Cursed Dogs

My name is Ryu Leon Yamada Nguyen from Melbourne, Victoria. I'm a recent university graduate, completing my studies in my Bachelor's in Animation from Swinburne University in 2025, in which I had the privilege to direct my submitted film for AYFF, Cursed Dogs. For almost my entire life, I’ve has always been immersed in the world of animation and art, consuming animated movies, comics and films, inspiring me to create and study art. Having a deep interest for militaristic themes, I created amateur comics and films from a young age which would inspire me to eventually create more complex and artistic stories, leading me to my most recent project, Cursed Dogs.

What inspired you and your work?

Cursed Dogs was created as part of a student animation project and so I took this opportunity to bring a passion of mine, aviation and action, to life with animation.

The original idea of Cursed Dogs came from the many drawings and sketches of planes from my sketchbooks. From thereon I felt the need to really capture the motion and intensity of dogfights and the sheer intensity of planes, from there guns to the wing-shattering speed.

I was also inspired by many war stories of the past and the importance of preserving and representing these stories by any artistic means including art, animation and film so that as little history is lost, especially when old relics and records can be so fragile and difficult to find. Although my own family history is not depicted in this film, their stories revere as an unrelenting inspiration in my mind to tell stories of the past and which I hope to bring to life one day

In terms of creative influences, Hayao Miyazaki is a large factor from animation to subject matter. Another short film by the name of Paths of Hate was also a great inspiration in subject matter and choreography.