The Pied Piper of Hamelin / 花衣魔笛手
Directed by Shuai Zhang / 张帅 (心宿 / Xin Su)
China · 2026 · 10 min 13 sec · Dark fantasy / Animated folktale
Submitted to RTV International Film Festival 2026Synopsis
When rats overrun Hamelin, a stranger in bright clothes offers to drive them away with his flute. The town celebrates his success, but its mayor refuses the promised reward. After the piper returns, the children disappear; only a deaf boy, who followed his sister into the hills, is found. As the townspeople retell the tragedy, the stranger becomes a monster and their broken promise fades from memory. This dark animated retelling examines collective responsibility, unheard testimony and the power of those who control a story.
About the film
AI-assisted animation. Specific tools and model versions are not asserted. Runtime 10 minutes 12 seconds; year 2026 refers to the supplied final export. The screening copy has Chinese and English on-screen subtitles; original spoken language was not separately audited. Content advisory: rat infestation and the disappearance of children.
Director(s)
Shuai Zhang, credited as Xin Su (心宿), directs The Pied Piper of Hamelin, submitted by Chongerdong Studio in Zhangzhou, Fujian, China. This film revisits the Hamelin legend through a dark animated narrative about a broken promise, missing children and the shaping of collective memory.
Publicity materials supplied or expressly authorized by the rights holder. Publication is separate from festival selection.
RTV International Film Festival — Inaugural Online Edition · 2026