(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – A South Korean movie depicting the heartwarming interactions between Fu Bao, the beloved giant panda born in July 2020, and her dedicated zookeepers is set to be released in the fall.
Tentatively titled “Hello, Grandpa,” the movie is currently in production by the Korean animation production company Accomz, in collaboration with Everland, the Korean theme park and zoo where Fu Bao resided before departing for China.
“Hello, Grandpa” is an animated documentary based on interviews with zookeepers Song Young-gwan and Kang Cheol-won, affectionately known as “panda grandfather” by Fu Bao fans. The film will recount the heartwarming stories of how the zookeepers first encountered Fu Bao and their nurturing care for the beloved panda until her departure for China.
According to Accomz, the movie is scheduled for release in either September or October. It is expected to unveil precious moments between pandas and their caretakers that have not been previously shared on television or YouTube.
Fu Bao spent 1,354 days at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, before her relocation to China on April 3.
Born to Ai Bao and Le Bao, who were loaned to South Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 as part of a 15-year agreement, Fu Bao holds the distinction of being the first panda cub born in Korea through natural breeding.
Per the terms of China’s endangered species conservation agreement, all pandas born overseas must return to China before they reach 4 years of age.
