“Mechozaurs. The Voice from Afar”

How did the concept for this project originate?

The concept originated from a fascination with the untapped narrative potential of dinosaurs and the idea of blending fantasy and sci-fi in a way that hasn’t been widely explored in adult animation. We wanted to create a story that wasn’t just about dinosaurs but a compelling action-drama with maturethemes that resonate with an adult audience.

The initial worldbuilding was heavily influenced by our team’s diverse backgrounds in RPGs, live-action writing, comics, game development, and lore-building. We wanted to see if we could tell a story where the traditional human element was absent, yet the emotional and ethical dilemmas were deeply relatable.

The mix of humanoid dinosaurs and advanced technology provided the perfect setting for exploring these themes, creating a world that feels both familiar and entirely new.

Can you tell us more about Zina, the protagonist, and her role in the world of Mechozaurs?

Zina starts as a young humanoid dinosaur driven by a desire for revenge, but her journey is one of transformation. As she navigates a world rife with violence and betrayal, Zina learns that power and violence aren’t the solutions she once thought they were. She faces immense challenges, including having to confront Nakatu, the god-like ruler of her world, who is distracted by an impending apocalypse. Zina’s path to understanding and redemption is complicated by characters like Hiranu, who embodies the tough mentor archetype akin to Joel from The Last of Us or Léon the Professional.

Hiranu’s involvement forces Zina to make crucial decisions that shape her destiny and the fate of the world. Zina’s evolution from a vengeful warrior to someone who understands the true cost of violence is central to the narrative, making her journey not just a personal one, but also a commentary on the broader themes of power, legacy, and redemption.

What is the origin story of the world narrated in the series, and how did you approach the challenge of visually interpreting such a complex universe?

The world of Mechozaurs is set in Zauradia, a land shaped by a cataclysmic event—the crash of an alien space ark millions of years ago, which led to the creation of humanoid dinosaurs through a mix of alien and dinosaur DNA. This blend of primal creatures and futuristic tech sets the stage for a unique fantasy-sci-fi environment.

We approached the visual interpretation with the understanding that dinosaurs themselves straddle the line between fantasy and science. They are creatures we believe in and visualize from a young age, yet their true nature remains partly unknown, lending them a sense of mystery and intrigue. In our series, technology is viewed almost as magic by the dinosaurs, a sacred and misunderstood force.

To balance this with scientific plausibility, we collaborated closely with experts during the worldbuilding phase to ensure that while the technology appears magical, it has a grounding in believable science. Our visual team embraced the challenge by creating environments and characters that feel both ancient and advanced, adding layers of complexity to the narrative and the world.

Read the full article online on The European Animation Journal.