From a classroom experiment to the global stage, Machli is swimming into international waters. The AI-powered animated short film created by students of Arena Animation Malleswaram has been officially selected for AI Film Frontiers (AIFF) at Siggraph Asia 2026, set to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 1 to 4 December.
Blending AI, animation, visual storytelling and human creativity, Machli puts emerging technology to work without taking the human touch out of the frame. The project gives students an opportunity to experiment with AI-driven creative workflows while developing an original story and visual language.
Arena Animation Malleswaram director B.S. Srinivas shared, “Machli is much more than a student film. It is an experiment in bringing AI into the creative pipeline while keeping storytelling, imagination and artistic judgement at the heart of the process. Its selection at Siggraph Asia is a very proud moment for our students and our institution.”
For the students behind the film, the journey has stretched well beyond the classroom. From the first idea through production and now an international showcase, Machli has offered hands-on exposure to the full creative process.
Machli co-producer Sukanya Srinivas added, “Machli has been a journey of curiosity, experimentation and learning. Our students have experienced the complete creative process from an idea to production and now an international platform. Seeing their work reach Siggraph Asia is truly special.”
At the heart of the project is an approach that treats AI as a creative tool rather than a shortcut. Students were encouraged to explore new-age production workflows while keeping storytelling and artistic decision-making firmly in the driving seat.
Machli writer and director Vikas C expressed, “We wanted students to explore AI as a creative tool, not simply consume it. Machli gave them the freedom to experiment with storytelling, visuals and new-age production workflows. Siggraph Asia is an exciting new chapter in that journey.”
From Malleswaram to Kuala Lumpur, Machli is taking its classroom-born creativity to an international audience. And if this is where the journey begins, the next frame could be even bigger.
