Makdau - boloyau wongchi
McDull, Prince de la Bun
2004 - Hong Kong - 73 mins - Canadian premiere
Cantonese language dialogue with English subtitles
Rated G (Suitable for all ages)
© 2004, Bliss Entertainment
Director
Toe Yuen
Production
Bliss Picture Ltd.
Synopsis
The good days at Spring Flower Kindergarten are coming to an end. The city is decaying; the
neighbourhood is in shambles. But, all is not lost: once the re-development begins, there will
be compensation money from the government for the kindergarten, and for Mrs. McBing and her son
McDull.
There are other things to worry about, though... and between trying to make ends meet, curing McDull
of a compulsive leg shake, and planning for the future, Mrs. McBing begins to tell McDull a story she
was writing. It was the story of the Prince de la Bun, a stupid little prince who left his palace,
lost his way, and somehow became convinced that he had become a common, humble man, happy with his
place in life. Then one day, he discovers he wasn't...
This is how McDull comes to learn about his father.
Reviews
The sequel to the award-winning My Life as McDull
(presented at WFAC 2003), director Toe Yuen once again paints a picture of Hong Kong life as it
really is, and as it really was. McDull, Prince de la Bun continues the story of the little
piglet McDull with cleverly crafted humour and sarcasm. Weaved through the narrative is a cutting
look at real Hong Kong life, a unique mixture that made the first film so memorable. However, the
zest for life that pervades the first film is accompanied in the second film by a sometimes oppressive
sense of helplessness, of a struggle against a greater will. Prince de la Bun projects a
powerful angst, which perhaps reflects a deep and private disappointment with the life it depicts - a
private feeling shared with the audience of the world. Yet, the film also projects the same fierce
independence of the first film, and makes the viewing a wonderful experience.
Profile: Director Toe Yuen
Toe Yuen graduated from the Communication Department of Baptist College, majoring in Film. He has
been a chief editor of comics magazines, scriptwriter, special effects and computer animator, and
toy and figure designer.
He has directed the TV series of McMug Animation since 1997.
Other animation shorts: Explanations (1995), and Foulball (1996).
In 2001, he directed his first animated feature film, My Life as McDull, which went on to win
the Cristal for Best Feature Film at Annecy in 2003. McDull, Prince de la Bun is his second
film.
A note from the producer and author
McDull, Prince de la Bun set out as a very simple story - the adventure of an innocent Prince,
something like Voltaire's Candide. But, in the midway, the little Prince and William Blake
joined in, everything warped out and became a romanticist's endless search for nothing.
The story was rewritten, putting the problem Prince into history and throwing the entire thing away.
Then, it came - cha-cha-cha, shaking legs, Deleuze, and the Zen of playing J.S. Bach.
Obviously the story had to be rewritten again... and this is the fun of making cartoons. One can
start from anywhere and proceed with almost no constraint. On the other hand, cartoon-making is a
process which is supposed to be well-planned and highly organised. This rather experimental approach
is made possible only [because] of the small team. Our team consists of less than twenty members
(and we even develop our own software tool!) The significance of McDull, Prince de la Bun, if
any, is such a little step from independent short animation to independent animation feature. And we
wish this experience be shared.
World Sales Agent
Golden Network Asia Ltd.