Wing Chun (animated short film) crowdfunding campaign

Super excited to launch my Boosted crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to complete Wing Chun – an animated, kung-fu short film which had been in limbo for years, but which I started animating by hand last year. Despite working on bro’Town as the head character designer, I’ve never been an animator… but last year I decided to finally take the plunge, learnt the basics of animation, and took on the task of animating the film. I’ve animated about a third of the film, but need help to complete the remaining animation. It’s a crazy time, with petrol prices and the cost-of-living going up… but if you’d like to support the completion of this beautiful little kick-arse film, then please head to the Boosted website to donate. And if you’re not in a position to donate financially but would like to support the project, you can help by sharing and spreading the word far and wide to anyone who might want to support the project – animation fans, bro’Town fans, Shihad fans (yes, one of their most thumping songs will be in the film), kung-fu fanatics… I reckon this will be a super cool film which heaps of people will enjoy!

https://www.thearts.co.nz/boosted/projects/wing-chun-an-animated-short-film

Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas selected for White Ravens 2019 Catalogue

I’m thrilled to hear that Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas has been selected for the prestigious White Ravens Catalogue 2019.

This year, the “White Ravens” contain a selection of 200 notable children’s and young adult books from 58 countries published in 37 languages.

The catalogue will be launched at the Frankfurt Book Fair later this month!

Ant Sang_Illustration finalist 2©VanessaRushtonPhotographyPhoto ©Vanessa Rushton Photography

In other news, Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas was a finalist at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2019. Shortlisted in the Illustration category, we didn’t get the win, but it was an honour to be shortlisted among such an amazing lineup of finalists.

Illustration Award finalists with Jane Arthur and Jill Day©VanessaRushtonPhotography

Photo ©Vanessa Rushton Photography

Being Chinese in Aotearoa: A Photographic Exhibition

IMG_1548_sml

This is the final weekend of the Being Chinese in Aotearoa: A Photographic Exhibition at the Auckland War Memorial Museum; presenting a glimpse of some of the Chinese New Zealanders who’s history spans 175 years in the country.

Helene Wong and I produced a series of comic stories to accompany the photographic exhibition. The Quiet Achievers: From Gardens to Gold Medals are a contemporary work, focusing on the surprising and unexpected stories of some of the Chinese New Zealanders who have lived, worked and contributed to Auckland.

Copies of the comics can be purchased at the Museum Store here.

Here are some photos of our comic works, during the final weekend of the exhibition:

IMG_1546_sml

IMG_1547_sml

IMG_1552_sml

IMG_1553_sml

IMG_1580_sml

Behind the scenes: The Quiet Achievers

Here’s a cool behind the scenes video of Helene Wong and I, talking about our collaboration for The Quiet Achievers comic we produced for Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Being Chinese in Aotearoa exhibition.

 

It’s on until February 2018, so there’s still heaps of time to catch it if you’re in Auckland.

Give Nothing to Racism

I’m really proud to be involved in the Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism campaign. We all know racism is harmful, and I’ve personally had plenty of overt experiences with racism. But there are also more subtle, everyday experiences which help keep racism alive. Snide remarks, racist jokes; they are all part of it. So together, let’s give nothing to racism…


For more info, and to create and upload your own video, go to www.givenothing.co.nz

#givenothingtoracism