4D Animated Film LONGLONG Wins the UNICEF Award for International Festival Cartoons on the Bay in Italy

The 29^th International Festival Cartoons on the Bay was held in Pescara, Italy, from May 29 to June 1, 2025. The 4D animated film LONGLONG, co-produced by the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM) and the Shanghai Animation Film Studio (SAFS), was honored with the UNICEF Award, which recognizes outstanding works that demonstrate social responsibility and convey positive values in children’s content creation.

Inspired by the Asian elephant “Longlong,” the film centers on themes such as biodiversity conservation, ecological symbiosis, and harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants. It tells an adventurous journey between a young boy and a baby elephant in the tropical rainforest of Xishuangbanna. Since its official premiere at the 4D Theater of the Shanghai Natural History Museum (SNHM) on October 1, 2024, the film has received wide acclaim from audiences. Through an engaging and educational approach, it presents the concept of global environmental protection in an accessible and meaningful way, particularly for younger viewers. The film embodies SSTM’s active efforts to integrate science communication with ecological conversation education.

LONGLONG previously won the Best Short Film at the 20^th Chinese American Film Festival and was shortlisted for the “World Cinema” section of the 14^th CMS International Children’s Film Festival in India. It continues to showcase the influence and appeal of original Chinese science-themed films on the international stage.

As one of the producers, SSTM will continue to explore the potential of blending natural science with visual arts, tell compelling stories of Chinese ecological conservation, and create science communication works that embody both scientific spirit and humanistic care.