Produced by the Hakka Public Communication Foundation (HPCF), Hakka children’s animation “Wake Up the City (咕咕咕)” was selected for the 2022 DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival in Ukraine, among 855 entries from 85 countries.

To help children get familiar with Hakka culture so they will be more willing to learn the ethnic language, HPCF created four animations, including “Wake Up the City,” “The Magician of Taste (鹽个精靈),” “Great Grandfather’s Wish (阿太个願望),” and “An Illusory Joy (捕蝶人),” some of which were recognized by international awards. 

Based on a picture book published by Taipei Hakka Affairs Commission, an adaptation of the short story “Rooster Crowing in the Photo (相片裡的公雞叫聲)” authored by Yeh Kuo-chu (葉國居), the animation follows a boy who narrates a story told by his father about a photograph of the boy’s grandfather, a farmer raising chickens in the countryside.

The animation was dubbed into the Hakka language by Hakka singer Kim Chiu (邱廉欽) and his four sons, including Chiu Tien-le (邱天樂), Chiu Yi-chi (邱奕齊), Chiu Yi-hsuan (邱奕軒), and Chiu Yi-chun (邱奕鈞). It took a lot of time to teach these children how to clearly express vocal emotions in the dubbing work. The singer said he usually sings and plays with his children in the Hakka language, naturally bringing his mother tongue into daily life.

According to the statement on FilmFreeway, a website for filmmakers to submit their works to international film festivals, the mission of the Ukraine’s festival is “to find and support children’s/youth studios and clubs, which are engaged in cinema and television creativity, talented children.”

相關圖片

Hakka Animation Selected For Ukraine’S Children Media Festival

Hakka Animation “Wake Up The City”