Film Name: 麦兜·当当伴我心 / Mcdull· Pork of Music / The Pork of Music
The art style of this animated film is a bit unrestrained, and the characters’ movements feel somewhat erratic, yet I still consider it an exceptionally fine domestic animation. Its story made me laugh while simultaneously touching my heart; even as it neared its conclusion, unexpected plot twists kept unfolding—I had no idea where it would end or how it would conclude.
In McDull: Pork of Music, McDull is merely a protagonist among supporting characters, while everyone else is a supporting character among protagonists. All the big shots in society are minor figures in the film; conversely, the small fry—the hoodlums, the thugs, the obscure teachers, the kindergarten kids—are all major players. The glittering adult world is actually filled with gloom; only the simple, unadorned songs of children can soften the “hard, rigid things” of the world.
Only after witnessing the conclusion does one realize that the film’s opening absurd discussion about poop isn’t comical at all, but a profound life philosophy. Only after the ending does one understand that candied chestnuts aren’t a mockery of poverty, but a celebration of idealistic fairy tales. Perhaps no one falls for the sleepy, slow-speaking principal at the film’s start, but by its end, I believe everyone feels not just affection but profound respect for him. Enduring poverty while clinging to ideals—what immense character this embodies in an ordinary man.
When stock market fluctuations leave hearts unsettled, when parents clamor to send children to elite schools, when human connections dwindle to mere transactions of money and business, when arrogance, exploitation, and deceit saturate the real world—you too may become utilitarian, restless, snobbish, and trapped in this cycle. “Mcdull: Pork of Music” lays all these issues bare before you, like a mirror reflecting your surroundings and your very self. Yet it also offers everyone a gift: the principal’s serenity and equanimity. Time and again, he conducts the children in song—in small classrooms, grand theaters, before himself, before crowds. His baton sweeps like a windshield wiper, washing away your troubles and leaving behind your hopes.
Sometimes I wonder: Why do children’s voices move us so deeply? Why do we cling to the belief that good deeds will be rewarded? Because seeds of love, once sown, will always sprout. That’s why the talent agent sent enough money to sustain the school to the principal lying ill in bed. That’s why the young singer, who rose to fame only to fall, offered heartfelt gratitude. That’s why all the ordinary people offered their blessings and united as one. That’s why the principal, even after leaving, could still hear that familiar sound from afar. Music permeates the world, and music is the embodiment of love. Once you plant the seeds of love, they will inevitably take root, sprout, and bear fruit.
Thus, this is an animated film that sparks boundless personal reflection. You can laugh along with the children at the visuals and dialogue, or you can cry from the profound emotion it stirs within you. I thoroughly savor this experience.
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