In 2023, Phare Creative Studio (PCS) stood out in the world of animation, bringing fresh stories and creativity to the forefront. The excitement continued as the Cambodian social enterprise received a nomination at the 2024 World Summit Awards (WSA) in the Culture & Heritage category.

This prestigious award celebrates digital creations worldwide that contribute positively to society. 

“We are honoured by the nomination, reflecting 16 years of Cambodian creations dedicated to social good. Our work encompasses child protection, gender equity, workers’ rights, environmental preservation, health prevention and empowerment through the arts,” says Huot Dara, CEO of PCS and Phare Performing Social Enterprise (PPSE).

PCS is operated by PPSE, a social business owned by Phare Ponleu Selpak – a renowned non-profit arts school based in Battambang province – Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation and private investors.

This piece is the first of PCS’ animations to be featured in festivals worldwide. The film’s inclusion in five international festivals – Cambodia International Film Festival; Indonesia CRAFT Animfest; China’s Shenzhen Youth Film Festival; Georgia’s Tbilisi International Animation Festival; and Taipei Asian Film Festival – signifies a significant step in putting Cambodian animation on the global stage.

“We believe in using information and communication technologies for sustainable development. We hope our nomination raises awareness of innovative work in Cambodia. Fingers crossed for the winners’ announcement in February 2024!” says Dara. 

One of their acclaimed works, Daughter of Mother Nature, is a cultural milestone for Cambodia and a beacon of environmental awareness. 

The story, co-produced with Baramey Production, follows Thida, featured as Mother Nature’s daughter, inheriting the power to protect nature from pollution and destruction. 

Alongside two friends, she embarks on magical adventures across Cambodia, communicating with the spirit world to fight for Mother Nature’s protection.

“Sprouting from the 1 River Music Festival’s plastic reduction campaign, this project has evolved into a potent tool for environmental action,” says co-author and Baramey CEO Laura Mam.

Cultural narrative unveiled

This accomplishment was made possible with crucial support from partners, including the Ministry of Environment, UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia, and the Swedish embassy in Phnom Penh. The EU Delegation to Cambodia and Forte Insurance also provided support to contribute to the project’s success.

Transcending cultural boundaries, this animation weaves a narrative that highlights the universally urgent need for environmental stewardship. 

Daughter of Mother Nature – featuring the voices of popular singer Sopheak Kosoma as Thida and renowned Cambodian rapper Vann Da as Prayuth, and aiming to inspire youth as environmental guardians – has already garnered over 4 million views since its social media launch. 

“This film showcases Cambodian youth actively protecting the environment, inspiring global efforts to do the same,” says Mam.

She says the story addresses a universal issue, spotlighting the importance of protecting the planet. Environmental challenges, she adds, transcend borders, underscoring the necessity for a unified effort in resolving them.

Yan Athisok, the animator and cameraman behind the campaign animation, shares his emotions upon learning about the film’s nomination for the WSA 2024. 

“I am truly excited to see our film nominated for an international award. My hope is that it not only wins but also inspires youth to engage both with animation and social issues,” he tells The Post. 

Athisok, an animation student at PCS, shares that the 17-minute Daughter of Mother Nature took approximately three months to create as a stop-motion animation project.

Due to time constraints, the team opted for stop-motion animation over 2D, as the latter typically takes twice as much time to complete.

Fresh original creations

Adding to their achievements, the studio set itself a new goal after winning the UNDP’s Innovation Challenge last year. This success stemmed from their impactful environmental campaign, “Fight the Monster, Beat Plastic”.

The campaign gained attention when featured by the environment ministry during the 3rd National Plastic Forum in April 2023. 

PCS’ Daughter of Mother Nature was voiced by several artists, including well-known rapper Vann Da. PCS

Notably, the plastic monster puppet roaming among participants captured imaginations.

Beyond animation, PCS dives into designing comprehensive communication strategies such as the “No More Waste, It starts with you!” campaign, developed for the Asia Foundation, which showcases their ongoing commitment to addressing environmental challenges.

Morgane Darrasse, PCS’ communication manager, notes the studio’s fresh dedication to inspiring positive behavioural change through effective communication campaigns.

“We place the Cambodian people at the core of idea generation and problem-solving for development issues that directly impact them,” she says.

“We’re thrilled to share that we’ve been nominated for the esteemed Best of the Best Awards, celebrating top-quality businesses worldwide,” Darrasse tells The Post. 

PCS made history by revealing its inaugural intellectual property (IP) project, Make a Wish, as a festive tribute to Khmer New Year. Helmed by director Mil Kosal, the project seamlessly combines 2D and 3D animation, showcasing a fresh stylistic direction for the studio.

“We aim to craft impactful content through collaborations with our funding partners, and when feasible, generate more original creations,” says Dara.

Crafting cultural stories

In the unique narrative Make a Wish produced last year, Angel Kemera Devi descends to safeguard the Earth with her buffalo, drawing from Cambodian folklore. 

The legend depicts her performing a ceremonial circle around Mount Meru or Sumeru while carrying her father’s head for three days before descending to Earth. 

Subsequently, she returns to the Kurunthamalai temple in heaven, aiming to bestow happiness and favourable weather for bountiful harvests, bringing with her the Year of the Rabbit in a special twist. 

This distinctive creation by PCS draws inspiration from the traditional tale of Sangkran and earned recognition at the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival 2023. 

“The two-minute animation delves into the tradition and culture of the Khmer New Year, exploring Kemera Devi’s history, including her name, costume colour, animal transportation and the type of weapon she uses,” Kosal tells The Post. 

Graduating from Phare in 2017 and starting his work there in 2018, Kosal and his team utilised their knowledge of Cambodian culture to craft a new story. 

“We aim to create impactful content with our funding partners and, whenever possible, produce more original work,” Dara says.

“As a creative arts organisation, we prioritise signing our own creations and granting complete freedom to authors and artists. We advocate for fresh ideas and narratives, with our only rule being to tell stories that resonate with and hold significance for Cambodians,” he says.

Darrasse states her enthusiasm for building on the current momentum, aiming to push the boundaries of creativity and deliver impactful creations. She shares the studio’s aspirations to expand its presence in the Cambodian film industry and regional arts scene.

Highlighting the increased recognition this year in advanced 2D animation, she says that this sets them apart from agencies focused on simpler animated info graphics. While their primary platform is social media, they are open to other avenues for showcasing their work.

She attributes the studio’s strength to Phare’s ingrained inquisitive spirit and expresses admiration for Cambodian artists like Mam, Vann Da and filmmaker Davy Chou, feeling honoured to have engaged with them.