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How the festival's host city benefits
By Shi Xiaohan |
April 28, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HANGZHOU is hosting the 2011 China International Animation & Cartoon Festival (CICAF) this week. The festival has brought about changes in the city since it was first held in 2005. Ye Ming, deputy Party secretary general of Hangzhou, shares with us his observations and experiences over the past seven years.
Q: How did Hangzhou become the first city to host the China International Animation & Cartoon Festival in 2005?
A: In 2004, Hangzhou emerged from its competitors, including Changsha, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and became the first city to host CICAF. We spared no efforts to host the festival as we had foreseen the potential of Hangzhou's budding cartoon industry. Though far from flawless, the first CICAF qualified as a success.
Q: Hangzhou became the permanent host city of the CICAF in 2005 while originally the festival was to be held by different cities every year. Why do you think Hangzhou deserves this unique honor?
A: Hangzhou has some incomparable advantages over other cities. Hangzhou has a huge talent pool and abundant capital to fuel the emerging industry. Its natural beauty and historical heritage are great resources of inspiration. On the other hand, the municipal government worked hard to make the first CICAF a success. The efforts were recognized by state authorities who later decided to let Hangzhou host the following CICAFs.
Q: China International Animation & Cartoon Festival has become the largest of its kind in China. Is there something new about this year's festival?
A: After seven years' accumulation of experiences, some breakthroughs are expected to be seen at this year's CACIF.
The festival is more globalized with the participation of international cartoon giants like Disney.
Some events will be kicked off for the first time during this year's festival. A special Hangzhou-Taipei Summit Forum will be launched. Masterpieces of well-known painters including Feng Zikai and Tsai Chih-Chung will be exhibited and auctioned this year. The first cartoon derivative products fair will be held to support licensed products. Extracurricular activities are introduced into this year's festival to appeal to the young.
Q: What's your interpretation of the festival slogan "Comic city, creative life?"
A: By hosting the festival, we want to stimulate the creativity and imagination of citizens, especially the young. That is why we came up with this slogan. From the slogan, one could know that the festival is not only for professionals, but for everyone.
Q: Evidence of cartoons can be seen almost everywhere in Hangzhou, even in some hospitals. What's the motivation behind this?
A: Cartoon sculptures and paintings can brighten the city up. For example, light poles and electric wiring boxes along the streets, which once looked hard and cold, have become interesting with cartoon paintings on. We also plan to decorate three bus fleets with cartoons to turn them into scenery on the move.
Q: Hangzhou has launched cartoon and animation courses in middle and primary schools. Is Hangzhou a pioneer in China?
A: Hangzhou is among the earliest cities to launch these courses in schools. The courses proved to be helpful to boost students' creativity and imagination. However, compared with well-developed areas where comic education started earlier, Hangzhou still has a long way to go.
Q: How has the festival enhanced the development of the cartoon industry in Hangzhou and its cultural industry as a whole?
A: The festival has promoted the cultural image of Hangzhou while gathering information, talent and capital from the world cartoon industry in the city every year. Thanks to the festival, Hangzhou's cartoon industry has accelerated its development, attracting more than 200 high-profile cartoon companies to settle in Hangzhou. Last year, Hangzhou's cultural and creative industry contributed 11.8 percent of Hangzhou's GDP.
Q: Hangzhou has attracted many famous cartoonists including Tsai Chih-Chung, Chu Teh-Yung and Tony Wong to settle in the city. Could you share its secrets of attracting such talent?
A: A beautiful environment, rich historical heritage and accommodative policies contributed to Hangzhou's attractiveness. For top artists in the industry, the government sets aside 30 million yuan (US$4.6 million) in total every year as their stipends.
Q: In 2010, Hangzhou cartoon works worth US$11.9 million were exported, which was 86 percent higher than the year before. Could you explain how the municipal government helps boost the industry and its exports?
