Iron Boy Producer Unveils Memory Animation at Taiwan Creative Content Fest

DAMAKORONKOWA - The intersection of advanced technology, human emotion, and personal trauma serves as the driving force behind "Wilderness of the Greenriver," an ambitious animated feature film directed by Barcelona-based Hong Kong filmmaker Ellis Kayin Chan. The project has been turning heads at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) in Taipei, introducing audiences to a thought-provoking narrative about memory, loss, and what it truly means to be human.

A World Without Pain

Set in a dystopian yet psychologically grounded future, the movie explores a society where cutting-edge technology allows individuals to selectively erase painful memories. The protagonist, a man named Arin, lives without any recollection of his past. However, his entire existence is upended when he discovers that a current patient named Zia is actually the sister he lost long ago.

This revelation shatters his carefully constructed reality, unlocking long-forgotten childhood memories. As the narrative unfolds, Arin faces a monumental moral dilemma: should he uphold the system that robbed him of his past, or should he embrace his own messy, vulnerable humanity?

Personal Tragedy as Creative Fuel

The poignant story is deeply rooted in Chan's own lived experience with grief and loss. According to the director, the entire project blossomed from a single, guiding conviction: pain is not the enemy of being human—forgetting is.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Chan shares how he once believed that maintaining emotional detachment was the key to safety.
- When he and his sister grew distant, he actively tried to suppress the emotional agony associated with their separation.
- What he failed to realize at the time was that by numbing the pain, he was simultaneously erasing the tenderness, care, and profound love that formed the foundation of his identity.

The emotional turning point came with devastating news. When Chan learned that his sister had taken her own life, all the suppressed grief rushed to the surface at once. In that moment of intense vulnerability, he realized that suffering was not what destroyed him; rather, the pain served as undeniable proof that love had truly existed.

Despite tackling such heavy themes, the filmmaker emphasizes that the production does not romanticize suffering. Instead, it poses a much quieter and more uncomfortable question for the audience: if humanity chooses to eliminate pain merely to survive, what essential parts of the self are accidentally thrown away in the process?

An Impressive Creative Pedigree

Chan brings a wealth of industry experience to his feature directorial debut. A proud graduate of the prestigious Gobelins animation school, he recently served as the animation supervisor for "Lost in Starlight," which marks Netflix’s very first Korean animated feature film. His impressive resume also includes high-profile commercial work for global luxury brands like Burberry and Balenciaga, alongside acclaimed short films such as "Monsoon Blue" and "Bluebird in the Wind."

The momentum behind "Wilderness of the Greenriver" has been steadily building through various international festivals and industry events.

A three-minute proof of concept was successfully produced with generous support from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
In 2025, the project claimed the top honor at Taipei's Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (FPP), with the prize funds directly allocated toward ongoing writing and development.
At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the feature pitches earned multiple accolades, securing awards from Ciclic, SACD, and Titra.

Production Roadmap and Global Collaboration

Currently, Chan is collaborating with writer Clément Roussier to transform the treatment into a full-length screenplay, with the script expected to be completed by early 2027. Following that milestone, the production timeline outlines storyboard creation, voice casting, and editing wrapping up by early 2028. Animation work is scheduled to run extensively from 2028 through 2029, culminating in a planned theatrical release in 2030.

The film is being brought to life by Paris-based production company Eddy Cinéma. Nicolas de Rosanbo, one of the founding members of the studio, is serving as an executive producer. Eddy Cinéma previously co-produced Louis Clichy's "Iron Boy"—which secured a Special Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes and picked up major jury and audience awards at Annecy—and has maintained a working relationship with Chan ever since his graduation from Gobelins.

Expressing their enthusiasm for the partnership, the producers noted their long-standing admiration for Chan's strong directorial vision, delicate artistic style, and poetic writing. They view the upcoming movie as a deeply hopeful tale about family dynamics and the complex ethics of technology, designed to resonate equally with mainstream family audiences and discerning arthouse cinephiles. Confident in its broad appeal, the team anticipates strong market potential across both European and Asian territories.

During their presence at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei, the production team actively sought out strategic Asian co-production partners, talented animation studios, dedicated distributors, and sales companies to help bring the ambitious vision to international screens.