Agatha's Secret from Gaynor Perry on Vimeo.
Agatha’s Secret is a hand-painted animated short underscored by an original song, exploring the emotional terrain of a woman grappling with her inner being. Through poetic and elliptical expression, the film evokes fragmented memories, emotional entrapment, and a longing for release. A recurring image of the swift, darting through the breeze, emerges as a symbol of hope and transcendence.
Set in a surreal, dreamlike world, the animation combines traditional gouache paintings on watercolour paper with digital layering and editing, resulting in a tactile visual experience. Through symbolic imagery and lyrical abstraction, Agatha’s Secret reflects on identity, the lingering imprint of past experiences, and the quiet strength required to reclaim one’s self.
Animation & Music
written, performed, produced & mixed by Gaynor Perry
The beginning of the song, including its first few lines, came to me in a dream. Upon waking, I vividly recalled the atmosphere and translated my perceptions into music as the foundation for this piece. I also dreamed of a magical silver dress.
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| The Harridan |
Agatha’s Secret emerged from a desire to explore the emotional complexity of inner conflict and self-liberation. The film reflects a deeply personal journey — one shaped by memory, vulnerability, and the quiet strength required to confront the aspects of ourselves that hold us back.
I was drawn to the surreal as a visual language for expressing psychological landscapes. The hand-painted gouache frames on watercolour paper allowed me to work intuitively, embracing imperfection and texture as part of the emotional narrative. The original song underscores the film’s mood, weaving together fragmented impressions of childhood, loss, and transformation.
At its heart, Agatha’s Secret is about reclaiming agency — about facing the storm within and choosing to fly. It’s a meditation on identity, emotional imprint, and the possibility of transcendence through art.
