Every summer, there are always a number of activities targeting teenagers and kids. After all, it is summer vacation!

In recent years, besides exhibitions and other parent-child activities, there are also two film festivals being held in the summer for children.

Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the International Children’s and Youth Film Carnival has been around for many years. The large-scale carnival has brought forth 13 feature films and 3 short animations to the general public this year. The selected films went on screens at several government spaces and were exhibited for over a month. Half of the 13 feature films are animations. Some of these animations are new productions, while some are classic ones. I was delighted that the festival chose a classic animation entitled The Iron Giant, an American production directed by Brad Bird. The animation was truly a lost gem. It did not enter cinemas in Hong Kong in 1999 due to some promotion concerns. It was not until a few years later that the DVD version was finally released in the market. The fans went crazy for it. But still it was unfortunate that the film didn’t enter cinemas. In 2015, Brad Bird has grown into a renowned director. The Iron Giant’s production team was then given the chance to restructure and reinvent the film. In addition, the production team added new scenes to the film and publish an ultimate version of the film. The classic film was therefore able to finally appear on cinema screens. The screening this time features the ultimate version. Although there were only two sessions for the film, it was still amazing to see such classic animation playing on screens.

The Iron Giant’s story is set in a small town in the U.S. in the 50s when the Soviet Union and the U.S. were having the cold war. The film tells the friendship between a little boy and a giant robot that fell to the Earth from outer space. The Iron Giant was produced with both 2D and 3D techniques with stunning graphic design, art design, and motion design, setting itself apart from the main stream American animations. The film still looks incredible even though it is a production from over a decade ago.

Another film festival worth recommending is the Hong Kong Kids International Film Festival. This year, the second edition of the Hong Kong Kids International Film Festival was held from late July to early August. Films selected by the festival went on screens in commercial cinemas. Since commercial movie publishers are part of the organising committee, the screening films might also be released for public screening. The film exhibition was designed in great details. Besides small exhibitions, activities in malls, and workshops, the festival also invites different film experts like directors, actors, and animators, etc. to share their thoughts with the audience after the screening.

I also joined a sharing session. It was an Irish animation entitled The Breadwinner, directed by Nora Twomey. The film has received numerous awards in the industry. I personally really love the message the movie tries to convey and joined the after-screening sharing session, which turned out to be a memorable event. 

A four-year-old girl asked me why war exists. This left a great impression on me. How would people answer to such question?

The Breadwinner was adapted from a children literature. The original novel tells the story of a girl who is only eleven years old living under the Taliban rule. The local authority does not allow women to walk on the streets alone while the girl’s father is already in prison. To support herself, she cuts her hair short to pretend to be a boy. From there she embarks on a dangerous yet incredible journey. The film does not just showcase the cruelty of war, but also shows audience that there are still many customs or even laws that create inequality. The fact that it comes in the form of animation allows the production to reach teenagers and kids and expose them to these topics. The Breadwinner is a meaningful film for its educational function and its review of social value. Most importantly, the animation was produced with interesting techniques. It was inspired by traditional Afghan aesthetics and was produced through two animation techniques. The two lines eventually run into one as the story proceeds to its climax.

In this summer, animation fans in Macao can also find interesting screenings in the city. World Animation Festival in Summer held by Cinematheque‧Passion has just started. The festival selects the most quality animations from the pool, including The Breadwinner  I have just mentioned. The other two stop-motion animations, Anomalisa and Isle of Dogs, are also all-time-favourite. The most appealing part of the festival is the special collection of Satoshi Kon, the Japanese director who had already passed away. He did not produce many productions when he was active in the industry, but the productions he had left us are all marvels. This time the World Animation Festival in Summer will screen four feature films directed by this famous director, providing the public with the amazing opportunity to know more about this industry giant. Seminars and salons will also be organised for the audience.

Anyhow, the best activity for the summer must be animation binging!