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Asian Animation Film Festival 2008
FEATURE FILMS
HAMMERBOY (South Korea, 2004, 73 min. Chicago Premiere)
Adapted from the best-selling manhwa (graphic novel) by YoungMan Hur, Hammerboy is a Korean animated feature about a boy named Magchi. Mangchi gets his nickname, the Hammerboy, from the familiar tool he carries everywhere, a magical hammer that helps him get around all his problems.
In the wake of a worldwide ecological disaster, the inhabitants of Candlestick Island struggle to rebuild their lost civilization. Here the orphaned Mangchi enjoys the loving care of his grandfather who is training Mangchi in the mystical art of the Great Echo, a concentration of all of one’s energy into a single all-powered force to ward off evil and enemy attacks. One day a small plane carrying the teen-aged Princess Polar, who’s being pursued by the treacherous General Moonk, crashes onto Candlestick Island. Mangchi makes a daring rescue on his trademark vehicle, a cleverly conceived solar-powered flying tricycle. The two set off on a boisterous adventure involving (with no shortage of comic relief) a treasure of lost gold, a greedy bandit chief, the villainous Moonk, and an all-powerful crystal.
The film enjoyed an overwhelming success in Korea. The Hammerboy character was selected along with PUCCA by the Korea Culture & Contents Agency as the nation's top animation and cartoon character for 2004. The film is directed by An Tae-Kun who, while definitely inspired by Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli pictures, still infuses the film with an ambiance of its own.
Festivals & Awards:
Winner of Contents Award by Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency
2004 7th Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival Opening Invitational Premier
2004 New York International Children’s Film Festival English
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IF YOU WERE ME: ANIMA VISION 2 (South Korea, 2007, 93 min. US Premiere)
If You Were Me: Anima Vision 2 is a feature-length omnibus animation comprised of 6 short films about human rights issues. Each short covers a variety of topics -
Festivals & Awards:
2008 32nd Annecy Int’l Festival of Animated Film, France
2008 3rd Busan International Kids’ Film Festival, Korea
2008 4th InD Panda International Shorts Festival, Hong Kong
2008 21st Singapore International Film Festival, Singapore
2007 12th Pusan International Film Festival, Korea
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MAZU (Taiwan, 2007, 90 min. US Premiere)
The Chinese Cartoon Production's animated feature gives the modern treatment to the ancient legend of the popular deity Mazu, the Taoist goddess of the Sea who protects fishermen and those associated with the ocean.
Set in China's Fujian Province during the Song Dynasty, the film begins with humans inadvertently creating mutant creatures by polluting the seas. Upon discovering the looming crisis, the bodhisattva of mercy, Guanyin, gives a baby girl, Lin Mu-niang, to a fishing family in the hope that she can protect the village. Born with divine powers and a compassionate heart, Lin studies under a Taoist priest Shun Ton, one of Guanyin's pupils. During her apprenticeship, Lin vanquishes two goblins named Far-seeing and Far-hearing, who after their defeat befriend the young sorceress.
Before long, the troupe of mutants led by a three-headed sea monster attack the fishing village. After a weary battle, the good triumphs over evil. The heroine, however, collapses after having used the last of her strength to save the villagers. Leaving the mortal world, Lin ascends to heaven and becomes the highly revered deity of the title. Directed by Lin Shih-Jen.
Festival & Awards:
2008 Future Film Festival, selected film for non competitive section, Bologna, Italy
2008 Fantasporto, selected film for ANIMA-TE Official Section, Porto, Portugal
2008 Pusan International Film Festival, screening in Wide Angle section, Pusan, Korea
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MY LIFE AS MCDULL (Hong Kong, 2001, 75 min. US Premiere)
The animation features the story of the timid piglet McDull, growing up with his strong-willed mother Mrs. Mak. His daily life revolves around school, dreams of exotic journeys, and hopes of great sporting accomplishment. Like many children, failure and disappointment come into life one by one; with his optimism, however, McDull creates a fascinating world for himself.
In order to make the ill McDull to take medicine, Mrs. Mak promises to take him to Maldives for a vacation. Mrs. Mak fulfils her promise by taking McDull to have fun at the Peak for the whole day. McDull thinks that he is in a paradise.
Later, McDull practices the skills of grabbing buns. Hoping that his son can win the applause of the world, Mrs. Mak requests the Olympics Committee to make grabbing buns become an official event. Will McDull become the Olympic Champion, like the windsurfing champion Lee Lai-shan?...
When Hong Kong bids to host the Asian Games, McDull and his classmates strongly request that grabbing buns should become an official event. Though they fail, McDull learns a lesson that one should always face the reality. The grown-up McDull, though experiences negative equity, still lives with hopes and dreams.
