Porirua City Council
Animator/Storyboarder
2023/Storybox
An animated family film projected onto the side of Te Rauparaha Arena, Hei Matariki tells the heart-warming and nostalgic story of nine children who have come together to celebrate Matariki their way.
We worked alongside Patricia Grace and Miriama Grace-Smith. Together they created the script and illustrations. Shortly after the animation process took place in the studio. We took the script and visualised it into storyboards then to an animated short, working closely with Patricia, Miriama and Local Iwi to create a story that we all felt represented the local community. Local children and the Paekakariki Kapa Haka Group lent their voices to the story, as well as performing an original waiata, composed by Himiona Grace and Julia Truscot, who also composed the soundtrack.
The final film was presented in both Māori and English, which played on a continuous loop for audiences throughout the Matariki long weekend.