The Lion Hunters is a YA drama series. A fast-paced battle of the underdog that highlights the mix of cultures and beliefs at play and at war in South West Sydney.
The Lion Hunters Synopsis
To save their beloved Dojo from being destroyed, a team of martial arts misfits must earn their place at an International Lion Dancing Championships, but when one of their team defects to a rival gang, they are forced to reinvent themselves and it takes all their ingenuity to succeed.
The Environment
Dojos represent cultural hubs for Australia’s various Asian communities and the style of Martial Arts taught in these Dojos depends on the predominant culture surrounding them. Businesses support Dojos because it increases their influence over the community. In return, some businesses ask the Dojo’s to provide “protection” services.
A Dojo that doesn’t win favour with the businesses becomes very poor. As a result, some open their doors to offer a mixture of martial arts disciplines. That is the case for this Dojo.
The Lion Hunters Characters
When Dojo Master, Wang Wei dies as is tradition, the Dojo passes from Father to Son.
The son, William, wants nothing more than to sell the school and escape back to city. Four students try and convince him that they can bring prestige back to the Dojo but it’s not until he sees them practicing and recognises his father’s influence, that he agrees, seeing a pathway to finally connect with his father.
Soobin, Chinese, is highly ambitious. He feels embarrassed by his parent’s poverty. They have dreams of him becoming a lawyer… but school doesn’t excite him, martial arts does. He hasn’t told them that he’s dropped out of his law degree. This is the only Dojo he can afford, and to make extra money, he fights.
Thao, Vietnamese, has bounced from Dojo to Dojo, unable to find acceptance as a female martial artist until she came here. Naturally gifted, she has taken to teaching alongside the master. This provides her much needed money to help support her family. The surrogate prodigal daughter, she feels that the Dojo is rightfully hers. The appearance and “meddling” of William is a constant irritation.
Keith is an “Egg”. White on the outside, yellow on the inside. Hailing from the Seven Hills district, he knows more about the history of martial arts than any of them. This is the only Dojo where he feels accepted and not laughed at.
Haru, the youngest of the team, is an overweight boy of Japanese descent. His parents are always warring and he compensates by eating. This has led to a cycle of bullying from his family and his schoolmates. His mum enrolled him into the Dojo in the hope that he would lose weight. Despite his size he’s a good mover. He also still loves to eat.
Soobin’s fighting gets him noticed by a rival gang who make him an offer too good to refuse. His departure breaks Thao’s heart and he becomes the group’s arch nemesis. Haru and Keith take it upon themselves to find a new 4th member and come across… Pallavi.
Pallavi, Indian, is a punk street rat. She has been secretly sleeping at the Dojo and eating Haru’s food supply. She’s on the run from… well, everyone. She’s good in a fight but has no discipline. Her technique clashes with Thao. But when she saves their arses against Soobin’s new gang, they agree that she is one of them.
