Vietnamese 3D animation speaks out.

On May 30th, two films, "The Cricket: An Adventure to the Muddy Village" and "Little Trang Quynh: The Legend of the Golden Bull," will be released in theaters, marking a new chapter for Vietnamese 3D animation.

Báo Thanh niên•21/05/2025

Rich in Vietnamese spirit and identity.

"Little Trang Quynh: The Legend of the Golden Ox," directed by Trinh Lam Tung and produced by Alpha Animation Studio, is an animated film that draws on folklore and is developed from the "Little Trang Quynh" animated series, which has garnered millions of views on YouTube. The film's script combines and reimagines two famous folk tales: the legend of the golden ox at West Lake ( Hanoi ) and the legend of Kim Ngưu Temple (Bac Ninh), along with the legend of Lac Long Quan, Au Co, and the battles against monsters in Linh Nam Chich Quai .

Phim hoạt hình 3D Việt lên tiếng- Ảnh 1. — Scene from the film *Cricket: The Adventure to the Muddy Village*

Phim hoạt hình 3D Việt lên tiếng- Ảnh 2. — Scene from the film *Cricket: The Adventure to the Muddy Village*

According to director Trinh Lam Tung, the film's biggest highlight is the combination of folk legends and a modern spirit, creating a mystical story that is still youthful, humorous, and easily accessible to today's audience.

This 3D animated film was entirely made by Vietnamese people, from the script and art design to the special effects and music , mobilizing hundreds of people and taking 18 months to complete. Compared to the global standard, the production cost of 3D animated films in Vietnam is very low, possibly only 1/10 or even 1/20 of projects from Hollywood, South Korea, Japan, or China.

Meanwhile, "Cricket: An Adventure to the Swampy Village" (directed by Mai Phương, produced by Cineplus) is inspired by the classic children's literature of writer Tô Hoài. The film tells the story of Cricket and Grasshopper's adventure in the Swampy Village – formerly a lush green field but now a dangerous garbage dump. The team has adapted some details to make the film more relatable to modern audiences. The rural setting from the original story has been transformed into the streets of Hanoi, featuring famous landmarks such as Lenin Park, the Hanoi Flagpole, and Long Biên Bridge…

Phim hoạt hình 3D Việt lên tiếng- Ảnh 3. — Scene from the movie *"Little Trang Quynh: The Legend of the Golden Ox"*

Phim hoạt hình 3D Việt lên tiếng- Ảnh 4. — Scene from the movie *"Little Trang Quynh: The Legend of the Golden Ox"*

The film also features thrilling confrontations between Cricket and the Praying Mantis warrior, and the majestic appearance of the Frog King… Cricket: An Adventure to the Muddy Village is also a 3D animated film entirely made by Vietnamese people.

Approaching international technical standards

Director Mai Phuong said: "To prepare for the film project 'Cricket: The Adventure to the Muddy Village ,' we spent 10 years diligently learning and gaining experience. During the implementation process, the film crew had to overcome many technical and special effects obstacles."

Phim hoạt hình 3D Việt lên tiếng- Ảnh 5. — Director Trinh Lam Tung

"Nowadays, this is no longer a major obstacle; the content is what matters most. We strive to create a script that retains the spirit of the original *The Adventures of Cricket* but with a fresh, modern twist."

Director Trinh Lam Tung also acknowledged that for Vietnamese animation to truly attract audiences, serious investment in the script is essential – both in terms of content quality and entertainment value, emotion, and message, while creating characters with a distinct Vietnamese identity. The films also need cultural depth so that both children and adults can find common ground. Furthermore, he asserted: "We must upgrade the technology and visual aesthetics, because Vietnamese audiences are now accustomed to international animation standards. We cannot win them over with just a passion for the craft; we must deliver truly high-quality products."

Phim hoạt hình 3D Việt lên tiếng- Ảnh 6. — Director Mai Phuong

Technically speaking, the film producer of "Trạng Quỳnh nhí: Truyền thuyết Kim Ngưu" (The Legend of the Golden Ox) , Nông Mạnh Cừ, commented: "3D animation techniques in Vietnam have been making steady progress. While it's not yet possible to compare it to established animation industries like the US, Japan, or South Korea, many Vietnamese studios are gradually approaching international standards."

Paving the way for domestic animation.

"We are delighted to have two Vietnamese 3D animated films released in theaters this summer. Technically, compared to animated films from 5-10 years ago, these two films clearly represent a significant step forward."

Both films have stories and characters that are very familiar to Vietnamese audiences, but what's important is how they transform those familiar elements into engaging works with a modern style. I believe audiences, especially children and parents, will be very excited to watch them. Hopefully, these two films will be successful and pave the way for many other Vietnamese animation projects to be released in theaters."

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hai, Content Director of CGV Vietnam

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phim-hoat-hinh-3d-viet-len-tieng-185250521225226407.htm