Mirumiru (Bubble)

MIRUMIRU is a profoundly moving animated short film that explores the deep bonds between a loving older Māori pair, Lena and Shorty, as they navigate the final hours of Lena’s life. This heartfelt drama is a tribute to our kaumātua/kuia, and all those across the world who have experienced the deep sorrow of losing loved ones to the impacts of mate wareware (dementia). 

We are in the final stages of producing the film and need a little help to get it over the line. Our campaign is designed to raise the additional finance required to finish post production of the film. We are working with Mukpuddy Animation studio, composer Ryan Youens, sound designer Evan Paea, colourist David Mclaren, and post production house Native Audio. The funds we raise will go directly to these finishing costs.

KO WAI MĀTOU?

Mirumiru is written by screenwriter and director Allan George (Ngāti Kahungunu) and produced by Jase Taylor (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama). Allan and Jase have spent the past 5 years working together and Mirumiru is the foundation in which their collaboration is founded. Jase and Allan are working with the animation team at Mukpuddy, Aotearoa NZ's premiere 2D animation studio.

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Allan and Jase are a filmmaking pair who are developing a slate of concepts together – including premium animation series and feature films. After meeting during a Ngā Aho Whakaari screenwriting wananga with Michael Bennett in 2020, Allan and Jase instantly recognised their storytelling desires aligned. Each of them with ambitions to make feature films that explore the stories of Polynesia and Aotearoa, both animation and live action narratives. 

With their collaboration as a writer/director and producer partnership now in its 5th year, Allan and Jase are quickly establishing themselves as a filmmaking duo to watch. Their animation slate is growing, with two series in active development including Aotearoa NZ's next adult comedy, and an entertaining mystery series for tamariki. 

In 2024, Jase was honoured with the SPADA Emerging Producer of the Year award, recognising the creativity, innovation, and dedication of up-and-coming producers. This award would not have been possible without the collaboration that Allan and Jase have fostered over the years.

Jase having a kōrero on RNZ about his mahi: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/culture-101/audio/2018967159/producer-jason-taylor-empowering-new-storytellers-in-an-unconventional-journey-into-film

Mirumiru is a vehicle for this creative duo into feature filmmaking, an exciting and ambitious journey that continues with the team in 2025. Your support not only helps to finish our short animated film, but will ensure momentum is maintained as we travel with Mirumiru to festivals and build a name for ourselves as exciting animation producers from Aotearoa NZ. 

TEAM

Allan George (Writer/Director) 

Allan’s short films have screened around the world including at Skábmagovat film festival and ImagineNATIVE Film Festival. He is an award winning Auckland based writer/director and editor who has worked across both live action and animation as well as documentary. His work includes writing on Shortland Street, as well as Taiohi Gods, and Quimbo’s Quest. His Loading Doc film, He Hekenga Tuhura, was the last interview with Sir Hekenukumai Busby.

Jason Taylor (Producer)

Having produced a number of digital series for RNZ, Jase is transitioning into narrative and scripted work and Mirumiru is his first animated film. Jase’s work has screened at NZ International Film Festival, Māoriland, ImagineNATIVE Film Festival, and Hawaii International Film Festival. Mirumiru holds particular resonance with him, after his grandmother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, suffering memory loss and eventually succumbing to the impacts of Dementia.

Mukpuddy Animation

Alex Leighton, Tim Evans, and Ryan Cooper head the animation team, alongside Background Supervisor Matt Haworth, Animation Supervisor Mike Glasswell, Compositor Aleks Sakowski, and the incredibly talented team at Mukpuddy. Mukpuddy’s latest work, Bad Jelly, is currently streaming on TVNZ+. 

Ryan Youens (Composer)

Our wonderful composer, Ryan, is creating an original soundtrack for Mirumiru. Ryan most recent work was on Ka Whawhai Tonu which was released in 2024. 

Evan Paea (Sound Designer)

Evan and Allan have a long collaboration history after working together for several years. Working from his home studio, Evan is creating the sound design of this film. 

