Golden Goblet Awards Animation｜Tales of Love and Courage in Growth

On June 22, the Animation Category for Golden Goblet Award at the 26th SIFF held a meet-and-greet with the teams behind three nominated films: THE ROYAL CAT (2024), BUFFALO KIDS (2024), and THE COLORS WITHIN (2024). Representatives from these films shared their filmmaking stories with attendees.

Martial Arts Characters Transformed into Animal Roles

THE ROYAL CAT (2024) is adapted from the ancient Chinese fantasy novel "The Three Heroes and Five Gallants". Director Cao Liang explained, "We drew inspiration from the characters and stories of the novel but incorporated modern expressions." Thus, viewers can expect to see traditional themes of justice and chivalry alongside more nuanced human emotions, such as friendship and the bond between humans and animals.

"The Three Heroes and Five Gallants" features many well-known characters, including the Imperial Cat and the Brocade-Coated Rat. To bring these figures to life in animation, Cao Liang said, "We used their nicknames and reimagined them as animal characters, presenting their adventures of justice and chivalry from an animal perspective."

Previously, Cao Liang's animations have focused on modern family life, exploring themes of kinship and growth. In contrast, THE ROYAL CAT (2024) taps into traditional cultural themes, depicting the respect and friendship between humans, nature, and animals.

Chronicles of Youthful Journeys

The animated film BUFFALO KIDS (2024) narrates the story of two orphaned siblings from Ireland who embark on an oceanic adventure aboard a freighter, where they encounter a boy who neither speaks nor moves, communicating only with his eyes and heart. Producer Lillian Candelaria González Fajardo described this silent boy as the soul of the film, saying, "He expresses his inner thoughts with his sparkling eyes."

BUFFALO KIDS (2024) focuses on the theme of familial love. Every child needs a family, and the orphans in the film set out on a journey to find theirs. Along the way, they make friends, transforming their understanding of family to include both friends and relatives.

THE COLORS WITHIN (2024) also tells a story about adolescence, focusing on a high school girl with a unique ability to see people's colors. Producer Genki Kawamura explained, "One day, she meets another girl and a boy her age, and together they form a band..." He believes that the film, themed around colors and music, communicates its story through animation, even when words fall short.

Director Naoko Yamada reflected on the universal challenges of growing up, stating, "We all face questions like 'Who am I?' and 'What can I achieve?' I've had these worries, too. Finding family, friends, love, and courage among these concerns inspires us to keep moving forward."