Vietnamese animation

The first Vietnamese animation was Đáng đời thằng Cáo (Worthy of the Fox)[1] based on a poem called Con cáo và tổ ong (The fox and the Beehive) produced in 1959, is the first film of the Vietnamese animation industry. It is based on a poem consisting of 14 lines, telling the story of the fox trying to dig out the beehive to eat honey, but the bees gathered to sting the fox, which scared away the fox.[2] The poem was written at a time when anti-Japanese and anti-West imperialist sentiments were high.

Tổ ong lủng lẳng trên cành

Trong đầy mật nhộng ngon lành lắm thay.

Cáo già nhè nhẹ lên cây

Định rằng lấy được, ăn ngay cho giòn.

Ong thấy Cáo muốn cướp con,

Kéo nhau xúm lại vây tròn Cáo ta.

Châm đầu, châm mắt Cáo già

Cáo già đau quá phải sa xuống rồi.

Ong kia yêu giống yêu nòi

Đồng tâm hiệp lực đuổi loài cáo đi.

Bây giờ ta thử so bì,

Ong còn đoàn kết, huống chi là người !

Nhật, Tây áp bức giống nòi,

Ta nên đoàn kết để đòi tự do.

A beehive dangling from a branch

Filled with delicious nectar.

The old fox gently climbs the tree

Determined to get it, eat it right away until it's crispy.

The bee saw that the fox wanted to rob him,

Pulling together to surround the fox.

Stinging the head, stinging the eyes of the old fox

The old fox was in so much pain that he had to fall down.

The other bee loves the species

Teaming up to chase away the foxes.

Now let's compare,

Bees are still united, let alone people!

Japan and West oppress the race,

We should unite to demand freedom.

Vietnamese Animation Studio has been producing 8-10 cartoons a year, most of them are traditionally drawn or by computer and a lot of animations by students groups and small studios. With the rising Vietnamese comics industry in 2010s, Vietnamese animation is hoped to rise soon and catch up Thailand, with Asian comics animation and Western comics and animation to be an initial inspiration for Vietnamese animations and comics to initially draw from.

Since 2016, animation in Vietnam has seen a significant improvement in 3D animation techniques, thanks to independent animation studios such as Colory Animation or Red Cat Motion. Besides, 2D animation has also had a noticeable change, with the example of DeeDee Animation Studio. Because of the production costs of animation in Vietnam is relatively lower than the global average, Vietnaemse animation studios are usually selected as the outsourcing partners for international animation projects. Additionally, using animated videos also becomes a preferred video marketing strategy for several major brands in Vietnam, such as MILO or Lifebuoy.

In late 2018, POPS Worldwide, with the funding from Lifebuoy, publish the animated series "The Silver iOn Squad", produced by DeeDee Animation Studio.[3]

In early 2019, DeeDee Animation Studio also premieres the animated short film "Broken Being: Prequel" on social media channels. The film is positively received by the media and newspapers, such as Dan Tri, Vietnamnet, Tien Phong, etc., who all claim that the film is "the first [21st Century] animated film in Vietnam that targets adults".[4] Meanwhile, according to Dan Tri, "the animated film "Broken Being: Prequel" has changed the animation scene in Vietnam".[5]

From 2021 onwards, Lạc Trôi (Lost & Drifting) is an animation cartoon that has debuted under MTP Entertainment as Son Tung playing the role of a fictional, historical Vietnamese prince who washes ashore into modern society by Episode 9. [6] ACE Media Viet Nam has been providing the voice-acting and AVR Creative Viet Nam the animation, with a number of other individuals on the project as well.

pops.tv is also home to Vietnamese-made comics and animation.[7]