Animated feature film with Life of the Buddha
To be released soon
By Jon Fernquest[Introduction|Article]
[Reading Questions|Answers]
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A new animated cartoon film depicting the Life of the Buddha and produced in Thailand is to be released in the near future.
Thai cartoonists and animators have built up a significant amount of experience over the years
This experience has been gained by working on state of the art animations either at famous foreign animation companies or at Thai companies sub-contracting with them.
Unlike other religions which have one book for their sacred scriptures, the Buddhist religion needs several bookshelves to hold all the sacred scriptures (Tipitaka).
The details of the Buddha's life are spread over many books and are quite complex.
So the film producers have enlisted the help of expert monks to check and monitor whether the film follows the details of Buddhist scriptures accurately or not.
The real difficult trick seems to have been to make the story entertaining and easy to follow for children while at the same time keeping the film true to the Buddhist scriptures (Tipitaka).
This has been difficult in the past.
When the film Angulimala was released in 2003 there were protests that the film did not accurately follow the Buddhist scriptures (Tipitaka).
Things will be different this time.
state of the art - using the latest technology
sub-contract - make a contract with a larger company to do part of its work for them
enlisted the help of - asked to help them
Reading Questions
Here are some questions to guide your reading (See answers at end):1. How long is the film in hours?
2. What languages will the film be released in?
3. Does the dialogue of the film follow Buddhist scriptures?
4. How is the Buddha's battle with Mara depicted to make it easier for children to understand? How does this simplify things?
5. How has the film been made easier for younger viewers to watch?
6. What episodes of the film demonstrate the Law of Karma?
7. Why is Phra Moggallana depicted as strong and muscular and Phra Sariputra as physically weak?
8. What are some other examples of realistic details in the film?
9. Why is the film such a good teaching tool for Buddhist studies?
10. What is an inaccuracy in the original script that had to be corrected?
11. What kind of experts checked and monitored the accuracy of the film?
12. How did the film ensure accurate visual details for the places that the Buddha visited during his life?
13. How did Thai animators acquire their animation experience?
14. How many images are there in the whole film?
15. How many years ago was the project started?
16. Do they have any plans to release the film in a television version?
Bangkok Post Article March 28, 2007
'Life of the Buddha'
A new cartoon aims to adhere strictly to the Tipitaka while telling the story of Prince Siddhartha PICHAYA SVASTI, Photos courtesy of MEDIA STANDARD COMPANY
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Animated Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
At his birth, Prince Siddhartha was able to walk on magic lotus flowers. The prince grew up in a big, beautiful city, surrounded with luxuries. Married with one son, he started to question the meaning of life before fleeing the palace to find the ultimate truth. (Photo on right: The beautiful castle where Prince Siddhartha lived before becoming the Lord Buddha.)
During the moments leading to his enlightenment, the prince sat under a tree, facing an army of devils in various manifestations, attempting to seduce and distract him from his spiritual goals.
These scenes are from a new animation film, Life of the Buddha, to be screened across the country on December 5 to celebrate His Majesty the King's 80th birthday.
While certain scenes, such as walking on lotus flowers, may be questioned by modern minds, the animation project's president, Wallapa Pimtong, said the story is true to the Tipitaka and the Buddhist canon.
The cartoon runs for 100 minutes, and depicts the life of the Lord Buddha from his birth, ordination, enlightenment and pilgrimages to his passing to nirvana. It will be dubbed into at least five languages - English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and German.
adhere strictly to - follow exactly
Tipitaka - the collection of Buddhist sacred writings, originally written in the Indian language of Pali (See Wikipedia)
manifestations - different ways it appears
seduce - change someone's behaviour by attractive appearance
distract - takes your attention away from what you are doing
the Buddhist canon - the sacred writings of Buddhism (many volumes)
ordination - the ceremony to become a monk
pilgrimages - a trip to an important religious place to worship and pay respect
dubbed into - translating the dialogue of a movie into another language
The Screenplay
The screenplay, written by Ampira Wongdhamma, begins when a deity is born as the prince who will become the Lord Buddha.
It also depicts miracles described in the Tipitaka. Audiences, she said, will be treated to dazzling scenes of miracles, such as when the Three Worlds reveal themselves when the Lord Buddha descends from heaven to visit his mother, Queen Sirimahamaya.
In this film, the Lord Buddha's sayings are direct quotes from the Buddhist canon while conversations have been simplified.