This fundraising campaign is being facilitated to raise money to finish the film. With animation being such an expensive medium, we need some help to cover the costs of post production and delivering to NZFC. Whether it's a small amount or a little more, your donation will go towards the finishing costs associated with post production, including:

• Mukpuddy – The final phase of animation is compositing, which is being completed by our friends at Mukpuddy.
• Native Audio – we will be doing our final sound mixing in the theatre at Native Audio to produce the  5.1 cinema mix required for the big screen.
• Master Sound Mix – Evan Paea (our sound designer) will complete the master sound design and mix.
• Studio hire – To record the vocal efforts of our characters utilising a voice actor.
• Score and composer – Ryan Youens is our incredible composer who is creating the original theme suite for the film.
• Colour Grade – yes, although this is animated, we will be doing a colour grade with our mate David Mclaren at Colourspace.
• DCP Package – A digital cinema package (known as a DCP) is the industry standard format for delivering films to movie theatres worldwide. We'll require this output for festival screenings. 

We understand that $$$ are hard to come by at the moment and discretionary funds might be better spent elsewhere. Our campaign is about reaching those who can help us spread the word to hook in donors. We deeply appreciate any type of support - donations, onward sharing of our pānui/messages, liking and sharing our social posts, and talking up the kaupapa to your mates. 

Boosted is an all or nothing crowdfunding platform we are focused on reaching our target, but raising $20k isn't a walk in the park. Based on Boosted math, we need to reach 17000 people to get to our target. Furthermore, if we're talking in averages then we need 400 donors to give $50 each – the average donation on Boosted. 

And finally, donors who support our project on Boosted qualify for a 33% tax credit because Boosted is run by a charitable trust. 

A note from Allan George – Mirumiru emerged from my personal journey of watching my mother fade away to dementia. It was a heart-wrenching experience that changed me forever and gave birth to Mirumiru. Throughout this animated film, I explored how memories, like bubbles, are beautiful and impossibly fragile and chain us to the past. dddd

Mirumiru was a journey (literally) that took me home to Wairoa and connected me to my roots. The characters' movements, facial expressions, and, to an extent, wardrobe were all based on my own whānau.

When dementia erases Lena's most cherished memories, Shorty clings desperately to the past, hoping that by preserving these memories, Lena will remember him before she passes. Despite being born from my grief and sadness, Mirumiru ultimately serves as a celebration of the enduring power of love and personal connection, which persist even as memories fade.

A note from Jase Taylor – The story that unfolds so beautifully in Mirumiru instantly captured my attention when I read Allan's script. It resonated with me on a deep level and brought back memories of my old people. I recall visiting my grandmother in the dementia ward at the nursing home in Hamilton a few years back, and for a moment she smiled, reached out her fragile arm, and remembered who I was before her tired eyes drifted off back to sleep. It was not long after that she closed her eyes for the last time. I'll never forget that moment. Mirumiru keeps the memory of our old people alive. 

Mirumiru is not just a film but a tribute to our culture, iwi, whānau, and all those who have experienced the pain of watching loved ones disappear. This animated story of love is a gentle reminder that the greatest act can be learning to let go and embracing the present. We believe that this is a universal concept that resonates with all of us, regardless of our personal experiences and cultural backgrounds. 

Dementia is a general term that represents a group of diseases and illnesses that affect your thinking, memory, reasoning, personality, mood and behaviour. The decline in mental function interferes with your daily life and activities. It's estimated that about 50% of people aged 85 and older have dementia.

Mirumiru is a story that raises awareness of mate wareware (dementia) here in Aotearoa. It is a hopeful story that celebrates kaumātuatanga or the latter years of life. We do not often see our old people represented in this way on screen, and this universal story is one which will initiate conversations about the impacts of mate wareware on whanau. With the wonderful work organisations like Dementia NZ do to raise awareness of this disease we hope that Shorty and Lena will become heroes for the many whanau who are navigating dementia in their daily lives.