young age, but as she grew older she noticed the acute lack of South Asian representation in western fantasy animation, and what did exist varied in success. Thus, The Bane of Pravalahpur explores a visual development concept for an animated show that tells an engaging fantasy story while exploring the importance of research and proper representation.
The work consists of a book documenting both the thought process of the artist and depicting the story of Neha, a young woman living a semi-normal life until hers is turned upside down with the sudden appearance of magic. Through vivid illustrations, the artist guides viewers through Neha’s world and a tale of friendship, love, grief, and forgiveness.
The artist also provides insight into many of the complexities involved in implementing cultural elements into a fictional, Indian-inspired world. In the process of researching and illustrating different parts of Indian culture, she grapples with the connections and disconnections she feels with her own culture. She hopes to spark a conversation about representation in the animation industry among other South Asian artists and minorities as a whole.
