Cartoon Trang Quynh nhi: Nursery rhymes, folk songs mixed with rap

Familiar nursery rhymes and Northern folk songs will be given a new lease of life when combined with witty rap music, creating an interesting touch between the past and the present.

The theme song of Trang Quynh nhi: Truyen Thuyet Kim Nguu is an emotional mash-up, connecting three familiar folk melodies: Ly cay da, Di cach and Dung dang dung de .

The rustic melodies that have lulled generations are now given a new look through modern arrangement techniques, becoming youthful and cheerful while still retaining the national soul.

The highlight of the song is the rap part written by director - Meritorious Artist Trinh Lam Tung, inspired by the nursery rhyme Dung dang dung de .

With improvised language, interwoven with Gen Z slang and folk materials, the rap becomes a bridge between tradition and modernity, both witty and resonant with childhood memories.

Funny and eye-catching images in the MV. Photo: DPCC

Explaining the choice of three folk melodies as the background music for the film, the director shared: Ly Cay Da has a narrative quality; Di Phat creates a cheerful working atmosphere; Dung Dang Dung De is rich in rhythm, associated with folk games.

Three elements combine to form the main character's journey of maturity - from a peaceful village to a world of exciting adventure.

Performing the rap part was Tuan Khanh – the child actor who voiced the main role, Quynh. Despite his young age, the boy performed with confidence and emotion, delivering a rap that far exceeded the crew’s expectations.

Meritorious Artist Trinh Lam Tung commented: “Tuan Khanh raps naturally and emotionally, creating a perfect ending for the film. The audience will walk out of the theater with the lyrics still on their lips.”

The familiar image of Vietnamese countryside is recreated. Photo: DPCC

In addition to Tuan Khanh, teenage singers Do Ngoc Linh and Do Nhat Anh (playing Muoi) also enthusiastically participated in singing folk songs. Even the performances of traditional instruments such as the two-stringed fiddle, zither, flute, etc. were performed by young musicians.

Initially shy, but when the director encouraged: "Let's sing like we are playing at a festival in the village yard", the children quickly integrated, bringing a pure, genuine atmosphere to the end of the song.

Director Trinh Lam Tung monitors the recording process. Photo: DPCC

Director Trinh Lam Tung emphasized that he did not just tell a fictional story, but wanted to recreate a familiar cultural space - where children can feel the soul of the countryside, bamboo bushes, communal house yards, wells... Music is a strong bridge connecting children with their national roots.

However, making folk music is not easy. The biggest challenge is to keep the traditional quality but not become outdated. Musician Dang Duy Chien said that the arrangement must be flexible according to the character's movements.

Recording director Pham Quang Quoc Trung shared that at first he was hesitant about combining international music techniques with folk art materials, but the young singers performed smoothly after just a few instruction sessions.

Baby Ho Trong Tuan Khanh - voice actor of the character Trang Quynh, also performs the Rap part in the song. Photo: DPCC

Trang Quynh nhi: The Legend of Kim Nguu is the first commercial animated film in Vietnam to deeply exploit folklore. The film was developed from the YouTube series Trang Quynh in his childhood , which won the award for "Most Favorite Vietnamese Film" at the 2024 Da Nang Asian Film Festival.

The film will have early screenings on June 14 and 15, before being released nationwide on June 20. The film is rated P, suitable for all audiences.

HAI DUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/phim-hoat-hinh-trang-quynh-nhi-dong-dao-dan-ca-hoa-nhip-voi-rap-post798297.html