Let’s start with the ending: Magic Candies didn’t win the Oscar. At the 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the award for Best Animated Short Film went to In the Shadow of the Cypress from Iran.
But even without the win, Magic Candies made history — and for many of us, that alone is a triumph worth celebrating.
This 21-minute animated short, directed by Toei Animation legends Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio, was based on the beloved Korean picture book by Baek Hee-na. While the film received critical acclaim in Korea for its creativity and originality, it emerged from an industry landscape where creators like Baek often face unfavorable "buyout contracts" that offer little long-term benefit. In this context, Magic Candies becoming an Oscar nominee is not just impressive — it’s hopeful.
It points to the growing potential of international collaboration. Partnering with a powerhouse like Japan’s Toei Animation — known for Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and One Piece — helped bring a Korean author’s emotional, imaginative storytelling to the world stage.
What Is Magic Candies?
© Baek Hee-na, Toei Animation
Based on Baek Hee-na’s picture book of the same name, Magic Candies tells the story of Dong-Dong, a quiet boy who struggles to connect with others. One day, instead of buying more marbles for his solitary games, he picks up a bag of colorful candies — and everything changes.
As soon as he pops one into his mouth, his old couch starts to talk. So begins a journey where Dong-Dong begins hearing the voices of people, animals, and objects around him. With every candy, he uncovers new perspectives — and eventually, his own voice.
The New York International Children’s Film Festival, where the film premiered in March 2024, described it as "heartfelt and totally strange." And it is — in the best possible way. The film offers a whimsical, touching reminder to see value in the world and people we often overlook.
Baek Hee-na’s World, Reimagined Through CGI
Baek Hee-na is known for her signature creative process: crafting handmade dolls and sets, photographing them with intricate care, and building emotionally resonant stories frame by frame. Though Magic Candies is fully CGI, you wouldn’t guess it at first. The animation captures the textured charm and warmth of Baek’s signature dolls so vividly that it feels like stop-motion.
From Dong-Dong’s fuzzy sweater to the vastness of the landscapes, every detail is rendered with extraordinary depth. Even the Japanese dub, delivered in Kansai dialect, breathes playful rhythm into the dialogue — turning this solo picture book into a full-blown concerto of emotions.
A “Pretty Cure” for Animation Boundaries
Based on Baek Hee-na’s picture book of the same name, Magic Candies tells the story of Dong-Dong, a quiet boy who struggles to connect with others. One day, instead of buying more marbles for his solitary games, he picks up a bag of colorful candies — and everything changes.
As soon as he pops one into his mouth, his old couch starts to talk. So begins a journey where Dong-Dong begins hearing the voices of people, animals, and objects around him. With every candy, he uncovers new perspectives — and eventually, his own voice.
The New York International Children’s Film Festival, where the film premiered in March 2024, described it as "heartfelt and totally strange." And it is — in the best possible way. The film offers a whimsical, touching reminder to see value in the world and people we often overlook.
Baek Hee-na’s World, Reimagined Through CGI
Baek Hee-na is known for her signature creative process: crafting handmade dolls and sets, photographing them with intricate care, and building emotionally resonant stories frame by frame. Though Magic Candies is fully CGI, you wouldn’t guess it at first. The animation captures the textured charm and warmth of Baek’s signature dolls so vividly that it feels like stop-motion.
From Dong-Dong’s fuzzy sweater to the vastness of the landscapes, every detail is rendered with extraordinary depth. Even the Japanese dub, delivered in Kansai dialect, breathes playful rhythm into the dialogue — turning this solo picture book into a full-blown concerto of emotions.
Behind the scenes, Magic Candies benefited from top-tier talent: director Daisuke Nishio and producer Takashi Washio, both known for the long-running Pretty Cure series. Their experience in mainstream anime brings polished storytelling and technical excellence, but this time in the service of an emotionally intimate story.
Despite its short run in Japanese theaters, Magic Candies made a lasting impact. It reminded audiences — young and old — of the emotional power packed into even the smallest stories.
A New Chapter for Korean Creators Abroad
While it’s important to acknowledge that Korean authors still face structural challenges in domestic publishing, Magic Candies signals that there is a way forward. International collaboration can amplify Korean storytelling, giving voice and reach to the kinds of quiet magic Baek Hee-na has always been known for.
And in a year where Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron won Best Animated Feature and Godzilla Minus One picked up the Best Visual Effects Oscar, Magic Candies quietly carved out its own piece of history — one that, in time, may prove just as meaningful.
Let’s hope more people get the chance to experience it.
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