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Singapore's first full-length animated historical film spans WW2, Peranakan culture and more

Singapore's first full-length animated historical film spans WW2, Peranakan culture and more

CNA6 days ago
Co-directed by veteran ex-Disney animator Raul Garcia (Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas), executive produced by Leonard Lai (Ah Boys To Men) and featuring an original score by Golden Horse Award-winning composer Ricky Ho, The Violinist is officially a co-production with Singapore's Robot Playground Media, Spain's TV ON Producciones and Italy's Altri Occhi, but also has teams from Japan, Canada, Colombia and Taiwan working on it.
The film was presented in June at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, with France TV Distribution officially launching global sales at the Cannes Film Market in May. Currently still in production, it is slated for completion in March 2026, with a theatrical release in Singapore targeted for August 2026.
Voicing the characters are Singapore heavyweight Tan Kheng Hua as the older Fei and rising star Fang Rong as the younger Fei, as well as actors Adrian Pang and Ayden Sng.
'When I read the script for the first time, I cried so many times,' Fang Rong shared. 'It was a story I could relate to, even without having experienced the depth and intensity of many of the things that happened.'
Tan said she enjoyed the freeing experience of voice acting, something she is no stranger to. 'I love being inside a booth with just a microphone. There's no need to dress up – just wear your crummy T-shirt, no need to go get hair and makeup done,' she quipped.
At the same time, the nature of the film brought its own challenges. 'It has great, deep, dramatic beats, and you need to hit those beats with just your voice,' she said. The effort is worth it for the right production. 'The attention to detail, the vision and the effort are something that just moves me to tears.'
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Singapore Mint launches SG60 National Day collection
Singapore Mint launches SG60 National Day collection

CNA

time28 minutes ago

  • CNA

Singapore Mint launches SG60 National Day collection

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Mint on Tuesday (Jul 22) unveiled the second release of its SG60 collection to commemorate Singapore's 60th year of independence. The SG60 National Day collection, created in collaboration with the National Day Parade, features commemorative medallions, multi-functional pins and a fine gold ingot. It includes 24K gold-plated and 999 fine silver medallions, four-piece multi-functional pin set with a free cross-body strap and one gram fine gold ingot featuring the NDP mascot August the Merlion. Each piece was 'thoughtfully designed to embody the spirit of celebration and iconic symbols of the National Day,' the Singapore Mint said. 'Drawing inspiration from key moments and symbols that have shaped the nation's journey, the collection resonates with generations of Singaporeans, capturing the pride and unity of the occasion.' The new collection comes after the launch of other commemorative collections such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens medallions and the first SG60 collection featuring medallions representing five historic districts. Raffles Mint Collectibles, a branch of the Singapore Mint, also launched its own SG60 collection with a pop-culture twist. The collection features characters like Sanrio, Peanuts and Mr Merlion showcased on 24K gold-plated keychains, gold foil frames, figurines, lifestyle accessories and blind box medallions. Each piece, presented in batik-inspired packaging, serves as a tribute to Singapore's iconic landmarks and nostalgic moments, the Singapore Mint said. 'From Changi Airport to the Dragon Playground, global characters bring local favourites to life in one-of-a-kind SG60 designs.' Nine-in-one souvenir sets of the Singapore Bird Series currency notes are also available. The notes, issued between 1976 to 1984, represent Singapore's second series of circulation currency. The collectibles are limited to mintages of 1,888 gold sets and 6,888 silver sets. 'The birds featured on these notes symbolise strength, adaptability, and independence - qualities that mirrored the young Singapore as it soared towards greater progress,' the Singapore Mint said.

Commentary: Tough to make a living writing books, but Singapore needs storytellers
Commentary: Tough to make a living writing books, but Singapore needs storytellers

CNA

time6 hours ago

  • CNA

Commentary: Tough to make a living writing books, but Singapore needs storytellers

