Key information
The animated short film Boom! Grandpa, Boom!, directed by June Lee, recently received the Bronze Award at the 26th Bahamut ACG Awards. Created as a graduation project, the film serves as a personal exploration of loss, inspired by the director's late grandfather and his penchant for gambling and drinking.
The narrative follows a five-year-old girl who ventures into a fantastical underworld to rescue her grandfather, who continues his gambling habits in the afterlife. Lee utilizes a unique visual style combining ink-wash aesthetics with modern 2D animation techniques, developed using Toon Boom software and custom brushes to manage production time efficiently.
Lee intentionally avoided a tragic tone, opting instead for black humor to make the film accessible and comforting. The director notes that the film's static character arcs and whimsical elements, such as a lion-dog portal, were designed to entertain while addressing the serious theme of death. The voice acting features the director's family members, providing an authentic Taiwanese Hokkien performance.
The project, which took eight to nine months to complete, incorporates folklore elements like the Naihe Bridge. Lee hopes the work offers solace to those grieving, suggesting that loved ones might simply be busy enjoying their favorite pastimes in the afterlife.
