Reflective Encounters

“Linocut tapestries, a special dragon language and exuberant colour create a fantastical world in The Dragon Head Tree, but beneath the beauty lies a dark heart. The last dragon tells us the story of her demise at the hands of a village she thought loved her. This is a captivating 8 minutes of animation - patterns and textures gliding together hypnotically to create a surreal world that draws you into its warmth before unveiling its hidden pain.

This connection between the film’s dreamlike visuals and earthy solemnity is solidified by its moral core - it is a smart indictment of a world that claims to love species while gladly commodifying them for taste and pleasure. Despite its morals, The Dragon Head Tree doesn’t feel preachy or humourless. Rather, it has the feeling of that picture book you had as a child that simultaneously thrilled and frightened you. The film’s beguiling vibe and tangible animation stick in the mind, interrogating the viewer while also lulling us into a strange sense of calm.

Created with much creative style, detail and texture, this is a film to return to and explore the subtleties of each frame.”

— Malaika Kegode