When Will You Be Back? (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

When Will You Be Back? is a two-minute animated short set against hand-drawn memories of an older Hanoi. It follows a grandson as he reflects on his grandmother’s life of waiting and the difficult meaning behind a question that can no longer be answered.

When Will You Be Back? is a 2026 animated short from Vietnam, directed by Tung Pham. With a runtime of just two minutes, it centers on memory, family and an emotional question shaped by time.

The film’s setting is a familiar, bygone Hanoi recalled through hand-drawn imagery. Its brief premise follows a grandson who gradually begins to understand his grandmother’s life of waiting, giving the short a reflective and intimate focus.

When Will You Be Back? movie details

Story without spoilers

The story follows a grandson looking back through hand-drawn memories of Hanoi as he comes to see his grandmother’s life from a different perspective. At its center is the question of when he will return—a question whose meaning changes as he recognizes the emotional weight carried by his grandmother’s waiting.

The supplied synopsis presents the film as a quiet, memory-based account rather than a plot-heavy narrative. Its short length suggests a concentrated emotional portrait built around family recollection and separation, without revealing how the story resolves.

What to expect

As an animated short with a two-minute runtime, When Will You Be Back? is likely to offer a compact, focused experience rather than an extended narrative. The premise points to hand-drawn animation, memories of Hanoi and a restrained family story concerned with waiting, remembrance and understanding.

The film is presented in English and comes from Vietnam, while its setting and imagery are tied to Hanoi. No additional genre details, production information or cast details are supplied.

Cast and creative team

When Will You Be Back? is directed by Tung Pham. No cast or writer credits are supplied.

Release and production context

When Will You Be Back? is listed as a 2026 release from Vietnam, with a release date of September 24, 2026. It is classified as an animated film, has a runtime of two minutes and is listed with English as its spoken language. The film’s status is recorded as Released.

Movies Dock view

With its very short runtime and memory-centered premise, When Will You Be Back? appears to tell a small, emotionally focused story about a grandson, his grandmother and the meaning of returning. Its hand-drawn recollections of Hanoi provide the setting for a brief reflection on family and the passage of time.

Film data:
TMDB