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Frame by frame

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-30 10:03

Uproar in an Art Studio (Da Nao Huashi), 1926

The Chinese cartoon from 1926, Uproar in an Art Studio, by the Wan brothers - Wan Laiming, Wan Guchan, Wan Chaochen and Wan Dihuan - is considered to be the first cartoon in China.

The Wan brothers were influenced by Popeye and decided to devote themselves to creating a Chinese cartoon industry. In three or four years, they made a couple of cartoons with a video camera made from an old photographic camera.

The Princess of Iron-Fan (Tie Shan Gongzhu), 1941

The Wan brothers completed The Princess of Iron-Fan in 1941. This was the second animated feature movie after Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1933. The story was borrowed from an episode in A Journey to the West. Astroboy's creator, Osamu Tezuka, said he was influenced by this movie.

The Money King (Da Nao Tiangong), 1965

The Money King is one of the best movies in Chinese cartoon history and tells of how Sun Wukong became the Monkey King and fought against the gods and goddesses in the Sky Palace.

The Chinese cartoon industry hit a height between 1949 and the start of "the cultural revolution" (1966-76). Shanghai Animation Film Studio was founded and there were 105 cartoons made, including 40 animation movies, 37 marionette movies, 16 paper cutting movies, three paper folding movies and nine marionette documentaries.

Nezha Conquers the Dragon King (Nezha Nao Hai), 1979

After "the cultural revolution", the cartoon industry picked up again. Nezha Conquers the Dragon King was the first wide-screen cartoon movie in China. It took more than 15 people four months to adapt the traditional Chinese book Gods of Honors. Chinese ink and wash paintings were used in this cartoon movie. Many fans said the sea was a typical "Chinese sea", totally different from the Disney style.

The second golden period of Chinese cartoon industry was from 1979 to 1989.

Lotus Lantern (Bao Lian Deng), 1999

Shanghai Animation Film Studio produced this film. It invited Coco Lee, Liu Huan and Zhang Xinzhe to sing a couple of theme songs.

Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (Xi Yangyang He Hui Tailang), 2009

Adapted from a Chinese animated TV series, it became the most successful cartoon blockbuster in China.

The Magic Aster (Ma Lan Hua), 2009

The film made by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio invited Yao Ming to provide a voice part. The story is also adapted from an ancient Chinese fairy tale.