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Taiwanese animated film 'Welcome to the Dolly House' gains international acclaim

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Taiwan's first rotoscoped, 2D hand-drawn animated feature, 'Welcome to the Dolly House,' is gaining international recognition.
  • The film has been selected for the Austin Fantastic Fest, making it the only Asian animation featured.
  • Its "Taiwan Fantasy" style, inspired by traditional Chinese tales, is captivating global audiences.

Taiwan's unique blend of traditional and modern aesthetics is making waves in the international animation scene with the film 'Welcome to the Dolly House.' This groundbreaking production, the first of its kind in Taiwan to combine rotoscoping with full 2D hand-drawn animation, has garnered significant attention following its selection for the prestigious Austin Fantastic Fest in the United States.

The film, described as having a "weirdly beautiful" and "gorgeously eerie" style, follows a pair of internet celebrities, Maria Princess and A Yue, who investigate the mysterious mansion of a doll artist known as Madame Dolly. Their quest to revive their failing channel takes a dark turn as they uncover unsettling children's drawings, cursed necklaces, and encounter strange creatures, plunging them into a surreal, uncontrollable world.

It's simply a dream come true.

— Yao Ai-ningDescribing her experience voicing an animated character for the first time.

Directed by Yu Chih-Hao (Seven YCH), Fu Rui-Chun, and Liu Yu-Shu, the film draws inspiration from classic Chinese literature, specifically 'Banqiao Sanniangzi' from 'Taiping Guangji.' The narrative explores themes of karma, retribution, spiritual guardianship, and the warmth of human connection, elements described as the "Taiwanese DNA" embedded within the story. The unique visual style, a collaboration between Yu Chih-Hao and collage artist Chan Yu-Shu, creates a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.

The more Taiwanese the elements, the fresher and more curiously interesting they are to overseas audiences.

— Liu Yu-ShuCommenting on the appeal of Taiwanese elements in international film.

Actors Yao Ai-ning, Chi Pei-Hui, and Chiu Yi-tai lend their voices to the characters. Yao Ai-ning, who plays Maria Princess, expressed her excitement about becoming an animated character, calling it a "dream come true." Chiu Yi-tai, a longtime anime fan, found the experience novel and thrilling. Chi Pei-Hui recalled spending a month acting against a green screen, immersing herself in Madame Dolly's "frozen inner world."

'Welcome to the Dolly House' is set to premiere across Taiwan on October 30th, coinciding with the Halloween season. Its selection for international festivals, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and now the Austin Fantastic Fest, highlights the growing appeal of "Taiwan Fantasy" on the global stage. The filmmakers hope this success will pave the way for more Taiwanese stories to be seen worldwide.

Karma, retribution, spiritual guardianship, and the warmth of human kindness are the 'Taiwanese DNA' deeply embedded in the creation.

— Fu Rui-ChunExplaining the core themes and cultural influences in the film.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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