Film Documentation
Forged in Fate follows Ophelia and Mu'Zhong, two Fated individuals, through a bittersweet fantasy-comedy story as they grow close as friends and exchange specialty services- a loyal weapon for a lost son.This film stemmed from a larger-scale, on-going project that touches on topics of systemic oppression, power imbalances, intersectional identity, and religious-like indoctrination told through a
fantasy-scifi genre and imagined as a 2D animated series. As heavy as those themes are, I really wanted my senior thesis to focus on a pocket of lightheartedness, and so we have come to the realization of Forged in Fate, taking visual inspiration of both Central Europian and Chinese architecture and textiles.
Releasing after a round of festivals. Check back in soon!
SCREENINGS
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Film Festival, 2026
CREDITS
Director: Valerie Guerrero
Executive Producers: Kristin Solid, Michelle Brost, Katie J. Nelson
Producers: Caleb RichardsonVoice Talents:
Owen DeMaio as Mu'Zhong
VynVox as OpheliaScore by:
Kurtz Martin
Alex MakeMusic
Evan Simpson
Danijel ZamboPost Sound Editor:
Caitlyn SeidelSound Mixers:
Aaron Dawley
Valerie Guerrero
Additional SFX: Youtube Royalty Free Sonds, MCAD Animation Sound Library, Pixabay Community
3D Prop Modeler: Martin Fleisch
3D Environment Modeler & Background Lead: Sahba SetarehBG Artists:
Paola Guerrero Abrego
Adam C.
Valerie Guerrero
Oliver Hesser
Faith Miller
Cindy To
Kala Robinson
Rockheadtitan
Ariana Rojas
Caitlyn Seidel
Yoyo Sen
Add. Asset Design: Kestrel Khan, Freepik.comSpecial Thanks to
Mis Padres, Veronica y Sergio
Mi Gente Latina
My roomies
My fellow senior and MCAD students
The MCAD Animation Faculty
Charis Clark
And my dog, Kosmo <3Made at Minneapolis College of Art and Design ©2026
Animators:
Jay "Jaydrawsart" Cuanang
Valerie Guerrero
Eleanor 'Juno' Jennings Fister
Reese Janacek
Symone "Cinna" Johnson
Kiera Joseph
Hannah Ch. Lee
Kiarra Moore
Linda Polito
Mike G. Reyes
Robin Sherbondy
Arija L Williams
Kenya ZunigaInkers:
Catherine Bride
Reese Janacek
Anabel Jones
Hannah Lee
Kiarra Moore
Alexia Perez
Kaci Prater
Mike G. Reyes
Madeline Vrkljan
Arija L WilliamsColorists:
Symone "Cinna" Johnson
Anabel Jones
Deinonychus Justizia
Hannah Lee
Gabbie Martinson
Kaci Prater
Caitlyn Seidel
Madeline Vrkljan
Celeste WilburnCompositers:
Catherine Bride
Valerie Guerrero
Anabel Jones
Sreya Sengupta
Mikayla Waskul