From a childhood memory of a pet terrapin to a widely travelled original character, local animator Sam Kin Hang told the Post that he has spent more than a decade shaping Ho Sio Chong, a shell-less terrapin whose quiet journey reflects imperfection, resilience and the city that the artist calls home.
Born and raised in Macau, Sam Kin Hang developed an early fascination with cartoons, particularly Pokémon, which later guided his decision to study animation at university in Shanghai. Wanting to turn his creation into “something that could move,” he chose animation as his medium and began exploring how personal experience could translate into storytelling.
The origins of Ho Sio Chong trace back to Sam’s childhood. He once kept a terrapin that died accidentally, leaving a lasting impression. That memory resurfaced during his university years, when he created an animated short titled “On His Back”, using the terrapin as a vessel for emotion and reflection.
In the story, the terrapin is born without a shell and is rejected by others of his kind. Attempting to fit in, he disguises himself with a shell, only to discover during a bus accident that his difference allows him to help others. The moment becomes a turning point: the character no longer needs to hide his imperfection and instead carries objects meaningful to him, from childhood memories to Macau street signs, turning vulnerability into possibility.
Sam added that the character’s temperament mirrors Macau itself: slow-paced, relaxed and reflective. Growing up near Dr. Sun Yat Sen Municipal Park, where he spent much of his childhood, shaped both his memories and visual language.
“Macau’s residents are relatively leisurely and carefree,” he noted, adding that this quality aligns closely with Ho Sio Chong’s personality. When Sam returned to Macau after his studies, he acknowledged the city’s limited demand for animation, requiring him to balance other design work alongside his creative practice.
In 2018, Sam founded “Mung Animation”, a name drawn from the idea of planting beans, a metaphor for staying grounded while exploring the future.
A defining moment came in 2023, where he was lucky to have an art installation in Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, symbolising a scene from “On His Back” where Ho Sio Chong waited for the bus.
Since then, the character has appeared in exhibitions and activities across Macau, Hong Kong, China’s Taiwan region and the Chinese mainland, even though the character is intentionally simple and imperfect.
Looking ahead, Sam hopes to continue expanding his character’s world by developing new characters and deeper narratives, using animation to express personal emotions while introducing Macau to wider audiences. He aims to invite people not only to discover his stories, but also to experience the quiet corners of Macau that shaped them.
These images provided by Mung Animation yesterday show stills from its “On His Back” short animation.
Local animator Sam Kin Hang poses in front of his stall near the Taipa Market in Old Taipa Village last week. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
This image downloaded from Mung Animation’s Instagram page yesterday shows multiple versions of the character Ho Sio Chong carrying Macau-themed backpacks.
This 2023 photo downloaded from Mung Animation’s Instagram page yesterday shows pedestrians posing for photos with a life-size statue of Ho Sio Chong in Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro.
