Taiwan’s 1st 3-D animation makes big screen debut

2014-09-16

Taiwan’s first homegrown 3-D animated feature “The Frogville,” starring an indigenous cast and crew, premiered Sept. 13 at Taipei Zoo.

Directed by animator Yang Jen-hsien, a 20-plus year veteran of such Disney classics as “Aladdin,” “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid,” the film tells the story of a group of rice frogs fighting to keep their utopian habitat pristine.

“The production took six years to complete, but the story took shape even earlier,” Yang said, adding that his interest in frogs dates back to primary school when collecting tadpoles got him into trouble. “This passion was rekindled when I met a Taiwan rice frog researcher, who encouraged me to pursue my childhood dreams through animation.”

The film’s actual story was inspired by the survival of Heymons’ narrow-mouthed toads—a protected species also known as Taiwan rice frogs—inhabiting Nantou County’s Taomi Village.

Yang’s film is also a local crowdsourcing success. He launched the 20-minute pilot “Heymon” in early 2012, which was seen by about 600,000 people after it toured Taiwan’s science museums and educational centers. A total of NT$128,665 (US$4,281) was raised on the FlyingV website and used to fund public screenings of the film.

With first lady Chow Mei-ching in attendance, the premiere saw Nantou County-based Vox Nativa Children’s Choir sing theme song “Our Utopia” accompanied by the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra.

The director expects the animated feature to help raise awareness of ecological conservation in local audiences. It is scheduled for general release Oct. 3.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221625&CtNode=413)