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Keeping in toon with the times
By Xu Wei |
April 25, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
INDUSTRY figures gathered for the 9th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou are attempting to create more innovative work. So could the next big thing be an upstanding young martial arts enthusiast or a rabbit seeking stardom? Xu Wei reports.
The 9th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou is not only the perfect occasion for animation and cartoon lovers to have some fun, but also a platform for domestic animation producers to promote and showcase upcoming works.
During the festival, which runs until May 1, celebrated industry professionals from all over the country will be invited to work out a long-term strategy for China's thriving of cartoon and animation industry.
Yan Dingxian and Lin Wenxiao, from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, who worked on 1961 award-winning classic animation "The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven" have been invited to share their expertise and experience at a festival forum.
In addition, sketches of Yan's 1957 comic book "Mother Hen Growing Rice" will be among the lots at a charity auction on April 30.
Yan, 77, is a regular guest of the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou.
And in past years, he and other older generation Chinese animation artists have donated sketches and other materials from the making of their classic movies to the China Cartoon and Animation Museum, in Hangzhou.
This year, Yan is involved in the production of 3D animated movie "Monkey King: Flaming Mountain" as a consultant. He says the film will break from past productions of classic novel "Journey to the West" to appeal to modern audiences.
"The design of the image for the characters can also be more creative and open," he explains. "It can provide audiences with new perspectives on the classic."
The film is one of the 10 new projects from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, covering remakes of classics, sequels and original works.
Among the projects are a film sequel to the "Black Cat Detective" series, a live-action cartoon film of the classic "Calabash Brothers" series, CG puppet animation project "Effendi," a light-hearted martial arts animation "Eight-tail Cat" and fantasy adventure "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea."
Yan says that the domestic animation industry faces both new challenges and new opportunities.
"Producers should spend more time exploring interesting stories which are closely connected to the lives and views of people today, rather than simply remaking classics of animated film and series," he says.
The festival also attracts young aspiring animation producers and companies, eager to discuss industry trends and present memorable characters, images and stories in tune with modern tastes.
Some new productions are expected to mark a new direction in the industry.
In recent years, the "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" movie franchise has been the most popular domestic animated feature films, with box office revenue for the five films of around 600 million yuan (US$97 million).
Film series producer Toonmax Media Co Ltd said it will be promoting new martial arts animated movie "The Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty" at the festival.
Set against the backdrop of the late turbulent Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), the film concerns a young hero equipped with both a sense of justice and an array of martial arts skills.
Franchises and merchandise will be developed after the movie's national release in summer, said a Toonmax spokesman.
Meanwhile, representatives from Hippo Animation, maker of fantasy adventure movie "Jungle Master" and the heroic "Animen," will also be attending the Hangzhou festival.
"Jungle Master" has been nominated for a prestigious Golden Monkey King Award.
And Hippo Animation will be releasing several original animated films, including the comic tale of a rabbit with dreams of stardom and a new version of classic 1965 Chinese film "Tunnel Warfare."
Kerr Xu, CEO of the company, says that domestic animation industry faces a creative challenge.
"An urgent task for the producers is to improve the quality, artistry and originality of animated works," Xu says.
"That will also be an important basis for developing a mature film franchise and animation industry chain."
The 9th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou is not only the perfect occasion for animation and cartoon lovers to have some fun, but also a platform for domestic animation producers to promote and showcase upcoming works.
During the festival, which runs until May 1, celebrated industry professionals from all over the country will be invited to work out a long-term strategy for China's thriving of cartoon and animation industry.
Yan Dingxian and Lin Wenxiao, from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, who worked on 1961 award-winning classic animation "The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven" have been invited to share their expertise and experience at a festival forum.
In addition, sketches of Yan's 1957 comic book "Mother Hen Growing Rice" will be among the lots at a charity auction on April 30.
Yan, 77, is a regular guest of the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou.
And in past years, he and other older generation Chinese animation artists have donated sketches and other materials from the making of their classic movies to the China Cartoon and Animation Museum, in Hangzhou.
This year, Yan is involved in the production of 3D animated movie "Monkey King: Flaming Mountain" as a consultant. He says the film will break from past productions of classic novel "Journey to the West" to appeal to modern audiences.
"The design of the image for the characters can also be more creative and open," he explains. "It can provide audiences with new perspectives on the classic."
The film is one of the 10 new projects from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, covering remakes of classics, sequels and original works.
Among the projects are a film sequel to the "Black Cat Detective" series, a live-action cartoon film of the classic "Calabash Brothers" series, CG puppet animation project "Effendi," a light-hearted martial arts animation "Eight-tail Cat" and fantasy adventure "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea."
Yan says that the domestic animation industry faces both new challenges and new opportunities.
"Producers should spend more time exploring interesting stories which are closely connected to the lives and views of people today, rather than simply remaking classics of animated film and series," he says.
The festival also attracts young aspiring animation producers and companies, eager to discuss industry trends and present memorable characters, images and stories in tune with modern tastes.
Some new productions are expected to mark a new direction in the industry.
In recent years, the "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" movie franchise has been the most popular domestic animated feature films, with box office revenue for the five films of around 600 million yuan (US$97 million).
Film series producer Toonmax Media Co Ltd said it will be promoting new martial arts animated movie "The Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty" at the festival.
Set against the backdrop of the late turbulent Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), the film concerns a young hero equipped with both a sense of justice and an array of martial arts skills.
Franchises and merchandise will be developed after the movie's national release in summer, said a Toonmax spokesman.
Meanwhile, representatives from Hippo Animation, maker of fantasy adventure movie "Jungle Master" and the heroic "Animen," will also be attending the Hangzhou festival.
"Jungle Master" has been nominated for a prestigious Golden Monkey King Award.
And Hippo Animation will be releasing several original animated films, including the comic tale of a rabbit with dreams of stardom and a new version of classic 1965 Chinese film "Tunnel Warfare."
Kerr Xu, CEO of the company, says that domestic animation industry faces a creative challenge.
"An urgent task for the producers is to improve the quality, artistry and originality of animated works," Xu says.
"That will also be an important basis for developing a mature film franchise and animation industry chain."
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