A new Wave of Animated Films

Vietnam’s animation industry is experiencing a surge of creativity, blending traditional cultural elements with modern filmmaking techniques. Several new projects are poised to captivate audiences, offering a diverse range of stories and visual styles.

Spotlight on Key Animated Releases

• “Trang Quynh Nhi: The Legend of Kim Nguu”: This film, slated for a May 30 release, draws inspiration from the popular cartoon series “Trang Quynh in his childhood,” wich garnered over 1.6 billion views on YouTube. Director Trinh Lam Tung hopes the film will resonate with both children and adults, offering adventure and fantasy alongside nostalgic values. The film depicts young Trang quynh and his friends competing in the old village of Khoai.
• “De Men: Adventure to the Swamp”: Also released on May 30, this film, directed by Mai Phuong, is based on the classic literary work “De Men Adventures” by writer To Hoai. The story follows De Men Dragonfly as he ventures into a strange city ruled by King Ech Com, uncovering dark conspiracies beneath a seemingly pleasant facade.
• “Wolfoo and Tam Gioi Race”: Directed by Phan Thi Tho, this 2D action-adventure comedy is scheduled for release in June 2025. The film centers on Wolfoo,a 9-year-old kart racing enthusiast,and his relationship with his father,Wulfen.They are unexpectedly chosen for the Three Realms Race, where they must compete against formidable opponents to save their home planet. This film is a sequel to “wolfoo and the Mysterious Island,” released in late 2023.

Blending Tradition with Modernity

These animated film projects distinguish themselves by integrating indigenous cultural materials with contemporary film technology. For instance, in “Wolfoo and the Three Realms Race,” while the characters and world are modern, the underlying message of father-child love and understanding reflects humanistic values cherished by the Vietnamese peopel.

Similarly, “Trang Quynh Nhi: Die Legene Von Kim Nguu” evokes a sense of familiarity with its opening line, “It was once,” reminiscent of childhood fairy tales. The film showcases the northern landscape with banyan trees, water investors, lotus ponds, and community gardens. The narrative revolves around Quynh and a buffalo with special abilities, symbolizing the connection between humans and nature, inspired by folk legends.

Director Trinh Lam Tung acknowledges the challenges of working with folk culture but remains committed to conveying messages of gratitude, faith in goodness, family values, and friendship.He emphasizes the importance of preserving these values, stating:

When people forget their roots, holy values ​​are slightly lost. But provided that we believe and gratitude,the good will always win.
Trinh Lam Tung, Director

In “The men: adventure in the swamp,” audiences will encounter familiar characters such as De Men, De Trui, Tong Toad, and King Ech, bringing To Hoai’s beloved literary figures to life on the big screen for the first time.

Director Mai Phuong explains the approach to adapting the classic story:

The original story of to Hoai was published 70 years ago. Thus, in the production of the film, we tried to create characters and locations that fit today.
Mai Phuong, Director

Producer Vu Duy Nam hopes that fans of “Adventures of Cricket” will appreciate the familiar characters presented in a new form. The film incorporates modern technology and introduces new characters, such as Whiskers and baby Ladybug, alongside humorous elements like the “knife-and-fork throne,” inspired by the Iron Throne from “Game of Thrones.”

Vietnam’s Animation Industry on the rise

Ta Manh Hoang, CEO of Sconnect Vietnam, expresses confidence in the market potential, stating:

We are not worried about the quality, because Vietnamese staff has long been involved in many international animation blockbusters.
Ta Manh Hoang, CEO of Sconnect Vietnam

He believes these projects demonstrate vietnam’s capability to produce high-quality animated feature films that can compete internationally.

Nguyen Trinh Hoan, representing HKFilm, shares this optimism, noting the popularity of animated films among young audiences. He emphasizes the importance of building trust in domestic productions, stating:

Many young spectators go to the cinema to see animated films. However, most of them only look at foreign films, perhaps because they do not believe that we can produce animated films for cinemas. I think this is an meaningful first step, not only for the production of the trust.
Nguyen Trinh Hoan, HKFilm

Director Trinh Lam Tung concludes with a vision for the future:

I believe that this new edition of Trang Quynh Nhi: The legend of Kim Nguu not only creates a connection for today’s children to the old cultural heritage, but is also an opportunity for filmmakers to tell these stories in the spirit of the time by using a new film language and film production technology and, above all, expressing gratitude towards the audience and national pride.
Trinh Lam tung, Director