Daven Tamayo

PH’s first full-length AI-animated film explores China’s ‘fat lady’ figurines

Article (news)

Josh Mercado

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784271310125image0 (4).jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A scene from ‘Plump Blossom.’ <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — For the first time in Philippine cinema history, Pinay producer Rosanna Hwang is set to release a full-length animated film entirely powered by artificial intelligence (AI).</p><p>During a press conference on Friday at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City, Hwang announced her latest project &quot;Plump Blossom,&quot; an animated feature about China&#x27;s Tang Dynasty.</p><p>Promoting the use of AI, Hwang explained that the animated musical, which features the voices of Pinoy talents Candice Tan, VJ Don Puno, Gutch Gutierrez, Chad Williams, Thunderson Tan, Yeng Her, and Audie Gemora, took months to write, direct, edit, redesign, experiment, and refine using AI.</p><p>“AI didn’t make this movie. People did. AI was simply one of the many tools we used. The heart, the storytelling, the music, and every creative choice came from human hands,” Hwang clarified, adding that while the technology created it, the creative team was responsible for manipulating the AI.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784271345363image1 (2).jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The women of ‘Plump Blossom’ led by Rossana Hwang (in black) meet the press. <em>Josh Mercado</em></span></span></span></div><p>According to the Chinoy producer, using AI also helped her cut production costs. &quot;AI is not the enemy. It&#x27;s a tool. We should embrace it as long as we are open about it and continue to use human hands to refine the final product,” Hwang said.</p><p>“And we&#x27;re proud of this animated film because it features the voices of talented Pinoy artists,” she added.</p><p>Aside from its Philippine premiere on September 23, the film will also be shown at the Mid-Autumn Festival, a popular harvest holiday in China also known as the Mooncake Festival, when families gather to celebrate the brightest full moon of the year by eating mooncakes, drinking tea, and displaying traditional lanterns.</p><p>“I understand that most Filipinos prefer to watch films on streaming platforms, but in China, people still prefer to see movies on large screens. Watching movies in a cinema is special because you can hear the music clearly and see the visuals perfectly. I hope we continue this cinematic tradition,” she shared.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784271377042image0 (3).jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rossana Hwang (in black) promotes animated film ‘Plump Blossom.’ <em>Josh Mercado</em></span></span></span></div><p>Hwang also stated that the film will explain why princesses during the Tang Dynasty were mostly &quot;healthy&quot; or branded as &quot;fat figures,&quot; as opposed to the popular belief that princesses were &quot;too sexy&quot; or &quot;too perfect.&quot;</p><p>“Today, popular culture frequently associates beauty with thinness. However, &#x27;Plump Blossom&#x27; takes place around 1,400 years ago, during China&#x27;s Tang Dynasty, when beauty ideals were vastly different. Noblewomen with fuller figures are depicted in historical figurines, paintings, and sculptures from the time period, as a symbol of prosperity, health, elegance, and social status. Many museum collections even refer to these works as &#x27;Fat Lady&#x27; figurines,” she ended.</p>

<p>For the first time in Philippine cinema history, Pinay producer Rosanna Hwang is set to release a full-length animated film entirely powered by artificial intelligence (AI).</p>

For the first time in Philippine cinema history, Pinay producer Rosanna Hwang is set to release a full-length animated film entirely powered by artificial intelligence (AI).