The Advancement of Animation in China - By: Aldric Chang

While most of the attention on animation in the Asian scene is attributed to the anime and the influence of Japan on global popular culture, Japanese animation is not the sole proprietor of Asian animation. Similarly staking its claim in the industry are works from China, which has a long history of art sensibilities in its culture.

With their roots firmly entrenched in the art of calligraphy, Chinese people know a thing or two about the intricacies of ink and paper. However, it wasn't until more recently during the 20th century when the Chinese people really took wings to start having its own brand of animation amidst their experience in global politics and in the economy.

It is to be noted that the zoetrope was invented first in China in 180 AD by a certain Ting Huan. The zoetrope, for animation historians, is a nifty device which creates the illusion of movement through the rapid succession of static pictures - the beginnings of animation. Ting Huan's creation hung over a lamp and it was only until 1834 when its modern prototype was perfected by the British William James Horner.

As for the modern animation scene in China, its early beginnings were inspired by productions in the early 1920s carried out by the Russians (known for their montage film tradition), the Germans, the French, and the United States of America. One of the first animations to land in Shanghai was a US production called Out of the Inkwell.

This spurred the first batches of Chinese animation which had support from commercial entities. The noted Chinese animator Wan Laiming created the first Chinese animation in 1922 for the Shuzendong Chinese Typewriter. This was to be followed by the 1924 animated short Dog Treat. Likewise, a Shanghai tobacco company created the animation short New Year.

The celebrated Wan Laiming formed a team with his brothers Wan Guchan, Wan Chaochen and Wan Dihuan to work under the Great Wall Film Company. Here was where they created the pioneering ten-minute Chinese animated short entitled Uproar in the Studio. Even this early at the evolution of their animation, the Wan team believed that these shorts should not be confined in entertainment - rather they can be used to advance advocacy, education and thought.

China's early success with animation went hand in hand with the development of Hollywood and such pioneers as Walt Disney and Warner Brothers. The first US animation series which landed in China's shore were Popeye and Betty Boop.

In 1935, China upped the ante by producing the first animation with sound: The Camel's Dance. Four years later, Disney's classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released and became a huge influence in China. It became the inspiration for a 1941 feature length film Princess Iron Fan. This was not only an artistic success but also a test of the fortitude of the animators of China because it was released during the troubled times of the World War II and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Princess-Iron-Fan

The story of Princess Iron Fan was loosely adapted from the popular Chinese folk tradition tale Journey to the West. Specifically it focused on the fight between the dreaded Monkey King and Princess Iron Fan's vengeful fan which was needed to dispel the flames of her beloved village.

Princess Iron Fan is the first animated feature to be shown in Asia. It took three years of development through the combined collaborative efforts of 237 artists supervised by the Wan Brothers. It also went past 20,000 frames and had a budget of over 350,000 yuan. The movie's effects were fascinating because it inspired the Japanese animator Tezuka Osamu and the Japanese navy to create their own feature-length animated film Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors.

This point at the development of China helped blaze a trail for Asian animation. But the more interesting part is that it was only the beginning for China.

While most of the attention on animation in the Asian scene is attributed to the anime and the influence of Japan on global popular culture, Japanese animation is not the sole proprietor of Asian animation. Similarly staking its claim in the industry are works from China, which has a long history of art sensibilities in its culture.

Aldric Chang is a creative entrepreneur who has produced music, games, virtual worlds, animated cartoon series and over a hundred animation projects. His 3d animation studio - Mediafreaks - is a unique vehicle combining animation and entertainment supported by multiple revenue streams. Aldric also runs a popular animation blog and parenting blog.