〔Reporter Tong Zhengguo / Nantou Report〕 Here comes Smog Brother! In recent years, Nantou County has been plagued by severe air pollution. To raise more awareness among locals about this critical issue, the Social Sciences Research Center of National Chi-Nan University, the Puli PM2.5 Air Pollution Reduction Self-Help Association, and young director Wei Heting have jointly produced Puli Town's first puppet animation, "Smog Brother is Coming." The filming is complete, and post-production, including dubbing, is underway. The premiere will be held on the 25th at the Puli Town Library, with simultaneous online release for public viewing and sharing, hoping to mobilize everyone to take action against air pollution.

The locally produced puppet animation 'Smog Brother is Coming' in Puli Town has completed filming and is undergoing post-production. It will premiere on the 25th of this month at the Puli Town Library and will be uploaded online for sharing. (Photo provided by Puli PM2.5 Air Pollution Reduction Self-Help Association)
The characters in the animation 'Smog Brother is Coming' are made from recycled corrugated cardboard, while the villain character 'Smog Brother' is a bundle of steel wool brushes. (Photo provided by Puli PM2.5 Air Pollution Reduction Self-Help Association)

Nantou County, known for its beautiful mountains and waters, has seen its air quality deteriorate severely in recent years. Monitoring stations in Puli, Zhushan, and Nantou have become frequent visitors on the red alert list. In response, Puli Town once held a large anti-air pollution march, leading to the establishment of township-level air pollution prevention committees. The Puli PM2.5 Air Pollution Reduction Self-Help Association has also actively entered schools to promote awareness, hoping to instill the concept of air pollution prevention from a young age.

Locally, the puppet animation "Smog Brother is Coming" is being produced. The title is inspired by the Hokkien phrase "Mai Ge Lai A" (meaning "Selling more and more" or implying something unwanted keeps coming). Director Wei Heting specifically used recycled corrugated cardboard and steel wool brushes as materials. A dark bundle of steel wool brushes transforms into the villain protagonist "Smog Brother" in the animation. The small-town residents do not want him to destroy their fresh air. What efforts did they make? Did they succeed in the end?

Producing a roughly 6-minute animation is not easy. Every puppet and accessory was crafted by the crew. Continuous shooting was required; for every second of movement of a paper puppet, more than 10 photos had to be taken. The process was arduous. At the end of last year, a teaser trailer of over 1 minute was completed, receiving a positive response from locals, and everyone looks forward to seeing the complete animation.

The Puli PM2.5 Air Pollution Reduction Self-Help Association stated that "Smog Brother is Coming" has completed filming and is currently undergoing post-production such as dubbing. This locally produced air pollution awareness animation will hold its premiere at 2:00 PM on the 25th in the audio-visual room of the Puli Town Library. It will also be uploaded to YouTube simultaneously, allowing more people to watch and share this lighthearted, humorous, and educational animation, working together to combat air pollution.