A scene from the 3D cartoon, Tho Va Rua .

Nguoi Con Cua Rong (The Son of Dragon), the largest Vietnamese cartoon to use 3D technology, features the character of King Ly Thai To, who moves his capital from Hoa Lu in the northern province of Ninh Binh to Thang Long (now Ha Noi).

Produced by a staff from Sao La 3D Studio, the film promises to contain colourful, lively images and simple language.

“To make a 100-minute 3D cartoon, we have worked hard to complete 850 scenes,” said director Nguyen Minh Tri of the project that began a year ago.

Tri said although his 15 software designers had years of computer experience and 3D technology they faced challenges in filming.

“No one can know exactly what King Ly Thai To looked like in his childhood while our job is to make the king look real,” he said.

“We spent months researching documents and books about the king and his life stories before starting the film,” he said.

Tri said his cartoon features the childhood of the king and his time in Ninh Binh Province.

“We wanted our film to include beautiful pictures and exciting words, as well as portray historical events in detail.”

“Through our film, children can learn bravery, honour and responsibility. They can improve their love for the country and knowledge about history,” he added.

Tri said the film’s soundtrack was completed in China.

New business

Tri and his staff are not shy about concealing their ambitions, and say they hope Nguoi Con Cua Rong will encourage filmmakers to make quality 3D cartoons that appeal to children and adults.

“By using modern technology we can make cartoons completely different from other domestic products, which have boring pictures and music,” said Tri, adding that high-tech, sophisticated productions would attract fans of different ages and backgrounds.

The cartoon cost more than VND5 billion (US$280,000) to make, although Tri said he needed twice that amount of money.

In 2004, 3D technology was first used in Phu Dong Thien Vuong, a work produced by the HCM City-based LCKSoft Company.

The film was based on a legend of the character Thanh Giong (Saint Giong), who volunteered to fight northern invaders when he was three years old.

The LCKSoft tried distributing the film on CD for a cheap price, but they failed to protect their products from illegal copies on the black market.

But the need for sophisticated, interesting products for children is too great for filmmakers and producers like LCKSoft to cease creating new software and films.

Some State-owned and private film companies have worked with publishing houses for children like Kim Dong to produce 3D films featuring folk stories.

Quality 3D cartoons like Tho Va Rua (Rabbit and Turtle) and Chu Heo May Man (Lucky Pig), produced by the Viet Nam Cartoon Studio and the 3D Sao La, have impressed children.

“I think making quality 3D cartoons is not difficult for our local filmmakers.

“But the problem is how to encourage movie producers to become involved in the new business,” said software designer Nguyen Minh Ha, who works for a private film company in HCM City.

VietNamNet/VNS