Hanoi, Vietnam – March 16, 2025 – In a landmark moment for Vietnamese cinema, four homegrown animation projects premiered in theaters this April, showcasing the country's burgeoning animation industry. "Blank Blank," "Wolfoo and the Three Kingdoms Race," "Trang Quynh Nhi: The Legend of Taurus," and "Cross-Eyed Zombie" represent a diverse range of styles and techniques, from 3D animation to 2D frame-by-frame and stop-motion production. These films will also represent Vietnam at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France in June 2025.
The emergence of these projects has drawn attention to the exceptional talent of young Vietnamese animators, whose work rivals that of international producers. "Hollywood is recognizing Vietnam as a hub for animation, given the strong sales of Hollywood and European animated films here," noted Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hai, content director of CJ CGV Vietnam. "It's a shame that while our market is acknowledged by Hollywood, we're missing opportunities at home."
This sentiment underscores both the potential and the challenges facing Vietnam's animation sector.
A Legacy of Innovation
Vietnamese animation has a rich history, dating back to 1959 with the creation of "The Fox Deserves It." Over the past 66 years, the industry has evolved, blending tradition with modern techniques. A pivotal moment came in 2018 with the release of "Wolfoo and the Mysterious Island," followed by the 450-episode 3D animated series "Trang Quynh in Her Foolish Days" in 2023.
The "Wolfoo" series, created by Sconnect Vietnam Technology and Service Investment Company Limited, has achieved global success with approximately 2,700 episodes broadcast on YouTube and translated into 17 languages. The series focuses on educational content, teaching children essential life skills through the adventures of the character Wolfoo.
Investing in Talent
To address the shortage of skilled animators, Sconnect established the Sconnect International Animation Training Academy (SAMA). The academy has trained over 3,000 professionals, with a 100% employment rate for its graduates.
"The participation of Vietnamese animated films in the Annecy festival marks the beginning of a cooperative program between the French Embassy in Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism," said Mr. Mickael Marin, a representative of the Annecy festival's organizing committee. "This is a significant opportunity for Vietnam to showcase its animation talent on the world stage."
The growing success of Vietnamese animation highlights the country's potential to become a major player in the global animation industry.
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