The First Animation about Chun Tae-il, a Leading Figure in the Korean Labor Movement

Chun Tae-il (2021) 

The feature animation Chun Tae-il has been officially invited to the Contrechamp, the Feature Competition section at the 46th Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which is called the Cannes International Film Festival in the animation world. Chun Tae-il is an animated film that depicts the life of Chun Tae-il, a leading figure in the Korean labor movement who fought hard against unfair labor conditions in 1970.

Chun Tae-il is the first feature film directed by Hong Junpyo, who has been making short animations, and was produced by Myung Films, the production company of Leafie, A Hen into the Wild, which drew the largest audience in Korean animated film history. Chun Tae-il was greatly praised at the time of its release in Korea for its realistic historical research with a warm and beautiful story. The participation of character actors such as Jang Dongyoon, Yeom Hyeran, Jin Sunkyu, and Kwon Haehyo, who provided voices, also became a hot topic.

Korean animation films have won several awards at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which marks its 46th anniversary this year. My Beautiful Girl and Oseam won the Grand Prize in the Feature Competition in 2002 and 2004, respectively, while The Shaman Sorceress won the Jury Distinction in 2020. In addition, other films such as Underdog, Beauty Water, and Climbing steadily made it to the Feature Competition.

Attention is focused on what kind of result Chun Tae-il, which will showcase the completeness and beauty of Korean animation, will achieve at the Annecy Festival.  The 46th Annecy International Animation Film Festival will be held in Annecy, France, from June 13 to 18.