My name is Ash. I am an animator and cartoonist from Ngunnawal, residing in Magan-djin (Australia).I make comics traditionally with pencils, graphite, ink, trace paper and wet media acetate. I also use hand-made animation methods for little films, such as sand animation, shadow puppetry, flip-books, and scratching/painting on 35mm film stock.I tell cartoon stories that explore the line between dreams and reality, liminal human experiences, childhood, and the nature of psycho-sexuality and violence. Currently, I am serialising a comic called Nina, and developing a graphic novel called Neon.My work experience spans arts facilitation in disability and community arts spaces, working in art galleries, and teacher aide roles. I am open to work, exhibitions, commissions, and collaborations.
(㇏(•̀ᵥᵥ•́)ノ)
ashleigh.djokic@gmail.com
All animation is hand-drawn, either traditionally on paper or digitally with RoughAnimator or ToonBoom. Please note most of this is personal work and animation practice. There are also some shots from volunteer roles on short film projects or animation tests (as specified in the video).
Earthsea - animatic and board thumbnails
Ashey - animatic and board thumbnails (Bluey parody)
The Fish - animatic and board thumbnails (2020 Grad film)
My animation showreel demonstrates hand-made methods, including scratch-film (35mm), shadow puppets, traditional animation, and sand animation. My methodology is influenced by Norman McLaren, Caroline Leaf, and Michele Cournoyour - whose practices embrace improvisation and expression with tactile materials.
Nina volume 03 was released at Papercuts Comics Festival in Adelaide, September 2025!In this jam-packed third volume, Nina wakes in Ebb's rainy city to endure a temper tantrum in response to police brutality. Meanwhile, Ebb is on her way to becoming a protein snack for looming vultures in a mysterious desert...This volume leaves us wondering...what's next in store for Ebb, who is left at the whims of young Neena, who we are not sure has her best interests at heart.This book was drawn by hand between April - July 2025, with pencil and graphite on fabriano sketch paper, with layers of ink on trace paper and wet media acetate sheets. Black and white, 44 pages.
Alter Ego - Anthology Comic for Sticky beak Comics Magazine was launched at a pop-up art exhibition in Canberra, March 2025.In this short story, a pervert calls upon a lost spirit to engage in fruity activity...
This comic was originally intended to be connected to the Nina canon, however it is currently more of an experiment into similar themes of doppelgängers, alternate dimensions, and confronting your shadow.This comic was created during a Graphic Narratives Toolkits workshop with Voiceworks magazine, facilitated by Bailey Sharp in late 2024. The comic will soon be printed in an official Voiceworks anthology with Glom Press very soon...This book was drawn by hand in late 2024, with pencil on fabriano sketch paper and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 9 pages.
Nina volume 02 was printed and published to be released at the Perth Comic Art Festival in July 2024!In this second installment of Nina, we find Ebb stuck with a mysterious child in a flooding city who does not speak a word. We think this child is cute, but the minute Ebb lets her guard down to answer Mormons at the door, little Nina is up to no good!This book was drawn by hand between February - May 2024, with pencils on fabriano sketch paper and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 44 pages.
Anin was printed and published to be released at the Perth Comic Art Festival in July 2024!In this side volume of Nina, we explore the difficulties little Nina faces as an inner child, inside of somebody who refuses to grow up.This book was drawn by hand between November 2023 - January 2024, with pencils on bristol board and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 24 pages.
Nina volume 01 was printed and published in September 2023 (first released and sold at Queerslice in Brisbane).Nina is a liminal and surreal comic series about an inner child gone wild. The story explores the consequences of unresolved childhood trauma, doppelgängers in alternate dimensions, and what it means to confront the worst of your shadow. Nina also touches on climate breakdown, and how the way we treat ourselves and each-other can mirror our relationship to the natural world.In our first episode of Nina, an inner child escapes their older self's neurotic groundhog day, to prey on the depressed sausage factory animator version of themself in an alternate dimension.This book was drawn by hand between February - June 2023, with pencils on scrap paper and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 80 pages.
Below is a full list of my self-published comics, from 2023 - 2025. Comics are available here and at Cockatoo Comics.
Nina volume 03 was released at Papercuts Comics Festival in Adelaide, September 2025!In this jam-packed third volume, Nina wakes in Ebb's rainy city to endure a temper tantrum in response to police brutality. Meanwhile, Ebb is on her way to becoming a protein snack for looming vultures in a mysterious desert...This volume leaves us wondering...what's next in store for Ebb, who is left at the whims of young Neena, who we are not sure has her best interests at heart.This book was drawn by hand between April - July 2025, with pencil and graphite on fabriano sketch paper, with layers of ink on trace paper and wet media acetate sheets. Black and white, 44 pages.
Alter Ego - Anthology Comic for Sticky beak Comics Magazine was launched at a pop-up art exhibition in Canberra, March 2025.In this short story, a pervert calls upon a lost spirit to engage in fruity activity...
This comic was originally intended to be connected to the Nina canon, however it is currently more of an experiment into similar themes of doppelgängers, alternate dimensions, and confronting your shadow.This comic was created during a Graphic Narratives Toolkits workshop with Voiceworks magazine, facilitated by Bailey Sharp in late 2024. The comic will soon be printed in an official Voiceworks anthology with Glom Press very soon...This book was drawn by hand in late 2024, with pencil on fabriano sketch paper and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 9 pages.
Nina volume 02 was printed and published to be released at the Perth Comic Art Festival in July 2024!In this second installment of Nina, we find Ebb stuck with a mysterious child in a flooding city who does not speak a word. We think this child is cute, but the minute Ebb lets her guard down to answer Mormons at the door, little Nina is up to no good!This book was drawn by hand between February - May 2024, with pencils on fabriano sketch paper and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 44 pages.
Anin was printed and published to be released at the Perth Comic Art Festival in July 2024!In this side volume of Nina, we explore the difficulties little Nina faces as an inner child, inside of somebody who refuses to grow up.This book was drawn by hand between November 2023 - January 2024, with pencils on bristol board and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 24 pages.
Nina volume 01 was printed and published in September 2023 (first released and sold at Queerslice in Brisbane).Nina is a liminal and surreal comic series about an inner child gone wild. The story explores the consequences of unresolved childhood trauma, doppelgängers in alternate dimensions, and what it means to confront the worst of your shadow. Nina also touches on climate breakdown, and how the way we treat ourselves and each-other can mirror our relationship to the natural world.In our first episode of Nina, an inner child escapes their older self's neurotic groundhog day, to prey on the depressed sausage factory animator version of themself in an alternate dimension.This book was drawn by hand between February - June 2023, with pencils on scrap paper and layers of ink on trace paper. Black and white, 80 pages.
Animated Flow was my 2021 honours thesis, wherein I explored to what extent improvisation is possible within the animation process. See video for a showcase of my experiments.Send an email if you'd like a copy of my thesis (ashleigh.djokic@gmail.com).
The Fish was my 2020 graduation film as part of my animation studies at Griffith University. My roles included: Director, Story-artist, and 2D character animator.Synopsis:
For a child, it’s a beautiful noise-maker. For a mother, it’s a reminder that the sea she grew up with is now a memory.
Vulcana’s Circus Connections was a project that connected Junction Park State School Students with the Residence of Annerley TriCare Aged Care.I was brought in to create an animation to commemorate the project. I collected life-drawings each week to keep track of special moments, which I weaved into the animation.Vulcana partnered with Junction Park State School, Annerley TriCare Aged Care Residence, Annerley-Stephens History Group and Annerley RSL to deliver Circus Connections. Funded by We Are Queensland through the Queensland Government.