Festival & Awards:
2002 The FIPRESCI prize at the 26th Hong Kong International Film Festival
2003 Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Annecy, France
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SHORTS COMPETITION WINNER
SUPERHERO TRAINING CENTER: CULTURAL AWARENESS DAY
Si Yang Ng, USA
6 min, 2008
Superhero Training Center: Cultural Awareness Day is an animated documentary which explores the mindsets of Asians and Americans in cross-cultural collaboration.
In fall 2007, we gathered interviews from 25 mostly Asian and American students. Interviewees came from various disciplines including art and engineering. Every interviewee had at least one semester of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary team experience. Five of these interviews were carefully selected and cast as Western and Eastern Superheroes-in-training. The team believes that through a light-hearted animation, audiences would be more receptive to the voices of our interviewees in our exploration of a deeply sensitive topic.
The animation was created as a fourteen week project in spring 2008 by five students of the Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University.
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IT WAS...RAINING...
7 min, 2008
Ting-Ni Chiu, USA
An unhappy girl looks at the people on the street. People are black, brown, and red. But she has a black cloud is on her forehead. Suddenly, 'Something,' which is the Crazy Monk, falls down from the tree. She turns into a child. She wants the red sun like the one he has .The monk gives her a gift, which can give her what she wants. But, she has to use her own 'power.' They go to visit Mr. Sun, who gives everyone a lantern to write a wish. Her lantern is too 'heavy' for him to fire it up. So, the Monk takes her to jump on the lantern. When it starts flying, the black cloud stops raining, it is sunny!
[back to top]
Organized by the Center for Asian Arts and Media
Made possible with Illinois Arts Council
Founded by the Center for the Asian Arts and Media at Columbia College Chicago, the Asian Animation Film Festival (AAFF) is the first festival of its kind to be devoted to Pan-Asian animation. The event is open not only to Asian artists but to anyone involved in an animation that promotes Asian culture.
By presenting films that are either related to the topics of Asian culture or involving an artist of Asian descent, the AAFF hopes to introduce audiences to a broader range of Asian animation while allowing artists to express the vast and diverse Pan-Asian experience.
HAMMERBOY (South Korea, 2004, 73 min. Chicago Premiere)
Adapted from the best-selling manhwa (graphic novel) by YoungMan Hur, Hammerboy is a Korean animated feature about a boy named Magchi. Mangchi gets his nickname, the Hammerboy, from the familiar tool he carries everywhere, a magical hammer that helps him get around all his problems.
In the wake of a worldwide ecological disaster, the inhabitants of Candlestick Island struggle to rebuild their lost civilization. Here the orphaned Mangchi enjoys the loving care of his grandfather who is training Mangchi in the mystical art of the Great Echo, a concentration of all of one’s energy into a single all-powered force to ward off evil and enemy attacks. One day a small plane carrying the teen-aged Princess Polar, who’s being pursued by the treacherous General Moonk, crashes onto Candlestick Island. Mangchi makes a daring rescue on his trademark vehicle, a cleverly conceived solar-powered flying tricycle. The two set off on a boisterous adventure involving (with no shortage of comic relief) a treasure of lost gold, a greedy bandit chief, the villainous Moonk, and an all-powerful crystal.
The film enjoyed an overwhelming success in Korea. The Hammerboy character was selected along with PUCCA by the Korea Culture & Contents Agency as the nation's top animation and cartoon character for 2004. The film is directed by An Tae-Kun who, while definitely inspired by Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli pictures, still infuses the film with an ambiance of its own.
Festivals & Awards:
Winner of Contents Award by Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency
2004 7th Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival Opening Invitational Premier
2004 New York International Children’s Film Festival English
[back to top]
IF YOU WERE ME: ANIMA VISION 2 (South Korea, 2007, 93 min. US Premiere)
If You Were Me: Anima Vision 2 is a feature-length omnibus animation comprised of 6 short films about human rights issues. Each short covers a variety of topics -
- “The Third Wish” (dir. ANN Dong-hee, RYU Jung-oo) is about a visually challenged girl who was given three wishes
- "Peeling" (dir. HONG Deok-pyo) is about a father persuading his son to circumcise like the rest of his friends and men’s complexes
- "Baby" (dir. LEE Hong-soo, LEE Hong-min) is about a working pregnant woman trying to make arrangements for her unborn child
- "Merry Golasmas" (dir. JUNG Min-young) brings out different types of widespread discrimination during the job search for a Santa Claus
- "Shine Shine Shining" (dir. GWON Mi-jeong) speaks out about the issue related to migrant women by an international marriage
- "Lies" (dir. PARK Yong-jae) deals with a homosexual who is pushed to marry a woman by his parents.
