3D Animation Adapts Ru Ri's Best-Selling Children's Book, Marking Director Youm Kyu-bock's Feature Debut

Still from Long Long Night poster (watchapedia)

The 3D animated feature Long Long Night has been invited to the Centrepiece section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Distributor The Contents On announced the selection on August 6, confirming that the film will have its world premiere at the festival.

TIFF is widely regarded as the largest film festival in North America. Centrepiece, the section in which Long Long Night has been selected, showcases notable films from around the world. The 51st edition of the festival will run from September 10 to 20 in Toronto, Canada.

The Journey of a White Rock Rhinoceros and a Penguin — A 3D Animation Rooted in a True Story

Long Long Night follows Norden, the last white rock rhinoceros remaining on Earth, and a young penguin hatched from an abandoned egg, as they journey toward the ocean. Having each lost someone dear to them, the two lean on one another throughout their journey. The story draws its origin from the real-life case of Sudan, the last surviving northern white rhino. The film was produced using Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D creation platform.

The film is based on the picture book of the same title, written and illustrated by author Ru Ri. The book won the grand prize at the 21st Munhakdongne Children's Literature Award and has sold more than 800,000 copies in Korea, where it has also been adapted into a pansori musical drama and a stage musical.

Giovanna Fulvi, TIFF's senior international programmer, described Long Long Night as rendering a world where natural beauty and human-made danger coexist, brought to life through delicate, vivid visuals.* She added that the film conveys, with warmth, the themes of friendship, resilience, and the strength of relationships that sustain people.

From the Berlin Market to Toronto — Director Youm Kyu-bock's Feature Debut

International sales for the film are being handled by Finecut. Finecut first introduced Long Long Night to overseas buyers at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, Germany, this past February. The project, then presented at the project stage, will now be unveiled in its completed form at this year's festival.

The Contents On noted that this marks the first time in 13 years that TIFF has invited a Korean animated feature. The previous instance was director Yeon Sang-ho's The Fake in 2013.

Director Youm Kyu-bock has worked in advertising production for roughly 20 years. He has also published several books, including the picture book Kkuk Kkuk,** but Long Long Night marks his debut as a feature film director.

Long Long Night is set to make its premiere in Toronto this September. Having traveled from page to stage and now to screen, the film's reception among international audiences will be closely watched.

Sources

• Segye Ilbo, "Korean Animated Feature Long Long Night Invited to Toronto Film Festival," 2026.08.06

•Yonhap News Agency, "3D Animation Long Long Night Invited to Toronto Film Festival... Based on Bestselling Children's Book," 2026.08.06

•Screen Daily, "Korean animation Long Long Night grows Finecut's EFM slate," 2026.02.11