The Vietnamese-made stop-motion series titled “Xin Chao But Chi” (Say Hi to Pencils), which was broadcast on HTV from last July, will be brought to cinemas for free for children this June.

The series, produced by Huynh Thanh Thanh and Pham Phuong Anh, includes 60 short cartoons telling a story of how a pencil adapts to life with a family of pens.

It stems from the namesake 5-minute cartoon which won the 2011 United Nations PLURAL+ Video Festival held by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, under the aegis of the United Nations. In creating the movie, the girls used 1,000 photos and put clay on the pens to make them look like human beings. It took them almost three sleepless days and nights to finish the movie.

With the support of Dien Quan Media company, since last year, the two girls have launched Xin Chao But Chi Studio and developed the award-wining movie into the 60-movie series with educational messages for audiences.

After a year of being screened on TV, the series has received positive responses.

“Say Hi to Pencils” will be shown in four 20-minute screening shifts every Sunday morning from 10am to 12pm at BHD Star Cineplex Icon 68 cinema at 2 Hai Trieu Street, inside the Bitexco Financial Tower in HCMC’s District 1, starting on June 9. It will be dubbed by young actors such as Ngoc Trai and Tuong Vy.

The screening is part of the event titled “Vui He Cung But Chi” (Have a fun summer with pencils) to be held from 9am to 5pm on June 1 at the city’s Children House at 169 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia in District 3. The event, which is in its second year, is held annually to celebrate Children’s Day.

Free tickets for “Say Hi to Pencils” will be released at the event, Xin Chao But Chi Studio at 39 Dinh Cong Trang Street in District 1, and the cinema on screening days.

The 5-minute award-wining movie