港式飲茶文化之動畫《飲茶》創作論述

本創作主題是以作者個人經歷為主軸，香港飲茶文化的興衰為背景，藉由2D動畫製作來呈現港人視角下，大時代變遷及生活社會轉變之深刻體會。故事內容敘述主角與奶奶的祖孫日常，在飲茶文化的氛圍中，傳遞香港人特有的飲食風貌。但物換星移，隨著奶奶的離開也迎來了五十年不變的大變局，主角面對未來的不確定性，唯一能令她緬懷與慰藉的只有奶奶留給她的玉手鐲。
「飲茶」不僅是港人日常生活中不可或缺的一部分，也是傳統文化的表徵。它融合了中西文化，承載著濃厚的社會價值與社交意涵，是體現人們建立關係及家庭聚會的重要形式。然而，隨着時代演變，飲茶文化逐漸退變成大眾消費的用餐方式，其文化面貌亦日漸模糊。回憶起過去與奶奶一起飲茶的時光，當中承載的香港風味似乎也隨之消逝。
另外，藉文化符碼之符號學分析及結合AI繪圖軟體之創作歷程，為不諳動畫製作的創作者提供另一種可行的製作方式，讓一般認為難以駕馭的動畫製作更平易近人，讓想法與感受能被自由的表達與傳遞，這也是此動畫製作的動機與目的。

The theme of this creation is based on the author's personal experiences, with the rise and decline of Hong Kong’s tea-drinking culture (Yum Cha) as a background. It seeks to convey the reflections on social changes and lifestyle transitions from the perspective of Hong Kong residents through a 2D animation. The story narrates the daily life of the main character and her grandmother, highlighting the unique food culture of Yum Cha in Hong Kong. As times change, the passing of the grandmother coincides with a significant historical shift—the upheaval of the “50 years of no change” era. Confronted with an uncertain future, the main character finds solace and cherished memories from the jade bracelet left behind by her grandmother.
Yum Cha is not only an indispensable part of daily life for Hongkongers but also a symbol of traditional culture. It embodies a fusion of Chinese and Western influences, carrying deep social and cultural significance as a medium for relationship-building and family gatherings. However, as time passes, Yum Cha has gradually converted into a consumer-oriented dining experience, losing much of its cultural essence. Recalling the past moments of tea drinking with her grandmother, the Hong Kong flavors they carried seems to fade as well.
Moreover, by integrating semiotic analysis of cultural symbols with the creative process using AI drawing tools, this project provides an alternative approach for creators unfamiliar with animation production. It aims to make animation creation more accessible, enabling ideas and emotions to be expressed freely. This emphasis on accessibility and creative freedom in storytelling serves as the motivation and goal of this animation project.