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Some books never even sell out their first print run of 1,000 copies or less. That first advance – which is basically a prepayment of royalties for a projected number of sales – might end up being the only money an author ever sees from their book. They only earn more once their book has 'earned out' the advance. So when aspiring writers ask if this is a sustainable career, my answer is: Honestly, not usually; many authors write while holding down a full-time job. Of course, there are occasional headlines about Singaporean authors landing lucrative book deals overseas. Jemimah Wei's The Original Daughter recently sold at auction for more than US$500,000. TOUGH LOCAL MARKET Singapore writers face some unique challenges. First, the market is small, so there are only so many people to sell to. Authors don't have many publishers to choose from, which limits their bargaining power during contract negotiation. Add to that Singapore's well-stocked libraries, which make readers more inclined to borrow than buy books. On top of it all, bookstores are dwindling, which means fewer places for local writers to sell their books. Singapore has made efforts to support its literary scene – largely through the National Arts Council and various grants. The SG Culture Pass, a scheme that will give each Singaporean S$100 to spend on the arts, including local literature, is a positive step. Organisations like Sing Lit Station and the Singapore Book Council have helped fuel ground-up initiatives, from school programmes and mentorships to community events. Major festivals like the Singapore Writers Festival and the Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) have provided vital platforms for local authors to connect with readers and showcase their work. While these efforts have opened doors, sustaining a writing career in Singapore is still tough. Grants are helpful for specific projects, but they don't solve the bigger issue of long-term sustainability. What local authors need are more direct and consistent forms of support like better book advances, more robust marketing efforts and broader distribution channels. One area that was recently talked about is Public Lending Right (PLR) – a system used in countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and across Europe. Through government funding, it compensates writers when their books are borrowed from libraries. This could provide a modest but meaningful income stream for local writers, especially in a market where book sales are limited. WHY SUPPORT SINGLIT? For every person who champions SingLit, there's probably someone else who doesn't read local books, nor sees the need to. But to say we can do without SingLit is shortsighted. When a country lacks stories written by its own people, it begins to lose its place in the global narrative. Without those voices, people grow up surrounded by borrowed perspectives, which slowly shapes how they see themselves and their culture. Young readers, especially, start to feel invisible. If no one in the stories they read looks like them, talks like them, or faces the same challenges, it sends a quiet message: Your life isn't worth writing about. That kind of absence chips away at self-worth and imagination. The impact of local stories is hard to measure – but it's real. I've seen it firsthand with my middle grade series, My BFF Is An Alien. The story follows a Singaporean girl and her unlikely friendship with an alien, and the adventures they go on together. Is this the kind of story that would score me a massive publishing deal? Probably not. Is it Booker Prize material? Again, probably not. But I've had young readers come up to me and say that my books made them want to become writers. I've had parents tell me it was my books that finally got their children hooked and sparked their interest in reading. That's not nothing. There are so many great middle grade books – but what made mine hit home for these readers wasn't just their fun plot or relatable themes. It was the fact that the readers could see themselves in the pages. They connected with my stories because it reflected something true about their lived experience. The voices sounded familiar. The setting felt like home. And that recognition – that 'hey, this is about me!' moment – is powerful. THE LOVE OF STORYTELLING One might ask: If writing pays so little, why do it at all? The simple answer for most is that we do it for the love of storytelling. We write stories we wish existed, stories we want to read and see out in the world. For me, My BFF Is An Alien was the story I wish I had when I started secondary school. That period in my life was incredibly lonely, and I would've loved to lose myself in a book that felt like it understood me. I also wrote it for my own children, so they had more choices beyond the Eurocentric stories I grew up with. Representation matters. When you see someone like you – a kid from your neighbourhood, someone who sounds like your friends – as the hero of a story, it changes what you believe is possible. That's not just fiction. That's hope. But for those stories to keep coming, writers need support – whether it's PLR schemes, grants, or just making sure their books are on shelves and in homes. Without enough backing, even the most passionate authors can burn out. In a time when artificial intelligence is creeping into creative spaces, the human voice has become even more precious. There's a soul behind stories that only people can bring – our humour, heartbreaks, quirks and lived truths. And in Singapore, that voice is rare. That's worth preserving and supporting.

Is filial piety ever enough? Comic strip on 'Why I gave up on my mother' goes viral
Is filial piety ever enough? Comic strip on 'Why I gave up on my mother' goes viral

Independent Singapore

time16 hours ago

  • Independent Singapore

Is filial piety ever enough? Comic strip on 'Why I gave up on my mother' goes viral

SINGAPORE: A recent comic strip about the limits of filial piety from The Woke Salaryman has garnered significant attention online, not just from Singaporeans but also from other Asians. This should come as no surprise, given that respect and reverence for elders is one of the key values in this part of the world. Captioned 'Is filial piety ever enough?' and based on a person's real-life experiences, the comic strip is about the relationship between a woman and her mother, who, although she was capable of being affectionate at times, also had a dark side that caused her to mistreat her daughter. Screenshot For example, her mum threw a phone at her when she behaved naughtily when she was seven years old, although she claimed it was an accident, and when she was 15, her mum kicked her out in the middle of the night. When she started working, her mum made her give her half of her salary, as well as pay for all their utility bills and mortgage payments, which meant the woman had very little to show for it after working for 10 years. One day, after a particularly difficult fight between them, the woman finally left their home. When she realized how badly her mother had been treating her, continuing to harass her even at work, she filed a Personal Protection Order. Although she built a new life for herself, she said she still loves her mum and tries to understand why she treated her so badly. However, she wrote that she can't forgive her mother quite yet. 'Am I unfilial? Depending on who you ask, the answer might be yes. I grew up in a society where filial piety was seen as a virtue,' she wrote, adding that while this used to bother her, she has come to realize that relationships are a two-way street. 'Mak, maybe I am a bad daughter like you always said, but I'd rather be a bad daughter for now if it means I can get my life back at the end,' she wrote. The post has since been viewed, liked, and shared on Facebook and Instagram thousands of times, and netizens have not held back on commenting as well, suggesting that the strip has struck a chord with so many. 'Thanks for this. Seen too many people passing empty platitudes of 'you only have 1 mother/father' when they should be feeling gratitude that their parents are good,' wrote a Facebook user. 'I feel this.. no matter how hard I try to satisfy my mom, to give in to all of her demands — it is still not enough. My dad knows this, even my close relatives too — but all they can say is 'sabarlah' (be patient)… When I had my daughter, I swore that she would never experience all those gaslighting,' a woman chimed in. 'You cannot love and hug a roll of barbed wire,' another commented. The Independent Singapore has reached out to The Woke Salaryman for further comments. /TISG Read also: Xishan Primary School says boy was assaulted by his own sibling after mother makes police report about bullying

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