Broken Being: Building a Post-Apocalyptic Universe Inspired by Vietnamese Mythology
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Every culture has stories of gods, mythical creatures, and forgotten kingdoms. But what if those legends were never myths at all?
That question became the starting point for Broken Being, DeeDee Animation Studio's original adult animated universe. Instead of treating Vietnamese mythology and folklore as fantasy, we reimagine them as fragments of a forgotten history - echoes of an advanced civilization that once existed long before modern humanity.
A World Where Myth Becomes History
At the heart of Broken Being lies a post-apocalyptic future where humans, clones, and intelligent machines struggle to survive in the ruins of civilization. As the world rebuilds itself, ancient legends begin to reveal a different truth: the gods, heavenly realms, and mythical creatures recorded in Vietnamese folklore may have been misunderstood remnants of an advanced society that disappeared thousands of years ago.
This concept allows us to blend science fiction with mythology, creating a universe where cyberpunk technology and ancient spiritual beliefs coexist naturally. Rather than adapting traditional legends directly, Broken Being asks a different question: What if every myth originated from a forgotten reality?
The result is a world that feels both familiar and mysterious - deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture while speaking the universal language of speculative fiction.
The First Chapter: Broken Being: Prequel
To introduce this universe, DeeDee produced Broken Being: Prequel, a standalone animated short released in 2019.
The film follows a devoted husband who journeys to the Heavenly Palace in search of his late wife, hoping to reunite with the love of his life. Instead, his quest uncovers a terrifying truth about the world he inhabits.
At its core, the story explores themes of deception, memory, grief, and the painful realization that reality is not always what it seems. It serves as the audience's first glimpse into the larger Broken Being universe, revealing just enough of its mysteries while leaving countless questions unanswered.
Designing a World Through Visual Storytelling
The visual language of Broken Being was carefully developed to reinforce its unique blend of mythology and science fiction.
Its bold graphic compositions draw inspiration from Samurai Jack, particularly in character design and cinematic staging. Monumental environments are influenced by the landscape paintings of Eyvind Earle, creating environments that feel timeless, mysterious, and larger than life.
To establish its futuristic atmosphere, the project also embraces the cyberpunk aesthetics of Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell. These influences shape the technology, architecture, and mood of the world without overshadowing its cultural identity.
What ultimately distinguishes Broken Being is the integration of Vietnamese visual heritage. Traditional motifs, architectural forms, and folk-art sensibilities are woven into the design, creating a universe that feels unmistakably Vietnamese while remaining accessible to an international audience.
The Beginning of a Larger Universe
Although Broken Being: Prequel was designed as a standalone short, it represents only the opening chapter of a much larger original IP. The film introduces the world's core concepts while hinting at a broader mythology, deeper conflicts, and future stories waiting to be explored.
Since its release, the short has been selected by multiple international film festivals, won Best 2D Animated Film at the KHEM Animation Film Festival (US), achieved Golden Kite Award (Vietnam) for Best Animator and was featured in the Trending section of the iFlix streaming platform.
For DeeDee Animation Studio, Broken Being is more than a single film. It is an ongoing exploration of how Vietnamese mythology can inspire original adult animation with global appeal - building a cinematic universe where ancient legends, futuristic technology, and human emotion exist within the same compelling world.
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