A: The government supports cartoon companies by setting aside 70 million yuan from its budget every year to help small companies take off. Additionally, the government designated five cartoon industry zones to integrate all available resources within the industry. Moreover, we financially support Hangzhou cartoon companies to attend international fairs like Cannes and award the companies with globally recognized products.
Q: How did Hangzhou become the first city to host the China International Animation & Cartoon Festival in 2005?
A: In 2004, Hangzhou emerged from its competitors, including Changsha, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and became the first city to host CICAF. We spared no efforts to host the festival as we had foreseen the potential of Hangzhou's budding cartoon industry. Though far from flawless, the first CICAF qualified as a success.
Q: Hangzhou became the permanent host city of the CICAF in 2005 while originally the festival was to be held by different cities every year. Why do you think Hangzhou deserves this unique honor?
A: Hangzhou has some incomparable advantages over other cities. Hangzhou has a huge talent pool and abundant capital to fuel the emerging industry. Its natural beauty and historical heritage are great resources of inspiration. On the other hand, the municipal government worked hard to make the first CICAF a success. The efforts were recognized by state authorities who later decided to let Hangzhou host the following CICAFs.
Q: China International Animation & Cartoon Festival has become the largest of its kind in China. Is there something new about this year's festival?
A: After seven years' accumulation of experiences, some breakthroughs are expected to be seen at this year's CACIF.
The festival is more globalized with the participation of international cartoon giants like Disney.
Some events will be kicked off for the first time during this year's festival. A special Hangzhou-Taipei Summit Forum will be launched. Masterpieces of well-known painters including Feng Zikai and Tsai Chih-Chung will be exhibited and auctioned this year. The first cartoon derivative products fair will be held to support licensed products. Extracurricular activities are introduced into this year's festival to appeal to the young.
Q: What's your interpretation of the festival slogan "Comic city, creative life?"
A: By hosting the festival, we want to stimulate the creativity and imagination of citizens, especially the young. That is why we came up with this slogan. From the slogan, one could know that the festival is not only for professionals, but for everyone.
Q: Evidence of cartoons can be seen almost everywhere in Hangzhou, even in some hospitals. What's the motivation behind this?
A: Cartoon sculptures and paintings can brighten the city up. For example, light poles and electric wiring boxes along the streets, which once looked hard and cold, have become interesting with cartoon paintings on. We also plan to decorate three bus fleets with cartoons to turn them into scenery on the move.
Q: Hangzhou has launched cartoon and animation courses in middle and primary schools. Is Hangzhou a pioneer in China?
A: Hangzhou is among the earliest cities to launch these courses in schools. The courses proved to be helpful to boost students' creativity and imagination. However, compared with well-developed areas where comic education started earlier, Hangzhou still has a long way to go.
Q: How has the festival enhanced the development of the cartoon industry in Hangzhou and its cultural industry as a whole?
A: The festival has promoted the cultural image of Hangzhou while gathering information, talent and capital from the world cartoon industry in the city every year. Thanks to the festival, Hangzhou's cartoon industry has accelerated its development, attracting more than 200 high-profile cartoon companies to settle in Hangzhou. Last year, Hangzhou's cultural and creative industry contributed 11.8 percent of Hangzhou's GDP.
Q: Hangzhou has attracted many famous cartoonists including Tsai Chih-Chung, Chu Teh-Yung and Tony Wong to settle in the city. Could you share its secrets of attracting such talent?
A: A beautiful environment, rich historical heritage and accommodative policies contributed to Hangzhou's attractiveness. For top artists in the industry, the government sets aside 30 million yuan (US$4.6 million) in total every year as their stipends.
Q: In 2010, Hangzhou cartoon works worth US$11.9 million were exported, which was 86 percent higher than the year before. Could you explain how the municipal government helps boost the industry and its exports?
A: The government supports cartoon companies by setting aside 70 million yuan from its budget every year to help small companies take off. Additionally, the government designated five cartoon industry zones to integrate all available resources within the industry. Moreover, we financially support Hangzhou cartoon companies to attend international fairs like Cannes and award the companies with globally recognized products.
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