Photo: S P Setia
Besides reunion dinners, red packets, and lion dances, Chinese New Year is the time when the creative industry works its magic with heartwarming, nostalgic short films and ads, all of which make for lovely entertainment.
Here are 9 made-in-Malaysia ads to watch for Chinese New Year 2022. Some of them will tickle your funny bone, make you cry, or even transport you back to simpler, less tech-obsessed times.
1) S P SETIA
Flowers like peonies and cherry blossoms have long been a part of Chinese New Year, each with its own auspicious meaning. The Fú-Growers is both a beautiful and comedic short film by leading real estate player S P Setia that sheds light on the love, patience, and kindness needed to care for flowers.
The gorgeous peony centerpieces of the film are created by floral designer Eunice Teo, who also worked on the flowers in the Crazy Rich Asians film. Filming took place at a local flower farm Chiong Garden in Sungai Buloh, which is popular during the festive season.
2) RHB
Not your typical CNY film, RHB bank released A Spark for Change, which tells the true story of 10 children from a small fishing village in Teluk Intan, Perak, who took it upon themselves to clean up the village’s litter crisis. Before you know it, the whole village gets inspired and involved in the kids’ cause.
3) TNB
Electricity provider Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s Chinese New Year comedy-film WonderFu Fortune follows the misfortune of poor Aunty Choi. Viewers will sympathize with her apparent bad luck throughout the first half of the film.
It takes a turn for the better, though. In fact, it becomes pretty LIT when her family comes over, with people in lion dance costumes that light up.
4) GAMUDA LAND
Key to Happiness by property developer Gamuda Land tells the story of a K-pop fangirl who finds a key to happiness, which takes her on holiday to places like South Korea (duh), Japan, and France. Eventually, she realizes that the key was given to her by her late father and that true happiness is being together with your loved ones.
5) HONG LEONG BANK
Hong Leong Bank’s Ong Lai Tart tells the story of two sisters with vastly different personalities who work with each other to bake pineapple tarts for Chinese New Year, so they can sell them at their dad’s bakery.
6) ECOWORLD
Create A Marvelous New Year by property developer EcoWorld is about a mother who longs for her busy son to return home after two years. Of course, he does return home, revealing that he did not reply to her queries about his return home because he wanted to surprise her. Ultimately, the short story is about reuniting with family.
7) MR DIY
Family by home improvement retailer Mr DIY appears to be three separate stories about three friends, Ah Chong, Azlan, and Ravi at first until they come together to reveal that they are actually brothers adopted by the same mother, who fostered them when they were in school.
The film shows how the brothers and their mom shared a bond through music as they celebrate Chinese New Year and return home to their mom.
8) MCDONALD’S
Fast-food chain McDonald’s made an ad titled The Best Hairdresser Mum, which tells a story of a girl whose mum, aka the best hairdresser in Gunung Rapat, would style her hair in dramatic curls for Chinese New Year.
After getting teased by boys when she was a teenager, the girl never let her mother cut her hair again. Years pass and the girl starts to reminisce about the old days and goes back to her mother’s salon for a haircut. What does her new hair look like? Find out when you watch the film.
9) JULIE’S BISCUITS
The Worst Feng Shui Master by Julie’s Biscuits is a short film about a Feng Shui practitioner who is not very good at his job. Master Wong is regarded as a joke and nicknamed “Master Wrong.” Watch what happens when representatives from Julie’s Biscuits decided to do the opposite of everything he says:
