Twelve studios and creative units represented at the MIFA market showcased the breadth and vibrancy of Việt Nam’s animation sector. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

HÀ NỘI — A northern Vietnamese village, a mythical golden buffalo and a young scholar are helping bring Việt Nam's animation industry to the global stage, as Little Scholar Quỳnh: The Legend of the Golden Buffalo makes its international debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.

The film is among a growing number of Vietnamese productions using local folklore and cultural heritage to reach international audiences.

Set in a richly detailed northern Vietnamese village, the film offers a nostalgic and visually immersive setting, complete with banyan trees, lotus ponds, village gates and communal courtyards. These backdrops aren’t just pretty - they carry emotional and cultural resonance.

Alongside young Quỳnh is a mystical buffalo, inspired by the legendary deity Kim Ngưu (Golden Buffalo). Their bond not only drives the plot, but also reflects the deep relationship between rural Vietnamese families and their loyal buffalo companions, animals that have long served as beasts of burden as well as symbols of tradition, labour and love.

Blending local cultural heritage with modern storytelling, the animation offers international audiences a vivid introduction to Vietnamese folklore and village traditions.

The animation was selected for the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA) largely due to its contemporary approach to presenting Vietnamese cultural heritage, offering a fresh perspective on traditional themes for global audiences.

According to producer Nông Mạnh Cừ, the selection of The Legend of the Golden Buffalo for presentation at Annecy marks a milestone for the filmmaking team and a positive sign for Việt Nam's animation industry.

Director Trịnh Lâm Tùng (left) and producer Nông Mạnh Cừ (right) attend Annecy 2026. Photo thethaovanhoa.vn.

Creative identity

"Annecy is not only a prestigious film festival, but also a gathering place for distributors, investors, rights buyers and other key players in the global animation industry," Cừ said.

"Each time a Vietnamese production appears at an international event like Annecy, it is more than an opportunity for a single work. It also helps confirm that Việt Nam is not merely a destination for animation outsourcing, but a country capable of creating its own stories, characters and cultural values."

Film director Trịnh Lâm Tùng said the foremost objective was to ensure that audiences would instantly recognise the production as Vietnamese.

"It marks progress towards a longstanding ambition of the Vietnamese animation industry: securing commercial releases abroad and earning recognition at major international awards," Tùng said.

A poster for 'Little Scholar Quỳnh: The Legend of the Golden Buffalo' is displayed at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

The Legend of the Golden Buffalo reflects a broader movement within Vietnamese animation. More filmmakers are turning to the nation’s folklore, historical narratives and literary heritage, seeking to create works that are both culturally rooted and internationally appealing. As global competition intensifies, many see this approach as key to establishing a unique Vietnamese voice in animation.

According to Paul Abela, audiovisual attaché for Southeast Asia at the French Embassy in Việt Nam, the country's animation industry holds significant potential thanks to its rich cultural heritage, which encompasses a wealth of mythology, legends, folk tales and diverse cultural traditions.

"These elements provide the foundation for Việt Nam to develop stories of its own – stories that can first resonate with domestic audiences, while also embracing universal themes capable of reaching international viewers," Abela said.

"Rather than following the paths established by Japan or the US, the focus should be on creating a uniquely Vietnamese animation style and sharing those homegrown stories with global audiences step by step."

Abela also noted that animation occupies a unique position within the cultural and creative industry, connecting a wide range of sectors including film, music, design, digital media and video games.

Global ambitions

This is one of the reasons France has chosen to support Việt Nam's animation industry as part of its strategy to promote the international export of cultural and creative industries.

As Việt Nam's animation industry gradually shifts from outsourcing work for foreign productions to developing its own original ideas and intellectual property, Annecy and MIFA are increasingly seen as key platforms for Vietnamese studios and filmmakers to expand their international networks and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

"A successful intellectual property must first possess universal appeal," Cừ said.

"Before asking international audiences to understand Vietnamese culture, creators need to make them fall in love with the characters and connect emotionally with the story being told. Achieving that requires viewing intellectual property development as a long-term strategy."

Abela noted that this is a crucial moment for Vietnamese talent to strengthen its international presence, build partnerships and establish a place on the global animation map. However, turning creative ideas into reality will require sustained investment, he said.

According to Abela, animation is a highly resource-intensive field that demands significant time, funding and expertise, making early-stage support particularly important for the development of new projects.

In recent years, the French Institute in Việt Nam has supported the country's animation sector through training programmes with Gobelins Paris, intellectual property development competitions and a range of initiatives aimed at helping Vietnamese talents expand their international reach.

From the distinctly northern Vietnamese rural landscapes depicted in Little Scholar Quỳnh: The Legend of the Golden Buffalo to the new projects currently being developed by local studios, Việt Nam's animation industry is steadily forging its own path.

While significant challenges remain, the sector is increasingly drawing strength from the country's rich cultural heritage and growing pool of creative talent, as well as the support of international partners.

From the banyan trees and lotus ponds of Little Scholar Quỳnh: The Legend of the Golden Buffalo to the global stage at Annecy, Việt Nam's animation industry is showing that its greatest strength may lie not in imitating others, but in telling its own stories. — VNS