Brian Tse
Encyclopedia
Brian Tse is the author of the Hong Kong children comic, "McMug
and McDull
" series. He is one of the two creators (another is Alice Mak
, his colleague-turned-wife) of the cartoon characters McMug
and McDull
. His wife is responsible for the illustration. His other works include "The Excreman" (a "serious" parody of the famous English cartoon, "The Snowman
"), "The Beautiful Loser", "Pig Has Come", and "Over the Rainbow".
when he was small, and had a pet name, "Fook Chai", given by his neighbours. He was a lack-lustre boy, and, according to his mother, he remained silent at all times even when his skin was being bit by ant
s. His family had to move from one location to other, thus Tse had changed his primary schools for times. Tse liked watching movies at cinemas; in order to earn money for buying tickets, he would helped his classmates finish their Art assignments as an odd-job. He had his secondary school life at St. Stephen's College, Stanley, where he built up his confidence. Then, he furthered his studies at the University of Sydney
, majoring in Computer Science, Philosophy, and Education. He did not spend much time on his schoolwork, giving more of his attention to books in the library. While in Sydney, he became influenced by the cartooning style of Michael Leunig
, a Melburnian
who was (and remains to this day) one of the most popular and critically acclaimed cartoonists in Australia.
s he read in Australia
, of which Raymond Briggs
had the greatest influence on his creative writing. Tse was famous for his so-called adult fairy tale
s joining philosophy
, Buddhist
proverb
s, song
s, photos, and comics.
Tse's favourite pastimes include reading, listening music, and playing the piano
.
McMug
McMug is a cartoon pig who first appeared in Mingpao weekly magazine in 1988. The graphics are drawn by Hong Kong cartoonist Alice Mak with stories written by Brian Tse . Although McMug comics look somewhat childish, they cover more serious social topics, including death, poverty, unskilled...
and McDull
McDull
McDull is a cartoon pig character that was created in Hong Kong by Alice Mak and Brian Tse. Although McDull made his first appearances as a supporting character in the McMug comics, McDull has since become a central character in his own right, attracting a huge following in Hong Kong.-McDull's...
" series. He is one of the two creators (another is Alice Mak
Alice Mak
Alice Mak is an artist and cartoonist. She is one of the two creators of the cartoon characters McMug and McDull.The animated films My Life as McDull and McDull, Prince de la Bun have received numerous awards....
, his colleague-turned-wife) of the cartoon characters McMug
McMug
McMug is a cartoon pig who first appeared in Mingpao weekly magazine in 1988. The graphics are drawn by Hong Kong cartoonist Alice Mak with stories written by Brian Tse . Although McMug comics look somewhat childish, they cover more serious social topics, including death, poverty, unskilled...
and McDull
McDull
McDull is a cartoon pig character that was created in Hong Kong by Alice Mak and Brian Tse. Although McDull made his first appearances as a supporting character in the McMug comics, McDull has since become a central character in his own right, attracting a huge following in Hong Kong.-McDull's...
. His wife is responsible for the illustration. His other works include "The Excreman" (a "serious" parody of the famous English cartoon, "The Snowman
The Snowman
The Snowman is a children's book by English author Raymond Briggs, published in 1978. In 1982, this book was turned into a 26-minute animated movie by Dianne Jackson for the fledgling Channel 4. It was first shown on Channel 4 late on Christmas Eve in 1982 and was an immediate success. The film was...
"), "The Beautiful Loser", "Pig Has Come", and "Over the Rainbow".
Childhood
Tse lived in a village in Sha TinSha Tin
Sha Tin, also spelled Shatin, is an area around the Shing Mun River in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District.-Geography:...
when he was small, and had a pet name, "Fook Chai", given by his neighbours. He was a lack-lustre boy, and, according to his mother, he remained silent at all times even when his skin was being bit by ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s. His family had to move from one location to other, thus Tse had changed his primary schools for times. Tse liked watching movies at cinemas; in order to earn money for buying tickets, he would helped his classmates finish their Art assignments as an odd-job. He had his secondary school life at St. Stephen's College, Stanley, where he built up his confidence. Then, he furthered his studies at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, majoring in Computer Science, Philosophy, and Education. He did not spend much time on his schoolwork, giving more of his attention to books in the library. While in Sydney, he became influenced by the cartooning style of Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig , typically referred to as Leunig, is an Australian poet, cartoonist and cultural commentator. His best known works include The Adventures of Vasco Pyjama and the Curly Flats series...
, a Melburnian
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
who was (and remains to this day) one of the most popular and critically acclaimed cartoonists in Australia.
Writing career
Tse had his early works published on "Ming Pao Weekly". He gained his inspiration from the picture bookPicture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
s he read in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, of which Raymond Briggs
Raymond Briggs
Raymond Redvers Briggs is an English illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist, and author who has achieved critical and popular success among adults and children...
had the greatest influence on his creative writing. Tse was famous for his so-called adult fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
s joining philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
s, song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s, photos, and comics.
Tse's favourite pastimes include reading, listening music, and playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.