More Than Happy: First SG Animated Short at TIFF 2025
A Landmark Moment for Singapore Animation
In a milestone for the nation’s film industry, More Than Happy will become the first Singaporean animated short film to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tan Wei Keong and produced by Davier Yoon at CraveFX, the seven-minute 2D short brings to life a vivid queer utopia through intimate storytelling and hand-drawn artistry.
Set entirely in a restaurant where two couples converse over a meal that never arrives, the film uses this seemingly simple premise to explore bigger questions about happiness, memory, and belonging. Its textured visuals, created with hand-drawn animation and photocopied patterns, evoke both nostalgia and hope for a more inclusive future.
Watch the More Than Happy Trailer
Audiences can now get a first look at More Than Happy ahead of its TIFF 2025 premiere!
Imagining a Queer Utopia
“Animation is a medium that blends fantasy and reality, and in its broadest sense ‘brings life,’” says Tan. “I want to bring my imagined future to life. Since the repeal of 377A, what has really changed? I believe the queer future is optimistic, bright and colorful, like this dreamlike world in More Than Happy. For now, how does it feel to talk like it is possible?”
The film’s utopian setting is more than an aesthetic choice. More Than Happy invites audiences to envision a world where LGBTQ+ lives are celebrated, not marginalised, and where joy exists in the everyday.
The Director Behind More Than Happy
Tan Wei Keong has long been recognised as one of Singapore’s most distinctive animation voices. Awarded the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council in 2019, Tan has built an internationally acclaimed portfolio centred on personal storytelling and LGBTQ+ themes.
His earlier work Kingdom was selected for Berlinale Shorts in 2019 and he has been an alumnus of Berlinale Talents. His films have screened at prestigious festivals such as Annecy, Zagreb, Stuttgart, and the Singapore International Film Festival, where he has earned multiple awards including Best Singapore Short Film, Special Mention, and Special Achievement Award.
Bringing More Than Happy to Life
Produced by Davier Yoon with associate producer Nishan Shirazi at CraveFX, More Than Happy uses a 4:3 aspect ratio and 5.1 surround sound to create an intimate, almost theatrical experience. The voice cast includes Tan Shou Chen, Kirsten Tan, Amanda Lee Koe, and Nick Kent Tan.
The project was developed with international support, participating in the Berlinale Talents Short Film Station and receiving backing from GLAS Animation in collaboration with GKIDS.
Themes of “Quotidian Utopia”
Tan describes the film as part of his ongoing exploration of “quotidian utopia”, which is the transformation of ordinary, everyday moments into spaces of acceptance and possibility. Having lived in Japan and the United States, Tan brings a global perspective while remaining deeply rooted in distinctly Singaporean cultural textures.
Through More Than Happy, he questions the cost of escape and examines what “home” means for those in search of belonging.
Screening at TIFF 2025
More Than Happy will premiere in TIFF’s Short Cuts programme, which showcases some of the most innovative short films from around the world. Screening times and venues will be announced in TIFF’s official programme guide closer to the festival.
Technical Details
- Runtime: 6 minutes 58 seconds
- Format: DCP 2K
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Audio: 5.1 English
- Animation Technique: 2D Drawings, Photocopies
About CraveFX
CraveFX is a Singapore-based production house specialising in animation, motion graphics, visual effects, and interactive media. The studio recently completed the immersive exhibit Singapore Odyssea at the National Museum of Singapore.
Got a Story You Want Animated?
Whether it is a heartfelt short film, eye-catching motion graphics, VFX, or an immersive interactive experience, the team at CraveFX would love to help bring it to life. Get in touch with us and let’s start creating something amazing together.
