OHU Domes are proud to present HOW IT WAS TOLD TO ME: MAORI LEGENDS FROM NEW ZEALAND, a unique collection of three theatrical short animations. THE CREATION STORY, RONA AND THE MOON, and THE GREAT WAKA deliver three New Zealand Maori stories of the southern skies, in a theatrical, creative and engaging way. HOW IT WAS TOLD TO ME can be showcased as a complete series with a total running length of 17 minutes, or screened individually as an enriching programme addition, each with a running length of approximately five minutes.
THE CREATION STORY is The New Zealand Maori Story of how Ranginui the Sky Father and Papatuanuku the Earth Mother, held each other in such a tight embrace that no light could shine through and their many children had to live in darkness. After years of struggle, Tumatauenga and Tane Mahuta plot to push their parents apart, while Tawhirimatea fights back to keep them together, resulting in the creation of the world, and the three brothers becoming the Maori gods of war, the forest, and the winds. Winner Best Short Film, Digistar User Group Conference 2014.
RONA AND THE MOON tells the New Zealand Maori story of how Marama, the Moon, came to look the way it does in our southern skies today. We meet Rona in a quaint fishing village on the night of a full moon, as she prepares a feast for her family's return from the great seas. Rona's sharp temper, quick tongue and impulsive actions have life-changing consequences. Winner Best Short Film, Fiske Fulldome Film Festival 2016.
THE GREAT WAKA tells the New Zealand Maori story of how a fisherman, Tamareriti, created the Milky Way with all its constellations, and for the first time brought light to our Southern night skies. Look up from The South Pacific, and you'll see his Great Waka canoe traveling across the sky. Find out how the waka came to be there and how through the ages it has guided Polynesian sailors navigating the southern seas. There are many versions of these stories stemming from different Iwi tribes of Aotearoa New Zealand.
These three short films were developed by OHU Domes for Stardome's 'Matariki Dawn' show in Auckland, and feature recordings of traditional Maori instruments by Dr Richard Nunns, narration by Te Kohe Tuhaka, Tanea Heke, Rangimoana Taylor with sound design by Dylan Storey. OHU Domes is a collective of like-minded artists with high-end experience aiming to create high quality, engaging dome content.
The Great Waka
Best Short Film at the 2020 Dome Under Fulldome Film Festival in Melbourne
The Great Waka
Extra Janus Award, Fulldome Film Festival, Jena, Germany, 2019
The Great Waka
Short-Film Audience Award, Reflections of the Universe festival, Yaroslavl, Russia, 2019
Rona and the Moon
Best Short Film, Fiske Fulldome Film Festival, Boulder, USA, 2016
The Creation Story
Best Short Film, Digital User Group Conference, Germany, 2014