Super Star Waka

Content Creation

A collaboration between Artificial Imagination and Dreamgirls Art Collective

Created for Wellington City Council’s Matariki Ahi Kā event, we brought the Dreamgirls’ art to life in a 6-minute projection installation on the facade of our national museum, Te Papa.

Titiro ake! Look Up! Come on a celestial journey as Te Ika a Māui gazes to the stars, seeking the stories of te moana, te whenua, and te rangi. Witness Puanga call in the new year with the Super Star Waka as it begins te haerenga mai Hawaiki ki Aotearoa and beyond!

A deviation from our typical 3D approach, we had fun bringing elements of 3D to the Dreamgirls 2D graphical style. Some elements, such as Te Ika a Maui (represented as a sting ray), or Maui’s hook (pictured above) we recreated in 3D so we could easily work with changes in perspective or add simulated dynamics.

Credits:
Ringatoi | Artists - Dreamgirls Art Collective
Miriama Grace-Smith (Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Arawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira & Ngāti Porou
Xoe Hall (Kai Tahu)
Gina Kiel (Irish, Scottish, Danish, Dutch)

Pakiwaituhi | Animation - Artificial Imagination
Delainy Jamahl
Ruben O’Hara
Rachel Neser

Tātai Arorangi, Kaipūrākau and Mana Whenua Advisor
Toa Waaka (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Mutunga, Te Ati Awa)

Kaiwhakarite oro | Sound Design
Paddy Free

Kaikaranga
Te KuraHuia (Ngāi Tara ki te Muaūpoko, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Whakaue, NgāPuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Apa ki Ta Rā Tō, Kai Tahu)

Kaiwhakaputa | Producer - Artificial Imagination
Shannon Brosnahan Inglis