The Best Festive Videos for the Heart, Mind, and Soul

It is the season of red packets, mandarin oranges, and upbeat festive songs looping incessantly in supermarkets and malls. With bright lanterns and glowing ornaments of Chinese Zodiac animals and heavenly celestials adorned around the streets of Chinatown and the heartlands, Chinese New Year is an annual celebration that is no stranger to anybody in Singapore.

Like other culturally significant festivals of a similar nature (Hari Raya, Deepavali) that we celebrate here, Chinese New Year is a time where families and friends gather to exchange auspicious greetings, catch up on each other’s lives, and most importantly, feast on delectable meals and guilty treats, just to name a few.

With all that said, there are still a few things that never fail to surface during this joyous period. These are the things that would always find their way into your homes, phones, or wherever you have access to mass media. Think Michael Bublé emerging from deep hibernation during the Christmas season. That’s right, we are talking about the abundance of Chinese New Year song albums, films, and TVCs that fill our screens and senses during this time of year. It is true that even amid all the festivities, there is never a lack of creative ideas and interesting stories waiting to enrich the celebrations.

In this article, we are looking at some of the most heartfelt and imaginative Lunar New Year-themed videos that you should check out (if you haven’t already). But before we begin, note that these picks are just what we believe to be some of the most unique and interesting, we know there are plenty of amazing works out there that we definitely overlooked.

After all, art is subjective, right?

From our Neighbours

It is without a doubt that some of the best and original Lunar New Year videos are conceived and produced consistently over the years by our lovely neighbours in Malaysia. The plethora of inventive videos ranges from empathetic and resonant shorts to over-the-top, comedic advertisements.

To kick off the list, check out this simple yet beautiful short from Petronas released in 2006.

As we grow older and start our careers and journeys in life, we tend to have less time to spend with our loved ones. Such is the case in this light and bittersweet short where a group of old ladies gather round to boast about their children’s successful careers abroad... all except one, an inquisitive old lady who is constantly wow-ed by what she's hearing. Though this lady does not have any tall tales to share, she has something that her boastful friends can only dream of— having the physical presence of a caring child. The video ends with a poignant quote that reads, “Love of the family is life’s greatest blessing” and we cannot agree more.

Moving on, here is a wildly interesting video from TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad), Malaysia’s largest electrical provider, that explores the folklore of Lunar New Year’s origins with a modern, action-packed twist.

Apart from the elaborate set design, cinematic approach, and action set pieces that give this comedic re-telling a refreshing upgrade, the video also includes subtle quips that are humorously relevant to the current COVID climate. And with that, the need for unity and harmony, as depicted in this fantastical and light-hearted piece of work, is ever so pertinent to the uncertain future ahead.

And if this video isn’t impressive enough to marvel at, check out the behind-the-scenes featurette that documents the process of bringing this ambitious concept to life.

Further in the East

Receiving red packets from your elders is an essential tradition during the Lunar New Year celebrations. But depending on the specific customs that one practice in different regions; the act of gifting red packets is to be reciprocated when the young ones eventually come of age and get married— as a sign of respect and gratitude.

Though it may sound odd, certain regions value the etiquette of kindly declining a red packet when it is presented. This practice might be more commonly seen in China, as shown in this slapstick Nike advertisement that dramatizes the idea while weaving in a ‘health and fitness’ element that the mega-brand is known for.

Animation is a craft with endless possibilities. Whether it is an old man flying his house to South America with nothing but balloons or a sewer rat who aspires to be an amazing chef (you know what we’re talking about here), the realm of animation is truly one that defies the limitations of live-action and continues to entertain people of all ages.

In this popular and adorable advertisement, McDonald’s collaborated with popular Chinese film IP, Ne Zha (Based on the commercially successful animated film of the same name) to tell an amusingly emotional tale of a failed ‘reunion dinner’. Check it out below!

Home is Where the Heart is

Lastly, we thought we’d highlight a video featured in a previous blog post before.

Reunion Soup or A Taste of Love, is one of three short films that we’ve produced for Raymond Math & Science Studio (RMSS), a local tuition center. The story focuses on a loving family who struggles to get along after their mother suffers from dementia. But a family-old recipe of pork ribs lotus soup may just do the trick as the family unites bittersweetly through the power of love and memory.

Check out the video here:

On An Auspicious Note...

We are thrilled to begin another year of incredible and exciting opportunities.  

And in the Year of the Tiger, we thought it would only be appropriate if we quote this stirring lyric from The Eye of the Tiger: Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive.  

Got a creative idea or burning desire to tell a story?  

Let us help you turn that vision into a reality.