Critical Biography Filmography Reviews Links Bibliography
Mak, Alice – Critical Biography Top
Alice Mak was interested in drawing from an early age. She studied design at Hong Kong Polytechnic (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University) and graduated in 1988. She first worked as a junior graphic designer at the Hong Kong Arts Centre as part of the exhibition team. The job later landed her a position at Ming Pao Weekly, where she began the McMug cartoon series in collaboration with writer Brian Tse. The McMug cartoons featured a colorful cast of characters based on different animals, but were most notable for their playful use of the local vernacular as well as a distinct blend of philosophical and nonsensical humor. From the early days of the McMug comic strip, Mak and Tse would collaborate as illustrator and writer respectively, a working relationship that has continued into the present and also led to the real-life marriage of the working partners. From their weekly comic strip, Mak and Tse went on to found the children’s publication Yellow Bus, featuring a cast of characters they had already developed for the McMug comics. Both McMug and Yellow Bus attracted a cult following, although certain characters from the series, such as the piglet McDull, also became widely popular. This popularity led to the first animated McDull movie, My Life as McDull (2001). The film deals with the efforts of single mother McTai to raise her average, somewhat mediocre son – the eponymous piglet, McDull – against the backdrop of the re-development of her decaying grassroots neighborhood in Tai Kok Tsui.
The success of the film has led to numerous sequels, as well as a live-action spinoff film (McDull, The Alumni [2006]). McDull, Prince de la Bun (2004), the second film in the series, pays homage to The Little Prince and tells the story of McDull’s father, McBing, in flashback. McDull, Kung Fu Kindergarten (2009) chronicles the attempts of McDull to enroll in a martial arts academy in Mainland China. McDull, The Pork of Music (2012) revolves around the attempts of McDull and his classmates to raise funds for their cash-strapped kindergarten through musical performances. A new feature titled McDull, Me & My Mum (2014) is a celebration of McDull’s relationship with his overachieving and resourceful mother. Throughout the McDull films, Mak and Tse present a bittersweet vision of Hong Kong that is at once affectionate and disillusioned. Local grassroots culture is lovingly and humorously evoked, yet the prospects of a grassroots existence in Hong Kong can often be presented in a pessimistic and surprisingly grim manner.
Filmography Top
Feature Films:
Role |
Title (English) |
Title (Chinese) |
Year |
| Story | McDull, Me & My Mum (Trailer) | 麥兜．我和我媽媽 | 2014 |
| Story | McDull – Pork of Music (Trailer) | 麥兜噹噹伴我心 | 2012 |
| Art Director, Story | McDull, Kung Fu Kindergarten (Trailer) | 麥兜響噹噹 | 2009 |
| Art Director | McDull, the Alumni (Trailer) | 春田花花同學會 | 2006 |
| Art Director, Story | McDull, Prince de la Bun (Theme Song) | 麥兜，菠蘿油王子 | 2004 |
| Art Director, Story | My Life as McDull (Trailer) | 麥兜故事 | 2001 |
Shorts:
Role |
Title (English) |
Title (Chinese) |
Year |
| Story | McDull 1:99 in 1:99 Shorts | 1:99 電影行動: 麥兜1:99 | 2003 |
Reviews Top
McDull – Pork of Music (2012) Reviews:
Far East Film:
http://www.fareastfilms.com/reviewsPage/The-Pork-Of-Music-2612.htm
Love HK Film:
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/mcdull_pork_of_music.html
Variety:
http://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/mcdull-the-pork-of-music-1117948869/
McDull, Kung Fu Kindergarten (2009) Reviews:
Far East Films:
https://www.fareastfilms.com/?review_post_type=mcdull-kung-fu-kindergarten
Love HK Film:
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/mcdull_kung_fu_ding_ding.html
Variety:
http://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/mcdull-kung-fu-kindergarten-1200476585/
McDull, the Alumni (2006) Reviews:
Far East Films:
http://www.fareastfilms.com/reviewsPage/McDull-The-Alumni-1160.htm
HK Magazine:
http://hk-magazine.com/movie-review/mcdull-alumni
Love HK Film:
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/mcdull_the_alumni.htm
McDull, Prince de la Bun (2004) Reviews:
Cinespot:
http://www.cinespot.com/hkmreviews/emcdullprincedelabun.html
Far East Films:
http://www.fareastfilms.com/reviewsPage/McDull-Prince-De-La-Bun-1158.htm
Love HK Film:
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/mcdull_prince_de_la_bun.htm
Screen Daily:
http://www.screendaily.com/mcdull-prince-de-la-bun-makdau-boloyau-wongchi/4019795.article
Variety:
http://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/mcdull-prince-de-la-bun-1200531653/
My Life as McDull (2001) Reviews:
Chinese Cinema:
http://www.chinesecinemas.org/mcdull.html
Cinespot:
http://www.cinespot.com/hkmreviews/emylifeasmcdull.html
Far East Films:
http://www.fareastfilms.com/reviewsPage/My-Life-As-McDull-1251.htm
Love HK Film:
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/my_life_as_mcdull.htm
Variety:
http://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/my-life-as-mcdull-1200544287/
Links Top
Official website of McMug and McDull:
http://www.mcdull.hk/
Yellow Bus:
http://www.yellowbus.com.hk/emag.php
Bibliography Top
- Ingham, Mike. “Across the Fragrant Harbour: the Nine Dragons.” Ingham, Mike. Hong Kong: A Cultural History. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. 159-198.
- Stoke, Lisa Odham. “Animation.” Stoke, Lisa Odham. Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema. Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2007. 4-6.
Hong Kong Women Filmmakers 
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