HCM CITY — A new animated film on Vietnamese culture and lifestyle by young filmmakers is expected to be in cinemas for the Christmas and New Year holiday. 

Hành Trình Nhân Quả (Karma - The Journey), a film using 3D technology, is about a young lion named Leng Keng and his journey to help poor children.

The work also features the law of karma, the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of a person influence the future. Good deeds today contribute to future happiness, while bad deeds contribute to future suffering.

The film includes beautiful images of famous landscapes in the country, such as Hạ Long Bay, Sơn Đoòng Cave and Sa Pa. 

The movie’s 75-second teaser on YouTube has attracted 60,100 views.

The film is the second of a larger project called Con Rồng Cháu Tiên (Offspring of Dragon and Fairy) by young filmmakers from Red Cat Motion and Trẻ Studio.

Con Rồng Cháu Tiên (Offspring of Dragon and Fairy) will include a series of animated short films and feature films featuring cultural and historical events. 

The project’s first 20-minute work, Con Rồng Cháu Tiên, is about the legend of Lạc Long Quân (holy dragon) and Âu Cơ (fairy bird) and their children (50 boys and 50 girls), who hatched from 1,000 eggs.

The production features the work and efforts made by the couple and their children to gain peace and happiness.

It has attracted nearly nine million views on YouTube.

The producers spent more than VNĐ2 billion (US$87,700) on the production.

“Through Con Rồng Cháu Tiên, young people can learn bravery, honour and responsibility. They’ll improve their knowledge about Vietnamese history and learn about independence," Bùi Việt Hà, a viewer from Đồng Nai Province wrote in the comment section on YouTube. 

“Our films serve children aged six to 15. We’ve worked hard to make our productions completely different from Vietnamese ones which have boring pictures and contain very strict moral themes,” said Phan Gia An, director of Trẻ Studio. "High-tech, sophisticated productions attract children”.

An and her staff received financial support from domestic sponsors and companies who share their love for Vietnamese animations.

“Animation is a promising market. Young filmmakers and film companies should be involved in the industry,” she added.

Red Cat Motion is working with distributors to release Hàng Trình Nhân Quả late next month to welcome the Christmas and New Year season. — VNS