Raman Hui Shing-Ngai (Traditional Chinese: 許誠毅, born 4 July 1963) is a Hong Kong animator, film director, and film producer. He is best known for directing the films Monster Hunt and Monster Hunt 2.[2]

Raman Hui
Hui in 2019
Born
Raman Hui Shing-Ngai[1]

(1963-07-04) July 4, 1963 (age 60)
Occupation(s)Animator, film director, film producer
Notable workMonster Hunt, Monster Hunt 2

Early life

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Hui was born in Hong Kong, and grew up in a single parent family, with his mother raising him and two other siblings.[3] Liking to draw since he could remember,[4] he went to Hong Kong Polytechnic University where he graduated in 1984 in graphic design.[1]

Career

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After graduation, he worked as a cel animator at Quantum Studios in Hong Kong.[5] In 1989, he moved to Canada to attend a three-month course at Sheridan College to improve his knowledge in computer animation.[3][5] For a while he was creating hand-drawn animated productions for TV commercials in Toronto.[5] In 1989, Hui started working as a junior animator at Pacific Data Images, which was later acquired by DreamWorks Animation.[3][5] There, he worked on various commercials and short films. Among other work, he directed two short films, Sleepy Guy (1995), and Fat Cat on a Diet (2000).[6] He was the supervising animator and lead character designer on PDI's first feature film, Antz, released in 1998. From there he went on to serve as supervising animator for Shrek and Shrek 2.[6][7] In 2004, he spent half a year in Hong Kong where he directed animation for the DreamWorks Animation's televisions series Father of the Pride, which was subcontracted to a Hong Kong company.[4] In 2007, he co-directed his first feature film, Shrek the Third. He also directed three short films, Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five, Scared Shrekless and Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos.

Hui illustrated several children story books in collaboration with Kiehl's to raise funds for various Hong Kong organizations.[8] His first book, Brownie and Sesame was released in 2004,[4] followed by Piccolo in 2005[9] and Grandma Long Ears in 2006.[10]

Due to his contributions to the Shrek films, Forbes listed Hui in 2010 among 25 notable Chinese-Americans in the business field.[11][12]

Hui said of himself that he is a "Hong Konger living in America," being "sandwiched between Western and Chinese cultures."[3] After arriving to the United States, beside learning a new language, Hui had most troubles adapting to a different lifestyle: "Hong Kong is a busy place. But the place I lived, Silicon Valley, was so quiet that if you see someone walking down the street at night, you should feel worried."[3] Although, he prefers living in Hong Kong, Hui prefers working in the United States: "They make sure you have enough time to do your job well. I feel attached to that country because it is where I learned all my skills."[3]

Filmography

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Film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Muppet*Vision 3Danimator
short film
1994Angels in the Outfieldanimation director
Sleepy Guydirector
short film
1995Batman Foreveranimation supervisor: Pacific Data Images
1996The Arrivalanimation director: Pacific Data Images
1998Antzcharacter designer/supervising animator
1999Fat Cat on a Dietdirector/animator
short film
2001Shrekcharacter designer/supervising animator
2003Shrek 4-Dsupervising animator
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven SeasJin
2004Shrek 2additional storyboard artist/supervising animator
2005Madagascaradditional animator
2007Shrek the Thirdco-director
2008Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Fivedirector
short film
2010Shrek Forever Afteradditional story artist
Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacularstory artist
short film
2011Puss in Bootsadditional story artist
2012Puss in Boots: The Three Diablosdirector
short film
2015Monster Huntdirector
2018Monster Hunt 2director
2024The Tiger's Apprenticedirector

Television

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1991The Last Halloweencharacter animator
TV special
1995The Simpsonsanimator
Episode: "Treehouse of Horror VI"
2004-2005Father of the Prideanimation director
2007Shrek the Hallsanimator
TV special
2009Merry Madagascarstory artist/animator
TV special
2010Scared Shreklessco-director
TV special
2012How to Train Your Dragonanimation director
TV series

References

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  1. ^ a b "Winners of Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award announced". The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  2. ^ Gabrenya, Frank (18 May 2007). "Mediogre fare". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Chau, Victor (12 January 2006). "Cartoonist, Raman Hui". HK Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "24 Hours with Raman Hui". South China Morning Post. 31 October 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d Tracy, Joe (2001). "dFX Interview: Raman Hui". Digital Media FX. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Raman Hui". X Media lab. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  7. ^ Seiler, Andy (18 May 2001). "'Shrek' treks through fairyland". USA Today. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  8. ^ Hui, Jessie (27 November 2006). "Hollywood animator lends a hand for charity". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  9. ^ Kiehl's (20 November 2006). "Kiehl's In Collaboration With Raman Hui To Create His Third Charity Story Book For Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation" (PDF). About Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  10. ^ Sun, Andrew (29 November 2006). "Author animated about new tale". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  11. ^ Flannery, Russel (30 July 2010). "Marvell Technology's Mobile Connector". Forbes. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  12. ^ Hong Kong Polytechnic University (18 August 2010). "Two PolyU Alumni Named Among "25 Top Chinese-Americans in Business" by Forbes". PRWeb. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
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