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<\/p>\nThe 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\u2014home to the main characters\u2014and the Kim Ng\u01b0u Temple were modeled based on traditional Northern Vietnamese architecture. Director Tr\u1ecbnh L\u00e2m T\u00f9ng chose to illustrate folk art motifs, ensuring both stylized animation aesthetics and a vivid, familiar atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Colorist T\u00f4 Quang \u0110\u1ecbnh shared that one of the film\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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In the film, Qu\u1ef3nh wields the mystical Buffalo Eye Pearl, embarking on an epic adventure with his friend C\u00f2i Nh\u00ed and the divine Kim Ng\u01b0u.\nPhoto courtesy of the film crew.<\/p>\n
Director Tr\u1ecbnh L\u00e2m T\u00f9ng: Creating a 100-Minute Animated Feature Felt Like an \u2018Impossible Mission\u2019. According to director Tr\u1ecbnh L\u00e2m T\u00f9ng, few studios in Vietnam have ventured into producing an animated film nearly 100 minutes long\u2014the average runtime of a feature-length film. As a result, he faced considerable difficulty seeking advice or support from industry peers. \u201cIt felt like we were embarking on an impossible mission,\u201d he shared. \u201cWe were determined to learn by doing and gain experience along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The story opens with a crisis: Qu\u1ef3nh\u2019s father is falsely accused of stealing a sacred gem to rebel against the royal court. To clear his father's name, Qu\u1ef3nh and his friends\u2014C\u00f2i Nh\u00ed, B\u00ed M\u1eadp, and Mu\u1ed1i\u2014set out on a journey while being relentlessly pursued by the king\u2019s guards. During their escape, Qu\u1ef3nh stumbles upon a sinister conspiracy involving the Nine-Tailed Fox of legend.<\/p>\n
Tr\u1ecbnh L\u00e2m T\u00f9ng, 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 \u0110\u1ea1i H\u00e0nh won Best Animation and Best Sound Design. The animated series \u201cLittle Scholar Qu\u1ef3nh\u201d, a playful reinterpretation of the iconic folklore character, was voted Audience Favorite Vietnamese Film at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival 2024.<\/p>\n
Tr\u1ea1ng Qu\u1ef3nh is a beloved figure in Vietnamese folklore, renowned for his sharp wit, irreverent humor, and mischievous intelligence. Folk tales about him\u2014such as Drawing Elephants for Fun, The Stone Sprout Dish, and When the Scholar Died, Even the Lord Passed Away\u2014have been passed down for generations, embodying a uniquely satirical view of traditional society.<\/p>\n