How Hong Kong embraced movies about a cartoon pig, McDull, that celebrated the city and the never-say-die spirit of its people

In Hong Kong, the virtues of hard work and perseverance are highly valued. These qualities are embodied in a cartoon pig named McDull, the protagonist of the 2001 animated film 'My Life as McDull'. McDull, who resides with his mother in a dilapidated, working-class district of Hong Kong, is somewhat slow and his accomplishments often fall short of his aspirations. However, McDull, who first appeared in a popular comic strip in a Hong Kong magazine, never ceases in his efforts to improve his and his mother's life. The film was a major success upon its release in 2001, resonating with the Hong Kong audiences of that era who admired McDull's relentless spirit. The film was also a celebration of the city's unique characters and lifestyle.

The concept of McDull was the brainchild of illustrator Alice Mak Ka-pik and writer Brian Tse Lap-man, who developed the original comic strip in 1988. Initially, McDull was a side character, but his popularity led Mak and Tse to focus on him for the animated film. Alice Mak stated that McDull's world is very real, filled with poverty and disadvantage, but what's important is that he doesn't let it affect him. She believes that there is a bit of McDull in all of us and hopes that if people appreciate McDull, they would also appreciate their friends who share similar qualities.

The film comprises five vignettes detailing McDull's adventures as he matures. He is grounded in reality but often gets lost in his dreams. In one segment, he trains for the bun-snatching event at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, impressing his mother so much that she writes to the Olympic Committee to try to get bun snatching recognized as an Olympic sport. The film, which was a fully local product, was made by a team of seven animators. It was a source of great pride for Hong Kong and was seen as a local alternative to Hayao Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away'. The film spawned numerous sequels, each with a different storyline. Some of the sequels were not as well-received as the original film, but they all encapsulated the spirit of McDull, the not-so-clever pig who never gives up.