Actors Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul have lent their voices to the animated film 'Gills', based on author Ku Byeong-mo's bestselling novel of the same name.
The film 'Gills' tells a dazzling story about Gon, the only child born with gills in a world after being cast into deep water, and the beings who meant everything to his world.
Directed by Ahn Jae-hoon, a leading figure in Korean animation beloved for works such as 'Green Days' and 'The Shaman Sorceress', the film adapts author Ku Byeong-mo's acclaimed bestseller, which has captured global attention.
Ahead of its domestic release, the movie has drawn significant spotlight by being invited to prestigious international events, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, FrightFest in London, UK, the 24 Frame Future Film Festival in Bologna, Italy, the Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan, and the Taichung International Animation Festival in Taiwan.
The sorrowful destiny of Gon, who develops gills on the boundary between life and death and is rescued by strangers to live as someone non-existent in the world, is brought to life with profound resonance through the exceptional performances of Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul, who voiced Gon and Kang-ha respectively.
Expressing his thoughts on joining 'Gills', Jung Hae-in shared, "It is both grateful and fascinating. As a fan of the original work, I am simply happy to be a part of this project." Regarding his character Gon, a half-human merman, he offered an in-depth interpretation: "Although he lives cut off from the world, deep down he always carries a sense of deficiency and loneliness, constantly wondering if he is someone who has the right to exist, and if he can be acknowledged and loved by someone. It combines the anxiety and solitude unique to a survivor with a desire to reach out to someone."
He also raised expectations for the film by adding, "The cool and beautiful emotional sentiment of the original novel is unfolded even more delicately and sensibly within the genre of animation." Explaining his focus for voice acting, he noted, "I wanted to capture well the faint yet clearly breathing voice of emotion."
Meanwhile, Kang Ha-neul, who has long had a strong interest in dubbing work, shared his thoughts on joining the project, saying, "I had always hoped for a good opportunity to come along someday, and I am grateful to participate in 'Gills'. From the moment I first read the script, I felt a strong attraction to the subject matter itself." He introduced his character by saying, "I think Kang-ha is a clumsy figure both inside and out. Through meeting Gon, he gradually comes to understand what it means to be human and warm."
Furthermore, he shared his initial impression of the animated film, stating, "Just by looking at the light and colors of the key art drawn before the script, I was able to instantly immerse myself and read it through to the end."
'Gills' features a vibrant ensemble cast adding rich colors to the film, including Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul alongside Yoo Jae-myung, musical actor Kim Sunyoung, Jang Won-young, Kwon Hae-hyo, Jung Woong-in, Jo Han-chul, Park Ji-yeon, and Hwang Sang-kyung. It will hit theaters nationwide on September 9.
(SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kim Ji-hye)
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