Movie character De Men becomes UNICEF's companion

Representing justice and social equality, De Men becomes a companion to help UNICEF convey good messages to children through the newly released animated film.

Ms. Silvia Danailov (Chief Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam) and De Men from the film "De Men: Adventures to the Swamp" sent a message for Vietnamese children. (Photo: UNICEF)

The character De Men in the animated film "De Men: Adventures to the Swamp" (2025) has just become a companion of UNICEF in Vietnam, on the occasion of International Children's Day (June 1) this year.

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) is an agency that protects the rights and supports the development of children worldwide , currently present in 190 countries, including Vietnam.

Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam shared: "Together with De Men, our mission is to help every child in Viet Nam grow up healthy, confident and cared for. Please join us and be a part of this meaningful journey."

The image of De Men (right) and De Trui. (Photo from the movie)

As a companion, the image of De Men will appear in communication and communityeducation campaigns implemented by UNICEF, contributing to raising social awareness of children's rights, gender equality, mental health, climate change and a safe living environment for children.

The film's director, Ms. Nguyen Mai Phuong, said that the film retains the bravery, chivalry and spirit of justice of the character De Men in the original work, thereby naturally bringing this familiar character into modern life: "We want De Men to not only be a symbol of childhood but also a companion of today's young generation."

“De Men: The Adventure to the Swamp” is adapted from the literary story “The Adventures of a Cricket” by the late writer To Hoai, telling the story of De Men and his friends fighting to protect their lives and access to clean water, in a context where the environment is heavily polluted by human activities.

The film crew focused on building character depth through their dress and actions. However, the new film mainly focuses on building the villains to show the negative impact of environmental pollution. The protagonists (De Men, De Trui...) have little development or maturity, not clearly showing the characters' feelings and emotions, but simply representing courage and a sense of justice.

Movie poster.

The plus point of the film is that it has many musical and action elements, invested through dramatic fighting scenes, attractive and eye-catching movements, especially in 3D. Besides, familiar details such as the gong made from Cao Sao Vang lids, discarded bottle caps, Hanoi setting... also bring closeness to the audience.

Modern music by Masew brings many catchy melodies but still has the shadow of traditional opera, traditional instruments... exciting viewers of many generations.

Through “De Men: Adventure to the Swamp Village,” the film crew pays tribute to the late writer To Hoai and the late animation director, People’s Artist Ngo Manh Lan. Mr. Ngo Manh Lan is considered the father of the image of De Men in animated films, as he began drawing and creating the character in 1959./.

The film will be released on May 30 in theaters nationwide. /.

"The Adventures of a Cricket" is one of the most prominent works in Vietnamese children's literature, having been translated into 40 languages ​​such as English, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish...

The story tells the adventures of De Men, from a wild, competitive boy, gradually maturing through experiences, encounters and life lessons. Thanks to its profound educational value, praising courage, solidarity, friendship... the work still resonates today. Artists in many fields see much room in the work to adapt, compose and create.

In 2020, De Men became the symbol of the De Men Award (founded by the Sports and Culture Newspaper, under the Vietnam News Agency). The main awards are also named De Men (the "De Men Knight" Grand Award, the "De Men Aspiration" Award...) honoring outstanding and outstanding artistic compositions and performances by and about children.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhan-vat-de-men-trong-phim-dien-anh-tro-thanh-ban-dong-hanh-cua-unicef-post1041560.vnp