Traces Retraced is more than a film. It's the first independent sci-fi animation feature from Daca Daguao Digital Design. And it's in production now.

This project has been growing quietly for months. But today I want to share where it comes from, what it's about, and why it matters to the studio, the academy, and to me personally.

A Sci-Fi Animation Film story rooted in real pressures

Traces Retraced explores themes that I've seen up close for years: the pressures of conformity, the weight of social status, and the erosion of quality of life. These aren't abstract concepts. They're what I witnessed in public schools, in the struggles of displaced artists, and in my own journey through losses and restarts.

The film uses the lens of science fiction to ask simple, uncomfortable questions: What do we lose when we follow the rules? What traces of ourselves remain after we retrace our steps? And is it possible to recover what we've given up?

I won't give away the plot. But I can say that the main character is an artist. And that's no accident.

Connection with the studio and the academy

This film is produced by Daca Daguao Digital Design (dacadaguao4d.com) – the same studio that is gradually expanding into the Philippines and collaborating with local animation houses. The studio exists to tell stories like this one.

And the academy (dacadaguao4d.academy), which opens on June 1, 2026, exists to train the artists who will work on future films. My goal is simple: someday, the best students from the academy will find work right here, on projects like Traces Retraced and the ones that follow.

So this film is not an isolated piece of art. It's the first fruit of a whole ecosystem: studio → film → academy → more films.

Production status: where we are right now

Traces Retraced is in active production. I'm working on storyboards, character design, and early animation tests. This is an independent production, which means every step takes time and care. But I'm not rushing it.

I'm building relationships with Filipino animation studios for potential collaboration on specific scenes or techniques. Nothing signed yet, but conversations are open. If you're a studio or an artist who wants to be part of something meaningful, let's talk.

A human touch: writing this from the Philippines

I'm writing this from the Philippines, where the pace allows me to think clearly. No beach and coffee this time – that image is already used. But here I can breathe. And that matters for a project like this.

Tan-Vargas is by my side, as always. She will be the queen who inherits my fruit. And who knows… maybe one day there will be little ones inheriting it alongside her. That's not part of the film. That's just life.

The point is: after years of instability, I can finally work on a film with calm. Not hurry. Not panic. Just steady progress.

What comes next

In the coming months, I will share more concrete updates: character reveals, scene tests, maybe a short teaser. I'll also announce any collaborations with Filipino studios once agreements are in place.

But the most important thing is that Traces Retraced exists. It's moving forward. And it will be completed.

How you can support or get involved

If you're an animator, concept artist, or 3D modeler interested in collaborating, reach out. If you're a studio in the Philippines (or anywhere else) that wants to co-produce or assist, let's have a conversation. If you're just a fan of independent sci-fi animation, follow the journey.

👉 Follow Traces Retraced: traces-retraced.film
🏢 Learn about the studio behind it → dacadaguao4d.com
🎓 See the academy that will train future film artists → dacadaguao4d.academy (opens Jun 1, 2026)