Hi! My name is Merlijn.

I specialize in writing and directing animation for mature audiences. The genres I feel most at home with are dark fantasy and magical realism, but I’m adaptable and can write in different styles if the story calls for it. My educational background is in screenwriting, and I did my bachelor at the Netherlands Film Academy. Right now I am working on my directorial debut Behind My Skin, a short 2D animated film that was developed in the artist in residence program Open Workshop / Filmværksted in Viborg, Denmark. We are currently applying for production funding.

The films that I write are often very intimate and personal. I write from my own experiences and like to work with visual metaphors to give a face to emotions that would otherwise remain invisible. As a collaborator, I intend to explore the emotional connection that binds creators to their work. I want to understand where their ideas are coming from, so that I can translate them into stories that feel authentic and that resonate.

I’m a multi-disciplinary artist, and make music in addition to films. Feel free to reach out to me if you want to collaborate, or if you just want to chat over some coffee ☆