Singapore has reached a defining moment on the global animation stage. The Violinist – a sweeping hand-drawn animated feature directed by Singaporean Ervin Han and Spaniard Raul Garcia, and supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) – has been selected for the Official Competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026.
This marks the first time a Singapore-produced animated feature has been selected for Annecy’s main competition in the festival’s 65-year history, placing the nation alongside the world’s leading animation filmmakers and studios. The festival is widely regarded as the highest honour in international animation and often described as the “Cannes of Animation.”
This represents a rare and significant milestone for Southeast Asian cinema, with few films from the region ever reaching this height in global recognition for animation.
A Singapore Story, Told on a Global Scale
Set against the backdrop of Singapore and Malaya across the early 20th century – including the Japanese Occupation – The Violinist traces the lives of two childhood friends whose lives are shaped and separated by war, time, and circumstance. Bound by music, their shared journey unfolds across decades, tracing a story of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory.
At a time when the world is once again confronting conflict, uncertainty, and shifting geopolitical realities, The Violinist feels particularly resonant. Its story of survival, displacement, and the fragile threads that hold communities together reflects not only Singapore’s own history of resilience, but also the enduring role of music in times of upheaval.
Rooted in Singapore’s history and heritage, the film has been developed as an international co-production, bringing together creative and financial partners across Europe and Asia.
A Singapore-Led Production of Unprecedented Scale
Produced by Robot Playground Media, The Violinist represents one of the most ambitious animated productions ever led out of Singapore for a global audience.
The film is an official co-production between Singapore, Spain, and Italy, led by Singapore’s Robot Playground Media, and produced in collaboration with Spain’s TV ON Producciones and Italy’s Altri Occhi. The project is being sold worldwide by France tv distribution, positioning the film for broad international reach across key European and global markets.
The project has been supported by public institutions and broadcasters across all three countries, including IMDA in Singapore, leading Spanish national and regional film bodies and public broadcasters such as ICAA, IVC, RTVE and À Punt, as well as national and regional support from Italy.
Music at the Heart of the Film
Music plays a central role in The Violinist, with an original score led by Golden Horse Award-winning Singaporean composer Ricky Ho, in collaboration with Spanish composer Isabel Latorre. The film features lead violin performances recorded by Singaporean violinist Joy Yong.
Blending classical influences with original compositions, the score anchors the emotional journey of the film and reinforces its themes of memory and connection.
A Breakthrough for Singapore and the Region
The selection of The Violinist into Annecy’s Official Competition places it in the company of the world’s most accomplished animated films and signals a step-change in how Singapore – and Southeast Asia – is perceived within the global animation industry.
It is not only a creative achievement, but also one of production vision, resilience, and international collaboration, overcoming significant challenges including operational disruptions and the complexities of coordinating across multiple territories.
Ervin Han, Co-Director and Co-Writer, says: “This project has taken more than a decade to realise. It grew out of a short film we made in 2015 for SG50, and over the years evolved into something far more ambitious – both in scale and in what it wants to say about Singapore’s past. To have The Violinist selected for Annecy’s Main Competition is incredibly meaningful. It’s not just recognition of the film, but of what our team has built from Singapore – working across countries and cultures, and in close collaboration with our co-producers in Spain and Italy, as well as the many partners around the globe who helped bring this film to life. We’re extremely proud to bring a Singapore story onto this stage, and to see it recognised at this level.”
Justin Deimen, Executive Producer of The Violinist, says: “The Violinist, while a Singapore-led production, was the culmination of years of cross-border collaborations across multiple countries, cultures and creative disciplines. The support and commitment of our partners made it possible to bring such diverse perspectives together and to transform them into a single unified vision. Much like Singapore’s own identity as a cultural melting pot, the film reflects how different voices and influences have come together to create something that resonates beyond borders.”
Yvonne Tang, Assistant Chief Executive, Media Industry Group, IMDA, says: “After nearly a decade in the making, The Violinist’s unprecedented selection for Annecy marks a significant milestone in the storytelling journeys of Singapore’s animation talent. This is a proud moment for Singapore’s animation industry and we look forward to The Violinist bringing Singapore’s culture, identity, and stories to even more audiences around the world.”
Premiere and Release
The Violinist will make its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2026, ahead of a planned international theatrical release, with discussions underway with distribution partners in key territories including Singapore.
DIRECTOR BIO (ERVIN HAN)
Ervin Han is a Singaporean filmmaker, producer, and co-founder of Robot Playground Media. His work spans animation across genres and audiences – from children’s content to adult-oriented storytelling – with a focus on developing original stories from Southeast Asia for international audiences.
Over the past decade, he has built and led cross-border pipelines spanning Asia and Europe, bringing together artists and studios across multiple countries. His works have been recognised at the International Emmys and Asian Academy Creative Awards, among other regional honours.
The Violinist marks his feature directorial debut – the culmination of more than ten years of development and a Singapore-led production realised on a global scale.
ABOUT ROBOT PLAYGROUND MEDIA
Founded in 2013 by Ervin Han and Bernard Toh, Robot Playground Media is a Singapore-based animation studio specialising in high-end visual development and international production for film, television, and digital content. The studio has built a reputation for delivering complex, multi-country productions, collaborating with global partners including The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Toonz Media Group. It continues to develop original content while managing end-to-end pipelines across Asia and Europe.
The Violinist represents its most ambitious project to date, reflecting a boutique-led approach to large-scale premium animation and positioning the studio among a new generation of Southeast Asian companies operating on the global stage.
ABOUT IMDA
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore’s digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore’s Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis.
For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg), Facebook (IMDAsg) and Instagram (@imdasg).
PRODUCTION FACT SHEET
- Runtime: 114 min
- Technique: 2D Hand-drawn and CG
- Countries: Singapore, Spain, Italy (+ international partners)
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Directors: Ervin Han, Raul Garcia
- Screenwriters: Ervin Han, Jordan K See
- Original story: Ervin Han
- Composer: Ricky Ho (Main), Isabel Latorre (Additional music)
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