To make it easier for children to understand the Lord Buddha's battles with the Devil (evils and lusts) in his mind, Mara is portrayed in this film as a frightening character.
a deity - a god
depicts - shows in the film
miracles - surprising events that go beyond science (and the normal laws of physics)
dazzling - impressive in skill and beauty
Three Worlds - the three different Buddhist worlds: Kamaloka, Rupaloka, Arupaloka (See explanation) lusts - sexual desire
portrayed - shows in the film
The frightening Mara:
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Fun scenes have been included after serious scenes to give younger viewers a break. One example is the Indian-style dancing scene, where Sujata and other women are preparing a special meal (called Khao Mathupayas) for the Lord Buddha, before his enlightenment.
One of the themes in the movie is the Law of Karma. For example, Phra Devadatta, a Buddhist monk who had plotted to disunite the Sangha community and kill the Lord Buddha several times, finally dies.
This law is inevitable even for arahants, or enlightened ones. For example, Phra Moggallana, one of the Lord Buddha's closest disciples, faces a violent death despite his arahantship because he had killed his parents in a previous life.
Law of Karma - actions in the past have effects in the present (See Buddhist Encyclopedia and Wikipedia)
Devadatta - the cousin of the Buddha who created division among the monks (See Buddhist Encyclopedia and Wikipedia)
disunite - make less united ("dis" means "the opposite action")
the Sangha - the organisation of monks in Buddhism
inevitable - will surely happen
arahants -
Phra Moggallana - the disciple of the Buddha most famous for his supernatural powers (See Biography and Wikipedia and on relics)
Angulimala, ...
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"Although every detail is according to the Tipitaka, the characters are portrayed as human, with joys, disappointments and sorrows," Wallapa said.
For director Assoc Prof Dr Krismant Whattananarong, this is a great challenge.
For example, portraying Phra Moggallana as strong and muscular, and Phra Sariputra as physically weak, does not come out of thin air. It comes from the Buddhist canon.
The banks of the Anoma River, where Prince Siddhartha left the secular world, is also a white sandy beach, not rocky. The tree under which the Lord Buddha lay before passing to parinirvana, is tall and slim, not full of branches and leaves.
"We are confident that every detail is true to the Tipitaka. So, teachers can use this animation as a teaching tool," he said.
One of the people waiting anxiously for the completion of this animation is Phra Sudhivoryarn, chairman of the content review committee. "It will certainly help make the Lord Buddha's life more accessible to children," he said.
... Prince Siddhartha ...
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Angulimala - a ruthless killer who is redeemed by conversion to Buddhism (See Angulimala Sutta and Wikipedia)
Mara - the demon who tempts the Buddha and distracts him from his goal (some see Mara as an psychological force, a metaphor for the doubt and temptation that obstructs religious practice; See Wikipedia)
Sariputra - an important disciple of the Buddha, Sariputra often preached with the Buddha's approval and was awarded the title of 'General of the Dharma' (Pali: Dhammasenapati) for his propagation of the faith and is regarded as the founder of the Abhidharma tradition (See Biography and Wikipedia)
does not come out of thin air - is not produced from nothing, actually is based on something
waiting anxiously - worried and nervous about a long delay (because he wants the positive message to get out to help children)
make accessible - simple enough so that people can appreciate easily
Ensuring Correctness of Details
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(Photo above: The project's president, Wallapa Pimtong, at work. — YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK)
The project, she said, had its fair share of obstacles. After almost two years in pre-production, for example, the team had to revise the screenplay when it was found that certain segments were not true to the Tipitaka.
For example, the old script said that Mara dwells in a cave, but Mara is described in the Tipitaka as living in the top level of heaven, called Poranimmittavatsavati.
To prevent similar mistakes, the whole script has been reviewed by experts at Mahachulalongkorn- rajavidyalaya University, said Wallapa.
Wallapa added that difficulties for this production involved not only the creation of characters, scenes and movements, but also the need to ensure the reliability of geographical facts that required analysis of every scene by experts.
Fortunately, there was no need for the production team to survey locations in India and Nepal themselves - they could check photos, provided by Wallapa, who studied at Magadh University, India.
To ensure the contents were correct, a special committee of experts and monks, appointed by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University president Phra Dhammakosajarn, held monthly meetings.
