THE PERANAKANErvin Han, Co-Founder of Robot Playground Media, shares his journey of creating the Violinist,
an animated feature with a Peranakan heart
The Violinist is an upcoming full-length 2D animated feature by Robot Playground Media, a Singapore-based studio. The plot spans 90 years of Singapore’s history—from colonial rule, through World War II and the Japanese Occupation, to post-independence recovery. It follows two childhood friends, Fei and Kai, whose lives diverge during wartime but remain linked by a shared musical bond—an unfinished sonata.
The Peranakan Connection
The film opens in 1930s Singapore, in a wealthy Peranakan household. Fei, the protagonist, is a child of privilege, raised in a culturally rich environment that blends Chinese, Malay, and colonial influences. Her father is a pianist and nurtures her early love for Western classical music—common among elite Straits Chinese families of the era. It sets the context for Fei’s violin training and positions music as a key emotional thread throughout the film.
The production team worked closely with NUS Baba House, using it as a visual and cultural reference for Fei’s childhood home. Traditional design elements—from tiles and furniture to kebayas and culinary motifs—were faithfully adapted into the film’s animated world.
The team chose this setting for its layered, local significance, while the Peranakan community offers a natural convergence of history, identity, and transformation—ideal for a story about loss and rediscovery. For Ervin as Writer-Director, the film continues his long-running exploration of Singaporean identity through animation (The Violin, Downstairs).
Hence, the Peranakan identity isn’t just aesthetic but woven into the emotional core of the film. Fei’s character arc reflects how personal and cultural identity is shaped and tested by history and memory. Themes explored include courage, resilience, and the healing power of music. By foregrounding a Peranakan lens, the film preserves a nuanced aspect of Singapore’s heritage rarely seen in mainstream animation.
Production and Release
The Violinist is an international co-production with partners from Spain, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, and Canada, and officially supported by IMDA Singapore. The film premiered its market launch at Cannes Film Market (May 2025) and was featured in the Annecy International Animation Film Festival’s Work In Progress showcase (June 2025). It is currently in production, with completion targeted for early 2026 and a Singapore release in August 2026.
All images courtesy of Robot Playground Media
The Violinist is the first full-length animated feature from Singapore rooted entirely in local history and culture. Robot Playground Media welcomes support from commercial partners, brand sponsors, and cultural patrons to bring this story to a global audience. Please contact Low Ser En at seren@robotgroundplaymedia.comÂ
