Magic Candies is a 2024 Japanese animated short film directed by Daisuke Nishio, written by Baek Hee-na and produced by Japanese animation studio Toei Animation.[1] The story is inspired by the Korean picture book Magic Candies.[2] The 21-minute film took four years to complete.[3] It premiered at the 2024 New York International Children's Film Festival[4] and has received several nominations and awards, including a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 AFI Fest[5] and a nomination for the Best Short Film award at the London Film Festival.[6] On January 23, 2024, Magic Candies was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Animated Short Film category, marking the first Toei film to achieve that honor.[7]
| Magic Candies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Daisuke Nishio |
| Written by | Baek Hee-na |
| Produced by | Takashi Washio |
| Music by | Naoki Sato |
Production company | |
Running time | 21 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
Plot
editDong-Dong does not play with other kids, he prefers to play marbles on his own. One day, as he looks for new marbles, Dong-Dong buys a bag of colorful, marble-shaped candies instead. He soon discovers that when he pops one of them into his mouth, his old sofa begins to speak to him. For a few minutes, he chats with the sofa until the candy melts away. Thanks to these magic candies, Dong-Dong starts having special encounters with the world around him, and discovers new perspectives, including his own.[8]
Reception
edit| Year | Award | Award/Category | Status | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | New York International Children's Film Festival | Jury Award for Best Animated Short | Won | [9][10] |
| Zlín International Film Festival for Children and Youth | Golden Slipper for Best Short Animation for Children | Won | [11] | |
| AFI Fest | Grand Jury Prize | Nominated | [5] | |
| CineKid Festival | Best International Short Film | Won | [12] | |
| Sapporo International Short Film Festival | Japan Premiere Award | Won | [13] | |
| London Film Festival | Best Short Film | Nominated | [6] | |
| Cambridge Film Festival | Audience Award for Best Short Film | Won | [14] | |
| Giffoni Film Festival | Official Competition | Nominated | [15] | |
| Vancouver International Short Film Festival | International Competition | Nominated | [16] | |
| 2025 | Academy Awards | Best Animated Short Film | Nominated | [17] |
References
edit- ^ "백희�� 작가 원작 애니메이션 '알사탕' 한국어판 부국제에서 첫 선". iMBC 연예 (in Korean). 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ critic, Jackson MurphyJackson Murphy is a movie; Lights-Camera-Jackson.com, entertainment columnist He is the creator of the website; Television, Has Made Numerous Appearances on; radio. (2025-01-09). "INTERVIEW: A Taste Of "Magic Candies"". Animation Scoop. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (2025-01-10). "'Magic Candies' Producer Takashi Washio Shares the Sweet Surprises of His Oscar-Shortlisted Short". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ Kopian, Steve. "Magic Candies/ Klutzy Witch Double Feature at NYICFF 2024". Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ a b "MAGIC CANDIES | AFI FEST". Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ a b "Short Film Competition | BFI London Film Festival 2024". BFI London Film Festival 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ https://deadline.com/2025/01/2025-oscars-nominations-list-1236264399/
- ^ "Animated Short Archives". New York Int'l Children's Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ "Magic Candies". New York Int'l Children's Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (2024-03-21). "NYICFF Awards Oscar-Qualifying Prize to 'Magic Candies'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ SWTV (2024-09-20). "백희나 작가 원작 단편 애니메이션 '알사탕' 부국제서 한국어 버전 첫 상영". swtvnews.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Best Short Films of the Festival". cinekid.nl. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2024 | 第19回 札幌国際短編映画祭". SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2024 | 第19回 札幌国際短編映画祭. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2024 | 第19回 札幌国際短編映画祭". SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2024 | 第19回 札幌国際短編映画祭. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "MAGIC CANDIES". Giffoni. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
- ^ "Series: Cinemas of Asia". Vancouver International Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "The 97th Academy Awards | 2025". www.oscars.org. 2025-01-23. Retrieved 2025-01-24.