"The monks, especially committee chairman Phra Sudhivoryarn and deputy chairman Phra Srithawatmaythee, would check everything, from the screenplay to characters and movements. Everything had to be approved by them," Wallapa recalled.
pre-production - the steps before production of an animated film actually begins: script, storyboard, design, color key, and timing
revise - write again to improve
a screenplay - the dialogue of what is said in the film (printed on paper to read)
true to - details match original story
reliability - works the way you expected
Animation
According to Wallapa, this is Thailand's first full-length animated movie since Sudsakorn, produced by Payut Ngao-krajang in 1979. The team making the movie consisted of some 50 to 60 cartoonists and animators, many with over 10 years of experience in Hollywood and foreign animation companies.
Anusorn Rodsook, an experienced animator who had been part of Toei Animation's production of Galaxy Express, Saint Seiya and Sailor Moon, said Thai cartoonists and animators excel at such work and are among the first choices for foreign animation companies.
"The entire movie consists of over one million drawings. Each minute on the screen took months of production. There was a lot to do, from scriptwriting, storyboarding, layouts, characterisation and background animation to computerisation," she said.
storyboarding - planning the story with a series of pictures or cartoons on a board
layouts - the general way that things are arranged in a film's frames
characterisation - making interesting characters for the story
Finance and Distribution
The 108 million baht project, mostly funded by Wallapa's Media Standard Company, was started in late 2003 by the firm and the Dharma Cartoon Group, with advice from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.
According to Wallapa, the only sponsorship the project has received is in the form of public relations support from six state agencies and financial support to the tune of five million baht from the Young Buddhists' Association of Thailand. The company is also hoping the film will be broadcast as a series on Channel 7.
Hoping to distribute the cartoon in the West, where interest in Buddhism is on the rise, Wallapa said they were seeking a distribution deal in Los Angeles.
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University - a major Buddhist university in Thailand
Young Buddhists' Association of Thailand (YBAT) - important Buddhist youth group in Thailand under Royal Patronage (See Website)
Donations
Those wishing to support this film may donate 1,500 baht to buy a copy of a book entitled 'The Making of the Life of Buddha' for a needy school of their choice. The book is illustrated with scenes from the cartoon as well as providing readers with cartoon drawing techniques. For more information, call 02-556-1366/7 or email wallapa28@yahoo.com.
Answer Key:
1. How long is the film in hours?
The film runs 1 and 2/3rds hours.
2. What languages will the film be released in?
English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and German.
3. Does the dialogue of the film follow Buddhist scriptures?
The most important parts of the film follow the Buddhist scriptures exactly. Direct quotes are used for what the Buddha says. Only conversations are simplified to make the film easy to watch.
4. How is the Buddha's battle with Mara depicted to make it easier for children to understand? How does this simplify things?
Mara is depicted as a frightening character that looks like a monster, even though many Buddhist thinkers believe that Mara represents psychological states in the mind such as lust.
5. How has the film been made easier for younger viewers to watch?
Serious scenes are followed by fun scenes.
6. What episodes of the film demonstrate the Law of Karma?
a. The death of Devadatta after trying to split the Sangha and murder his cousin the Buddha.
b. Despite Phra Moggallana's enlightenment and status as an important disciple of the Buddha, he died a violent death because of bad things he had done in a previous life.
7. Why is Phra Moggallana depicted as strong and muscular and Phra Sariputra as physically weak?
Because that is the way it is depicted in the Tipitaka.
8. What are some other examples of realistic details in the film?
a. The Anoma River where the Buddha left secular life, is depicted as the actual river in Nepal with a white sandy beach and not rocky.
b. The tree under which the Buddha attained to Parinirvana is tall and slim not full of branches and leaves.
9. Why is the film such a good teaching tool for Buddhist studies?
Because the details of the film match the Tipitaka.
10. What is an inaccuracy in the original script that had to be corrected?
The original script has MAra live in a cave, but Mara actually lives at the top level of heaven.
11. What kind of experts checked and monitored the accuracy of the film?
A committee of knowledgeable monks from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Buddhist university.
12. How did the film ensure accurate visual details for the places that the Buddha visited during his life?
They used photos of locations in India and Nepal.
13. How did Thai animators acquire their animation experience?
a. Many of them had several years of experience in Hollywood and foreign animation companies.
b. Thai animation companies such as Toei Animation are often hired by foreign animation companies to do animation work.
14. How many images are there in the whole film?
There are over one million images or drawings.
15. How many years ago was the project started?
About four years ago in 2003.
16. Do they have any plans to release the film in a television version?
Yes, they would like to broadcast it as a television series on Channel 7.
