‘Lesbian Space Princess’: A New Adult Frontier for Aussie Animation
Directed by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, Berlin Panorama player “Lesbian Space Princess” is not only the first film of its kind to be made in South Australia but also a testament to the power of independent filmmaking.
A fast-paced sci-fi animated comedy, “LSP” features candy-colored aesthetics, upbeat musical numbers and grown-up comedy to tell the story of Princess Saira, an introverted space princess from the planet Clitopolis who embarks on an intergalactic mission to save her ex-girlfriend from the Straight White Maliens — voiced by the popular Australian comedy trio Auntie Donna.
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Of their ambitious undertaking, Hough Hobbs, also the film’s lead animator, explained, “There aren’t many Australian animated features, especially in South Australia. Our is the first to be made [in Adelaide], and it’s a significant milestone for us.” The film’s production was a labor of love, with real-life partners Hough and Varghese working closely together to bring their vision to life.
Varghese says it was long past time for a women-driven adult animated production in Australia. “We felt like we hadn’t seen a movie like ours being made. Adult animation comedy doesn’t get made in this space a lot. We were excited to bring something new to the Australian animated feature film space.”
Hough Hobbs and Varghese divided their directorial responsibilities to ensure a smooth workflow. Hough Hobbs, with her expertise in animation, led the animation team while Varghese focused on editing. “Emma was my portal because she understands animation. She was also the head animator of the film. I embraced the power she brought to the film and worked closely with her,” Varghese explained.
The animation team consisted of two full-time animators and two part-time background artists who worked for approximately 50 weeks. “We opted for a tiny amount of people for a long time, just so everyone could be really happy with the team,” explained Hough Hobbs.
To facilitate the creation of an ambitious sci-fi musical on an indie budget, the animation team had to be creative. Storyboards were done in Photoshop, and the animation was created using Toon Boom Harmony. Hough Hobbs and Varghese found power in the limitations of their budget, using clever editing and strategic screenplay writing to make the most of their resources. “We leaned into knowing the limitations of what we could do in terms of animation scale, and we actually found that really fun,” Varghese noted.
The film’s backgrounds were another area where the team showcased their creativity. Each background was modeled in Maya and shot with a digital camera before being drawn by the background artist in Photoshop. This process ensured that everything was always in perspective.
“Lesbian Space Princess” challenges the norms of adult animation by presenting a story that is both authentic and representative of often underrepresented communities. Hough Hobbs highlighted the importance of having diverse voices in the industry, “It’s so important to have more adult animations spearheaded by women and different types of voices. One person cannot have that much power over an entire genre,” she said.
The film’s title itself is a bold declaration designed to deter the wrong audience while attracting those who appreciate its message. Leela explained, “We weren’t trying to be something we’re not. By making the film true to our taste in comedy and our voice, we naturally landed somewhere authentic.”
“Lesbian Space Princess” is a testament to the power of independent filmmaking and the importance of representation in media. With its unique blend of humor, creativity and authenticity, it sets a new standard for South Australian animation and paves the way for future projects from the region.
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