China's animation was once brilliant, which also proved that China's animation is powerful and has artistic laws suitable for its development. Understanding the development of Chinese cartoons is of great benefit to today's cartoon creation. We can not only learn from and absorb excellent traditions, but also find and summarize the shortcomings of Chinese cartoons and find the development path in the new social development period.
First, the difficult start-up period.
When it comes to chinese comic, we can't help but mention the Wan brothers (Wan Laiming, Wan Guchan, Wan He Atlas), who are the ancestors of chinese comic. Under extremely difficult conditions, they produced China's first animated film "The Studio" in 1926, which turned a page in the history of animation in China. Then 1930, the paper man made trouble again. Since then, the Wan brothers have worked tirelessly to create China's animation. Under the influence of anti-Japanese imperialism and the left-wing cultural movement, the Wan brothers filmed a large number of anti-Japanese works, such as Blood Money, Saving the Country by Aviation, History of National Mourning, New Trends, etc., as well as the Year of Domestic Products and Fragility, which advocated domestic products, and some children's fables, such as Rat Frog, unexpected trouble and Tortoise and Rabbit Race. Until the 1940s, Wan Brothers created the first feature film "Princess Iron Fan" of China animation, which was distributed to Southeast Asia and Japan, and was warmly welcomed by people, paving the way for China animation to go international. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Wan Brothers were forced to interrupt animation creation. At that time, a group of animators centered on Qian Jiajun also drew an animated short film "Nongjiale" with anti-Japanese content, and then drew two short films. Chinese cartoons are always closely related to the atmosphere of the times in the early stage of creation. At the same time, the earliest animators also showed indomitable spirit and a strong sense of national mission.
Second, explore ways of national style
After the founding of New China, China animation began to develop more widely. As early as 1947, Chen Boer, a people's artist, and Fang Ming (Tadahito Mochinaga), a Japanese animation expert, created the first puppet film "The Emperor's Dream" and the animated film "Catch a turtle in a jar" in New China. They finished filming under the difficult conditions of insufficient personnel and poor equipment, which opened the prelude to the development of cartoons in New China.
In the subsequent development, China's cartoons consciously began to explore the road of national style, which is the result of the times and the world environment. Shanghai Animation Film Studio was established in 1957, and its director is Tewei. At this time, the number of animators in China has grown to more than 200. Wan Laiming, Wan Guchan, Wan, Qian Jiajun, Yu Zheguang, Zhang Chaoqun, Jin Jin, Ma, and many other famous artists and writers have successively joined the ranks, making great contributions to the development of China animation.
The early days of the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC) were a period when Chinese cartoons were toddlers. China animators actively learn from foreign advanced animation technology and art, mainly the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, and their animation technology has been greatly improved. At the same time, the animation style is inevitably influenced by the animation of these countries, such as Catfish (1952), Little Beauty's Dream (1954), fistful of dollars (1955) and other films all have the shadow of Soviet animation. In particular, 1956 "Why Crows Are Black" won the prize at the International Animation Festival. Sadly, the participants thought the film was a Soviet film. This misunderstanding makes China animators deeply realize: "Imitating other countries' animations step by step is not conducive to the development of China's animated films. "It can only lead to the reduction of China animation." Only nationalization is the way out for China's animated films. "In fact, China's early animated films also have this tendency. The Paper Man Disturbed by Wan Brothers is an imitation of American animation, which pursues entertainment and is just a simple stunt farce. In fact, this is also the embodiment of the essence of animation entertainment. Movies give people entertainment, there will be audiences, and there will be markets. At the same time, it still has national characteristics in the design of characters.
