Jenny Jokela’s journey into animation began unexpectedly, through fashion branding studies outside London. What started as a self-taught exploration became a calling. In this candid and reflective conversation, she traces her path from collage-based experimentation to painterly, emotionally charged drawn animation developed during her MA at the Royal College of Art.

Her films explore mental health, trauma and female autonomy through richly textured painted imagery. Works such as Barbecue and Sweet Like Lemons transform deeply personal experiences into symbolic, often surreal narratives that resonate strongly with audiences, particularly women who see themselves reflected in her characters. Jokela speaks about the challenge of telling intimate stories without centering male perspectives, and about the delicate balance between symbolism and narrative clarity.

The conversation also explores artistic processes. From skipping scripts and animatics in her early self-produced films to embracing structured development on Dollhouse Elephant, Jokela reflects on how discipline has strengthened her storytelling. She discusses criticism, commercial work, creative autonomy and the importance of knowing exactly why each artistic decision is made. Through painting, she finds a tactile and emotional language that allows her to visualize what cannot easily be spoken.