The director revealed that creating the 3D designs for characters and settings was one of the production team's most heartfelt efforts. The setting of Khoai Village—home to the main characters—and the Kim Ngưu Temple were modeled based on traditional Northern Vietnamese architecture. Director Trịnh Lâm Tùng chose to illustrate folk art motifs, ensuring both stylized animation aesthetics and a vivid, familiar atmosphere.
Colorist Tô Quang Định shared that one of the film’s most challenging scenes was the battle with Giao Long (a mythical creature) in a bay shrouded in thick mist. The team set the goal of making these wide shots suspenseful and cinematic when projected on the big screen.
Characters, environments, lighting, and effects were all digitally created. To ensure characters moved naturally and displayed lifelike expressions, the team meticulously refined each frame. The animation process was the most labor-intensive, requiring animators to deeply understand the storyline, camera angles, and how to express characters’ emotions and personalities smoothly. While the production team did not disclose the full budget, they noted that VFX (visual effects) accounted for approximately 35% of the total cost.
In the film, Quỳnh wields the mystical Buffalo Eye Pearl, embarking on an epic adventure with his friend Còi Nhí and the divine Kim Ngưu. Photo courtesy of the film crew.
Director Trịnh Lâm Tùng: Creating a 100-Minute Animated Feature Felt Like an ‘Impossible Mission’. According to director Trịnh Lâm Tùng, few studios in Vietnam have ventured into producing an animated film nearly 100 minutes long—the average runtime of a feature-length film. As a result, he faced considerable difficulty seeking advice or support from industry peers. “It felt like we were embarking on an impossible mission,” he shared. “We were determined to learn by doing and gain experience along the way.”
The story opens with a crisis: Quỳnh’s father is falsely accused of stealing a sacred gem to rebel against the royal court. To clear his father's name, Quỳnh and his friends—Còi Nhí, Bí Mập, and Muối—set out on a journey while being relentlessly pursued by the king’s guards. During their escape, Quỳnh stumbles upon a sinister conspiracy involving the Nine-Tailed Fox of legend.
Trịnh Lâm Tùng, a Meritorious Artist and seasoned animation director, has dedicated the past 20 years to animated filmmaking. His accolades include: Golden Kite Award 2012 for The Bigger the Smaller, Special Jury Prize at the Vietnam Film Festival 2013, Silver Kite Award 2016 for Once a Deserter, Best Director and Silver Lotus Award at the 2017 Vietnam Film Festival, And in 2023, his historical work Emperor Đại Hành won Best Animation and Best Sound Design. The animated series “Little Scholar Quỳnh”, a playful reinterpretation of the iconic folklore character, was voted Audience Favorite Vietnamese Film at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival 2024.
Trạng Quỳnh is a beloved figure in Vietnamese folklore, renowned for his sharp wit, irreverent humor, and mischievous intelligence. Folk tales about him—such as Drawing Elephants for Fun, The Stone Sprout Dish, and When the Scholar Died, Even the Lord Passed Away—have been passed down for generations, embodying a uniquely satirical view of traditional society.
Source: Hậu trường kỹ xảo 3D của ‘Trạng Quỳnh nhí’ – Báo VnExpress Giải trí