TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese animation director Joe Hsieh (謝文明) has achieved an unprecedented milestone for his island nation's cinema by securing a finalist position for his animated short film "Praying Mantis" (螳螂) in the prestigious Orizzonti Award competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival (威尼斯影展), one of the world's oldest and most influential film festivals. Festival organizers revealed on Thursday (July 17) that Hsieh's work had been selected among just 14 finalists competing for the Best Short Film honor, marking the first time a Taiwanese animated short has reached this level of recognition in the festival's competitive section.
The darkly compelling narrative of "Praying Mantis" centers on a predatory female character who, under the guise of heavy makeup, methodically entices men in a bar setting before killing them and using their remains to feed her children—a macabre premise that takes an unexpected turn when a mishap disrupts her lethal routine and triggers a cascade of dramatic consequences. Hsieh's distinctive visual aesthetic meticulously recreates Taiwan's traditional street architecture infused with the neon-lit ambiance of 1980s nightlife and bar culture. The director's decision to present the entire script in Taiwanese language, rather than Mandarin Chinese, adds cultural authenticity and atmospheric depth to this uniquely positioned horror animation.
The production features an impressive assembly of Taiwanese cinema talent, with voice performances by several acclaimed actors including Golden Horse Award-winning Best Actress Shu-fang Chen (陳淑芳) and Best Supporting Actor Bamboo Chen (陳竹昇), alongside accomplished actress Vera Chen (陳雪甄). Behind the camera, the project benefits from the guidance of celebrated producer Yonfan (楊凡) and the meticulous sound design of Duu-chih Tu (杜篤之), widely regarded as one of Asia's premier sound engineers. The screenplay emerged from a creative partnership between director Hsieh and co-writer Chun-Chieh Chan (詹傑), whose previous work includes the successful theatrical production "Don't Cry, Dancing Girls the Musical" (勸世三姊妹).
The ambitious artistic undertaking required a four-year production process, during which Hsieh directed a dedicated team of 40 Taiwanese animators and production staff members working entirely within the island's domestic animation industry. The creators employed painstaking 2D frame-by-frame animation techniques to achieve remarkably detailed visuals reminiscent of intricate pencil sketches. Festival organizers have scheduled the awards announcement for September 7 (Taiwan time) as part of the broader Venice Biennale, Italy's renowned international cultural exhibition that encompasses multiple artistic disciplines including music, dance, architecture, and visual arts. ◼