Festivals & Awards:
2008 32nd Annecy Int’l Festival of Animated Film, France
2008 3rd Busan International Kids’ Film Festival, Korea
2008 4th InD Panda International Shorts Festival, Hong Kong
2008 21st Singapore International Film Festival, Singapore
2007 12th Pusan International Film Festival, Korea
[back to top]
MAZU (Taiwan, 2007, 90 min. US Premiere)
The Chinese Cartoon Production's animated feature gives the modern treatment to the ancient legend of the popular deity Mazu, the Taoist goddess of the Sea who protects fishermen and those associated with the ocean.
Set in China's Fujian Province during the Song Dynasty, the film begins with humans inadvertently creating mutant creatures by polluting the seas. Upon discovering the looming crisis, the bodhisattva of mercy, Guanyin, gives a baby girl, Lin Mu-niang, to a fishing family in the hope that she can protect the village. Born with divine powers and a compassionate heart, Lin studies under a Taoist priest Shun Ton, one of Guanyin's pupils. During her apprenticeship, Lin vanquishes two goblins named Far-seeing and Far-hearing, who after their defeat befriend the young sorceress.
Before long, the troupe of mutants led by a three-headed sea monster attack the fishing village. After a weary battle, the good triumphs over evil. The heroine, however, collapses after having used the last of her strength to save the villagers. Leaving the mortal world, Lin ascends to heaven and becomes the highly revered deity of the title. Directed by Lin Shih-Jen.
Festival & Awards:
2008 Future Film Festival, selected film for non competitive section, Bologna, Italy
2008 Fantasporto, selected film for ANIMA-TE Official Section, Porto, Portugal
2008 Pusan International Film Festival, screening in Wide Angle section, Pusan, Korea
[back to top]
MY LIFE AS MCDULL (Hong Kong, 2001, 75 min. US Premiere)
The animation features the story of the timid piglet McDull, growing up with his strong-willed mother Mrs. Mak. His daily life revolves around school, dreams of exotic journeys, and hopes of great sporting accomplishment. Like many children, failure and disappointment come into life one by one; with his optimism, however, McDull creates a fascinating world for himself.
In order to make the ill McDull to take medicine, Mrs. Mak promises to take him to Maldives for a vacation. Mrs. Mak fulfils her promise by taking McDull to have fun at the Peak for the whole day. McDull thinks that he is in a paradise.
Later, McDull practices the skills of grabbing buns. Hoping that his son can win the applause of the world, Mrs. Mak requests the Olympics Committee to make grabbing buns become an official event. Will McDull become the Olympic Champion, like the windsurfing champion Lee Lai-shan?...
When Hong Kong bids to host the Asian Games, McDull and his classmates strongly request that grabbing buns should become an official event. Though they fail, McDull learns a lesson that one should always face the reality. The grown-up McDull, though experiences negative equity, still lives with hopes and dreams.
Festival & Awards:
2002 The FIPRESCI prize at the 26th Hong Kong International Film Festival
2003 Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Annecy, France
[back to top]
SHORTS COMPETITION WINNER
SUPERHERO TRAINING CENTER: CULTURAL AWARENESS DAY
Si Yang Ng, USA
6 min, 2008
Superhero Training Center: Cultural Awareness Day is an animated documentary which explores the mindsets of Asians and Americans in cross-cultural collaboration.
In fall 2007, we gathered interviews from 25 mostly Asian and American students. Interviewees came from various disciplines including art and engineering. Every interviewee had at least one semester of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary team experience. Five of these interviews were carefully selected and cast as Western and Eastern Superheroes-in-training. The team believes that through a light-hearted animation, audiences would be more receptive to the voices of our interviewees in our exploration of a deeply sensitive topic.
The animation was created as a fourteen week project in spring 2008 by five students of the Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University.
[back to top]
IT WAS...RAINING...
7 min, 2008
Ting-Ni Chiu, USA
An unhappy girl looks at the people on the street. People are black, brown, and red. But she has a black cloud is on her forehead. Suddenly, 'Something,' which is the Crazy Monk, falls down from the tree. She turns into a child. She wants the red sun like the one he has .The monk gives her a gift, which can give her what she wants. But, she has to use her own 'power.' They go to visit Mr. Sun, who gives everyone a lantern to write a wish. Her lantern is too 'heavy' for him to fire it up. So, the Monk takes her to jump on the lantern. When it starts flying, the black cloud stops raining, it is sunny!
[back to top]
Organized by the Center for Asian Arts and Media
Made possible with Illinois Arts Council
Founded by the Center for the Asian Arts and Media at Columbia College Chicago, the Asian Animation Film Festival (AAFF) is the first festival of its kind to be devoted to Pan-Asian animation. The event is open not only to Asian artists but to anyone involved in an animation that promotes Asian culture.
By presenting films that are either related to the topics of Asian culture or involving an artist of Asian descent, the AAFF hopes to introduce audiences to a broader range of Asian animation while allowing artists to express the vast and diverse Pan-Asian experience.