Hello Spring Kia Ora e Koru by Lanhua Ma

Hello Spring Kia Ora e Koru by Lanhua Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Kiriata, Ataata me te Whakaihiihi Competition Category.

ParahiKiriata· 2025

Hello Spring Kia Ora e Koru

by Lanhua Ma

Client: Lanhua Ma

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Kiriata Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #170683

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Hello Spring Kia Ora e Koru

Ko Kia Ora e Koru he kiriata whakaari mō tētahi ākonga rangatahi me tōna haerenga i te tuhi auaha. E 87 meneti te roa o te kiriata, ā, i whakaahuahia ki Nanjing, Haina. Ka whakakotahi a Kia Ora e Koru i te ata whakaari me te pakiwaituhi tā-ā-ringa hei hanga i tētahi reo ataata whakamātau. Ka whakātūria te kōrero i roto i ngā ūpoko e toru, ā, ka whakamahi tēnā ūpoko, tēnā ūpoko i tētahi ara ataata rerekē. Ka nekehia te tae mai i te whakaaturanga hōhā ki te whakaaturanga kanapa i te wā e kimi ana te ākonga i tōna ake reo. I tāngohia mai i tētahi pukapuka whakairoiro, ka whakamahi te kiriata i te whakakatakata hei tirotiro i te mātauranga i te Rāwhiti o Āhia, ā, ka pōhiri i ngā kaimātakitaki o ngā reanga katoa ki te ata whakaaro mō te ako.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Hello Spring Kia Ora e Koru te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Hello Spring Kia Ora e Koru he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Hello Spring Kia Ora e Koru i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The film bridges cultures through universal comedy. Unlike typical children's films, it engages all ages while challenging rigid East Asian education. Director Ma's live-action mixed animation experimental techniques make this Chinese story globally accessible. Adapted from a bestselling graphic novel, it perfectly balances entertainment with meaningful social commentary on educational reform.
Dimensions & Packaging: Feature film: 87 minutes runtime
Format: Digital cinema package (DCP), 4:3 and 2.35:1 aspect ratio.Resolution: 2K, Delivery formats: DCP, ProRes 4444, H.264
Tags: Coming-of-age, Chinese education, Visual storytelling, Creative awakening, Color symbolism, Narrative filmmaking, Student expression, Cultural identity, Educational philosophy
Production Technology: Shot on-location in Nanjing using hybrid cinematography techniques that blend traditional narrative filmmaking with hand-drawn animation, which uses experimental visual language. The production employed stylized color grading to enhance comedic elements while maintaining emotional authenticity. It utilized non-linear editing structures to mirror the creative writing process central to the story. Sound design incorporates subtle cultural motifs without alienating international audiences. Post-production leveraged cross-cultural consultation to ensure subtitling captures linguistic nuances essential to the screenplay's comedic timing.
Design Challenge: Our most significant obstacles were severe budget limitations and pandemic restrictions that prevented large-scale shooting. We transformed these constraints into creative opportunities by developing a minimalist visual language that focused on intimate character moments rather than expensive set pieces. The pandemic's isolation inspired our narrative structure, with separated spaces becoming a storytelling device reflecting the protagonist's internal journey. We embraced lightweight production methods, filming with skeleton crews in naturally lit environments. These limitations ultimately strengthened our storytelling approach, pushing us toward more innovative visual solutions and a more authentic emotional core.
Research: This study explored how narrative film and visual design can effectively express educational themes. Through analysis of 21 Asian educational films' visual language, 40 color scheme experiments, and 15 focus group discussions, we established an aesthetic framework that resonates with audiences. Research demonstrated that specific color transitions (from monochromatic to saturated) can symbolically reflect a student's creative awakening, while non-linear narrative structures better represent the internal logic of the creative process. The combination of experimental montage techniques with traditional cinematography balanced artistic expression with audience accessibility. These findings directly influenced the film's visual design, pacing, and scene construction, creating a work with both artistic depth and narrative accessibility, providing new pathways for educational filmmaking.
Inspiration: This film emerged from the director's childhood struggle with writing despite having a father who was a renowned composition educator. The narrative transforms this personal journey into artistic expression, blending Eastern educational philosophy with Western filmmaking techniques. Research into pedagogical approaches across cultures informed the storytelling, offering authentic insight into educational reforms happening in contemporary China while creating a universally resonant story.
Project Duration: Filming between 2022 and 2023, Nanjing, China
Operation Flow: The film unfolds through three distinct chapters following a young student's writing journey, each marked by a unique visual approach. As she progresses, the film's palette transforms from desaturated to vibrant, mirroring her creative awakening. Humor builds through recurring motifs that viewers can anticipate and enjoy. The narrative invites the audience to reflect on their own educational experiences, creating an emotional connection that transcends cultural barriers while delivering a universal story about finding one's voice.
Image Credits: Image #All Film Stills, Nanjing Bad Student Media, 2024