This summer, Vietnam’s movie theaters witnessed a historic shift with the unprecedented release of two locally produced animated films: De Men - The adventure to the muddy village and Little Trang Quynh: The legend of Kim Nguu. Both premiered just as students across the country began their summer holidays.

De Men - The adventure to the muddy village draws inspiration from the beloved novel Diary of a Cricket by author To Hoai. However, the creative team has reimagined the story for modern audiences, especially younger viewers.

Instead of exploring grasslands and jungles, the characters De Men (Cricket) and De Trui (Cricket’s brother) venture into a once-lush area now turned into a waste-filled “muddy village.” There, they meet an array of new insect characters such as Rau Que (Stick Bug), Bo Rua Baby (Baby Ladybug), and the self-proclaimed overlord of the swamp, King Ech Com (Frog King). The siblings must confront dangerous schemes and defend peace in the insect community.

Produced entirely by a Vietnamese team using cutting-edge 3D animation, the film features vivid characters and a colorful, richly detailed world. It took over three years to build this insect universe while maintaining biological accuracy in the depiction of each species.

Remarkably, this is the first Vietnamese film produced entirely at a digital film studio - a joint innovation project between CinePlus, Thai Nguyen Province, and the University of Information and Communication Technology (ICTU). It is also the country’s first full-length film created by a team of university lecturers, students, and tech professionals.

Trang Quynh’s mischievous adventures bring tradition to the big screen

Little Trang Quynh: The legend of Kim Nguu is the first full-length 3D animated Vietnamese film made for theatrical release. Directed by Meritorious Artist Trinh Lam Tung and his team, the 90-minute adventure blends comedy, fantasy, and folklore.

The story follows a young version of the legendary folk hero Trang Quynh and his friends on a chaotic journey driven by personal quests and a mission to save the world. It all begins when Quynh tries to clear his father’s name, pulling his companions into a quest filled with danger and self-discovery.

Featuring over 150 characters, the film showcases rich Vietnamese cultural traditions, expressed through meticulously animated villages, majestic mountains and rivers, and ornate patterns on costumes, tools, and vehicles.

Different journeys at the box office

Despite both films hitting theaters around the same time, their box office performance diverged drastically.

De Men - The adventure to the muddy village received a well-coordinated media campaign. Its visuals, trailers, and social media buzz drew widespread public attention. After nearly two months in theaters, the film grossed approximately $828,000 (21.1 billion VND) - a notable achievement for a local animated film.

In contrast, Little Trang Quynh: The legend of Kim Nguu struggled to gain visibility. Director Trinh Lam Tung, a devoted figure in Vietnam’s animation scene, focused heavily on production but lacked the resources for marketing and promotion. As a result, viewers found little information about screening times or locations, limiting the film’s reach.

The film remained in theaters for just one month and earned only around $125,000 (3.2 billion VND), despite receiving positive audience feedback. Critic Phong Viet expressed regret over the outcome, saying that in terms of artistic merit, Little Trang Quynh even surpassed De Men, but couldn’t reach its commercial potential.

“This is a reminder that a box office hit doesn’t always mean a great film, and a quality film doesn’t always guarantee strong ticket sales,” said Phong Viet.

He added that a broader release for Little Trang Quynh would have better demonstrated Vietnam’s ability to produce compelling animated films worthy of local support and comparable to international successes.

Even so, Phong Viet remained optimistic. “The team behind Trang Quynh may feel disappointed, but in cinema, the long road reveals true potential. A single setback in revenue doesn’t define a film’s value. With the dedication of Trinh Lam Tung and his team, I believe they’ll one day produce a film that balances both artistic excellence and box office success – and represents Vietnam globally,” he said.

The unpredictability of audience tastes is a constant in the film industry. Even blockbuster hits from stars like Tran Thanh or Ly Hai reflect this uncertainty. Still, the release of two Vietnamese animated films this summer marks a foundational step toward building confidence and resilience among local filmmakers.

PV