Programmer Spotlight: Marisa (Ginger) Tontaveetong (Animated Shorts)

September 22, 2026

By Marisa (Ginger) Tontaveetong · Animated Shorts Programmer

As Marshall McLuhan stated in his book, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, “The medium is the message.” Animation has always been my preferred medium with its unique ability to shape the message through breathing life into imagination. From the comfort of creating in the corner of my room, I can transform stories from daydreams into vivid visual experiences that others can see and connect with. As an animation director and producer, I am grateful for the opportunity to share my insight into this year’s blocks “Space and Solace” and “Whimsy and Wonder”.

“Space and Solace” highlights stories in which technology, environment, and the idea of self concept and identity are intertwined. LIKE FRIEND, LIKE DEER explores the deep connection and hidden similarities between humans, animals, and the environment we share with its beautifully handpainted frame by frame on 3D elements. THE SYNTHETIC AGE takes a dark humor dystopian view, portraying colorful cartoons escaping from humans in a black-and-white world that consumes them while the narrative questions the purpose of existence for those who are different and deemed expendable by society.

“Whimsy and Wonder” continues to explore this theme but with a lighter, more hopeful lens. BOWKNOT is a funny animation where a boy learns to tie a bowknot and transform this problem solving skill into other parts of his life. In THIEFISH, a thief and a fisherman that steals a fish spirit used to give light to the city. Together, the films in this block revisit the ordinary through an extraordinary perspective while exploring the introspection that comes with discovering our purpose, self growth, and personal transformation.

These two blocks are two sides of the same love letter to humanity and finding our place within it. While everything around us moves ahead in ways we can’t control, sometimes we need to look inwards to steady ourselves, reconnect with our foundations, and find the beat of our own drums. My hope is that audiences who join us will not only experience fantastic animation, but also leave with questions that serve as a catalyst for deeper reflection, pushing them beyond the limits of our awareness and understanding.