Bardi and Bunial woman, Chantelle Murray, has made history with The Lost Tiger, the first Australian animated feature film to be written and directed by an Indigenous female filmmaker.

The film follows Teo, a young tiger raised by a family of kangaroo wrestlers, as he embarks on a journey to uncover his heritage and save his homeland.

Murray said animation provided a unique way to tell this story, allowing her to bring out its magic in ways that live-action could not.

"Animation is just mind-blowing," she told Nova Stream Network.

"It's a really cool medium to tell the stories I want to tell and bring out the magic I want to bring out."

While The Lost Tiger is Murray's first animated feature, she has a background in live-action filmmaking.

Moving into animation was a new challenge, with Murray crediting her team for guiding her through the process.

"I knew lenses, I knew cameras, but I knew nothing about animation," she said.

"They told me, 'You bring the story, and we'll help you through the whole process'."

The film's action sequences also push the boundaries of what's commonly seen in animation.

Murray aimed to create dynamic, fast-paced set pieces, drawing inspiration from classic action films.

"We don't need a huge budget to hire cranes—we can just push it as far as we want," she said.

"I kept sending references to some of the greatest action movies possible.

"I tried so hard to stay away from 'The Matrix', but it's impossible!"

Beyond the action, Murray was committed to making the film feel authentic to Australia.

She drew inspiration from her upbringing in the Kimberley, ensuring the landscapes reflected the beauty and diversity of the country.

"I wanted it to truly reflect our heritage," she said.

"I grew up with red rocks, super white sand, and aqua-coloured ocean.

"It looks just like a painting. I wanted to make sure that contrast was there, because we're so blessed, but we're also so used to it."

The film's dreamscapes also reflect Indigenous ways of storytelling, drawing on themes of connection to ancestors and Country.

"I feel like when we need to speak to our ancestors, or get some advice or protection, we close our eyes and enter this magical place," Murray said.

"I wanted to bring that to the screen."

For Murray, The Lost Tiger is part of a broader movement of Indigenous storytelling.

She sees filmmaking as an opportunity to both preserve and expand cultural narratives.

"It's only been in the last decade that we've been able to tell our own stories, and now we're dominating the Australian film landscape," she said.

"And it's through our lens, not a non-Indigenous lens anymore."

Murray also hopes the film will inspire future generations of Indigenous creatives.

"I didn't have anything like this growing up," she said.

"For the next generation to see a whole film about themselves, written and directed by an Indigenous person, hopefully, they'll think, 'If she can do it, I can do it.'"

With The Lost Tiger, Murray has broken new ground in Australian cinema, marking a significant achievement not only for herself but for Indigenous filmmakers to come.

The Lost Tiger is showing in cinemas now.