Hello Spring Fíìmù Gigun by Lanhua Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Fíìmù, Fídíò àti Àwòrán Alààyè Competition Category.
IdẹFíìmù· 2025
Hello Spring Fíìmù Gigun
by Lanhua Ma
Client: Lanhua Ma
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Fíìmù Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #170683The Design
About Hello Spring Fíìmù Gigun
Kaabo Ìgbà Ìrúwé jẹ́ fíìmù gigun kan nípa akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ ọ̀dọ́mọdé kan àti ìrìn àjò rẹ̀ pẹ̀lú kíkọ̀wé àṣetòjulọ. Fíìmù náà gùn tó ìṣẹ́jú 87 ó sì ya fọ́tò rẹ̀ ní Nanjing, China. Kaabo Ìgbà Ìrúwé so ìṣesí gidi (live action) pọ̀ mọ́ àwòrán tí a fi ọwọ́ yàwòrán (hand-drawn animation) láti dá èdè ìríran àdánwò kan. Ìtàn náà ń tẹ̀síwájú ní orí mẹ́ta, ẹ̀yà kọ̀ọ̀kan sì ń lo ọ̀nà ìríran ọ̀tọ̀ọ̀tọ̀. Àwọ̀n àwọ̀ máa ń yí padà láti àwọ̀ tí kò mọ́lẹ̀ sí àwọ̀ tí ó mọ́lẹ̀ bí akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ náà ṣe ń rí ohùn tirẹ̀. Tí a ṣe àtúnṣe láti inú ìwé àwòrán (graphic novel), fíìmù náà lo àwàdà láti wo ẹ̀kọ́ ní Ìlà-Oòrùn Éṣíà, ó sì ń pe àwọn olùwo ní gbogbo ọjọ́ orí láti ronú lórí ìkẹ́kọ̀ọ́.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Hello Spring Fíìmù Gigun jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Hello Spring Fíìmù Gigun yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Hello Spring Fíìmù Gigun ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
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
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