In an age dominated by sleek 3D visuals and AI-generated imagery, there are still artists devoted to the painstaking craft of hand-drawn animation. Skinny Fish (or “Kaun Trei,” “កូនត្រី” in Khmer) is set to become Cambodia’s first-ever feature film, fully hand-drawn at 24 frames per second.

The project was conceived by New Zealand filmmaker Brett Harston, who found inspiration while traveling through Cambodia. Teaming up with creatives from Phare Creative Studio–an organization that emerged from providing art workshops in wartime Cambodia–Skinny Fish was brought to life.

The film follows Rithy, a determined young swimmer born in the Cambodian monsoons, floods, and rivers, whose life is shaped by water. But when his mother falls gravely ill and money becomes scarce, the boy’s talent for diving turns into a source of exploitation. Guided only by his mother’s amulet, Rithy is pushed into a journey of survival, resilience, and defiance.

Skinny Fish is deeply rooted in Cambodian culture, drawing from local folklore and the country’s turbulent modern history. Even its visual identity is inspired by traditional Cambodian art styles and the textures of the country’s tropical landscape. “We do not copy any style,” said Chan Pagna, a Phare graduate and the film’s studio supervisor. “We want to create a style that reflects Cambodia’s identity.” The teaser already delivers on that promise, with a wash of rich monsoon blues, while golden tones evoke a sense of peaceful village life.

The project has also embraced a community-driven spirit, involving schoolchildren in the creative process and sharing production updates on social media to gather feedback. Cambodia still bears the scars of war and upheaval, which makes Phare’s work on Skinny Fish feel extra meaningful; they are not just making a film, but nurturing a future for the arts in Cambodia. And it all leads to one thing: Skinny Fish is not just a Cambodian story; it is one that could only be told by Cambodia. And while that sits outside of our regular coverage of the Chinese diaspora, it’s still an amazing milestone for Asia as a whole for global recognition of something incredibly, creatively, and intimately crafted.

Photos via Phare Creative Studio.