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Home > Interviews > Artist in the Pink with Hit Cartoon
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Edward Chan
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Artist in the Pink with Hit Cartoon The "pinky piggy" cartoon series was a favourite among youths as well as adults when it first appeared in a Chinese children's magazine in 1991. McMug and McDull, the two little pigs created by Alcie Mak Ka-bik, depicted how children saw the world and understood day-to-day issues in a light-hearted manner. This helped attract a wide range of readers, and Mak said she never dreamed that the cartoon would be such a success. Now she is hoping to set up an education foundation to promote art and music among youths.
I graduated from the former Hong Kong Polytechnic (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University) in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in design. During my five years at the Polytechnic, I had no plans to become an illustrator, but I wanted to do something related to drawing. After I met some world-class illustrators while on a scholarship to Europe, I was determined to follow in their footsteps. What dud you do after graduation? I spent a year as a junior graphic designer with the exhibition team of the Hong Kong Arts Centre. There, I learned a wide range of work from colour separation to publishing. This proved to be a valuable stepping stone to creating the McMug series for the Ming Pao Weekly. How did you create McMug McMug was not a well planned character. The story originally centred on a family who were moving out of their village to lead a new life at a public housing estate in the city. McMug was just a pet and the family had to decide whether they wanted to keep it or not. It turned out to be the main character of the cartoon series. What made you think of a pig for McMug's character? McMug could be any animal. But we were looking for cute, stupid animal to suit the cartoon. To me, the pink pig is a fancy character full of imagination. I want to show readers the energetic and more humane side of a pig in the stories. What is in your mind when drawing McMug? I don't like to draw in front of others. I like to work in a quiet environment and recall the image of McMug from my memory. When it plays, I think of happy moments when I was young. If it weeps in times of frustration, I will burst into tears. Sometimes, I have to act like McMug and look at the mirror to draw it in a more accurate manner. I think it's so embarrassing. Did you have dreams or ambitions when you were a child? I am not a career-oriented person. When I was a young girl. I wanted to be a nurse or a teacher. I even thought of starting my own business by running a small shop. Did you display your drawing talent when you were in school? Absolutely not. When I was young, my family took pride in my elder brother who had better artistic ability. No-one knew I liked drawing because I didn't use strong colours. Art teachers usually think that children who like drawing should present bright and colourful patterns with beautifully drawn pictures. Later, I found most of my books were filled with interesting cartoon characters. What is so special about the McMug series Most of my drawings are idealistic and tend to show the perfect side of human life. Most of the characters and episodes I draw are from memory. I want my readers to think the world is a bright, harmonious place. The McMug series is not violent, pornographic or mysterious, but similar to what we experience in daily life. The episodes are straight forward and "pure" to make both children and adults happy. People have described the McMug cartoon series as a new form of children's literature. What do you think? It's an alternative medium which presents traditional values. A good story and attractive illustrations can help children understand difficult philosophical issues. McMug sets a good example for those who want to try alternative art. What is the impact of McMug? It gives readers another choice. I want to bring more happiness to my readers and do away with their sadness. Simple ideas, easy words and attractive characters will inspire others to think in a creative way. We don't have a definite ending for each story, and this gives reader more room to use their imagination. They can associate what they read to solve real-life problems. How would you describe your partnership with the writer fo the series, Brian Tse Lap-man We have been workign closely together for eight years. I consider myself a singer, while Tse is the composer. He carefully develops the plot and makes storytelling an interesting experience. Did you encounter any major problems working with Tse? There were times when I wrongly interpreted his ideas, with the result that some of the illustrations changed the tone of the stories. The storyteller and the listener can have different thoughts after reading the same story. I am trying my best to understand his stories and express them in my own way without affecting his original idea. You are the mother of McMug. How are you going to bring up his child? Like other mothers, I want to protect it and nurture it and ensure it develops multiple intelligence. With the growing popularity of McMug, I can no longer play a passive role. I want McMug to help promote arts education the youth. We have to produce different McMug products. But I don't want McMug to compete with other cartoon characters in the market. How can McMug help promote arts education among young people? We are running the Chun Tin Fa Fa Foundation as a non-profit organisation in order to achieve this goal. Most young people in Hong Kong are not given the chance to appreciate the arts and music. We hope to boost their all-round development. We want children to think it is enjoyable to take part in art, music and other cultural activities. Do you have any advice for would-be illustrators? In Hong Kong, most graphic designers have to do all the publishing and designing jobs, including illustrations. You should have an interest in drawing and possess a creative mind. What are your future plans? I want to devote more time to the development of youngsters through our education foundation. I hope to expand business opportunities for the two cartoon characters, and work out possible recommendations for our readers. I also want to stay happy for the rest of my life. |
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