Toronto: The Korean animation "Long Long Night," an adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name, has been invited to screen at this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the film's distributor announced on Thursday. The 3D animation, marking the directorial debut of Youm Kyu-bock, will have its world premiere in TIFF's Centrepiece section.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this event marks the first time in 13 years that a Korean animation feature has been invited to TIFF. The last such invitation was extended to "The Fake" by director Yeon Sang-ho in 2013. "Long Long Night," penned by Ru Ri, is a children's story that has sold over 800,000 copies in South Korea and has been adapted into both a musical and pansori, a form of traditional Korean opera.

The story tenderly portrays the journey of two animals: the last remaining white rhinoceros on Earth and a baby penguin born from an abandoned egg, as they set out to find the ocean. Youm, who is making his directorial debut with this film, is an experienced producer with about 20 years in the local advertising industry and has also authored a picture book.

While the release date for "Long Long Night" in South Korea remains undecided, its upcoming premiere at TIFF is eagerly anticipated by fans and industry insiders alike.