1957, Tewei, director of Shanghai Fine Arts Film Factory, put forward the slogan of "exploring the road of national style", and the national style construction of China animation began. China animation artists draw nutrition from China's traditional culture and art for their own use, and strive to show China's unique style, and have made remarkable achievements. In the cartoon "Proud General", the national characteristics are full, so the general's facial makeup draws lessons from Beijing opera characters and adopts Beijing opera style in action design. The background music of the film uses folk music appropriately. When the general was helpless, the ancient pipa "Flying in All directions" sounded, and the picture and music were perfectly combined, achieving the effect of seeing the moon through the clouds. This cartoon, which lasted only 30 minutes, was full of strong nationalism, giving people a refreshing feeling and greatly inspiring the nationalization exploration at that time. At the same time, animation artists in China are actively engaged in exploring new animation technologies and improving animation skills. In China, famous puppet film directors Jin and Qian Yuanda went to study in the Czech Republic in 1950s. King's first masterpiece Princess Peacock has a touching story. Later, King's Who Sings Best was technically perfect, but ideologically limited. At that time, the literary and artistic policy was dogmatic, which limited the further development of puppet movies because of its overemphasis on "politics first", "revolutionary tradition" and "theme first". In 1957' s Pulling Radish and 1958' s New Discovery of Ancient Doctors, Qian Jiajun paid attention to exploring the childlike interest and childlike innocence of cartoons. 1958, China animators developed China's first newspaper clipping "Pig Eight Rings Eating Watermelon", which added a new variety with distinctive folk art characteristics to China animation. Then the paper-cut films such as Fisherman (1959), Jigong Fighting Cricket and Golden Conch (1963) were filmed, which absorbed the artistic features of Chinese shadow play and folk window grilles, made the animated images vivid and full, and promoted the traditional folk art in China. In 1980s, paper-cutting technology became more and more mature. On this basis, Meiying Factory successfully developed a new process of "napping" paper-cutting, and produced an ink-and-wash paper-cut entitled "Snakes and Clams Struggle", which won the Silver Bear Award at the 13th Berlin International Short Film Festival, the Special Award at the 6th Zagreb International Animation Film Festival in Yugoslavia, the Special Award at Toronto International Animation Film Festival in Canada, and the Excellent Art Film Award at the Ministry of Culture 1984. 1985' s "Grass Man" was also well received, winning the first prize of children's film at the second Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival in Japan, 1985' s Excellent Art Film Award from the Ministry of Culture in China, and the second prize of the "Dragon Boat Award" for national minority movies. This species has been recognized at home and abroad and welcomed by the audience. In addition, 1960 filmed origami "Smart Duck", which was full of fun and excitement. In the same period, ink and wash comics were invented, which is the most China-style comics. It combines China's ink painting with animated films, making China's unique interest in pen and ink perfectly reappear on the screen, forming the most artistic style with China characteristics, which shocked the whole world cinema. Little Tadpole Looking for Mother (1960) and Moody (1964) can be said to be representative works. Rhythmic pictures and poetic artistic conception give people beautiful enjoyment, and animation art has reached an aesthetic realm.
At this time, animation creation reached an unprecedented height. It can be said that the late 1950s to the mid-1960s was a climax of China's animation. It is also a mature stage of the national wind. The first and second episodes (196 1, 1964) of the animated film "Noisy Heaven" draw lessons from the characteristics of ancient paintings, temple fair art and folk New Year pictures in terms of modeling, setting and color, and also incorporate the performing arts of China traditional operas to depict the well-known the Monkey King, which makes this image leap from the screen to the tangible. It has a distinctive national style and exquisite artistic skills. "Foreign film critics said:" Make a scene in Heaven "not only has the beauty of ordinary American Disney works, but also has plastic arts that Disney-style art films can't do, that is, it completely shows China's traditional artistic style." "This is a real animation masterpiece."
The artistic level of Chinese cartoons has not only won the recognition of the international community, but also made cartoons with China national characteristics penetrate into the people of the world. China animation is independent of the world animation forest because of its unique national characteristics, which exudes unique artistic charm. Chinese cartoons have gained higher and higher reputation at home and abroad.
However, due to the influence of the Cultural Revolution, the animation industry in China was hindered and developed slowly. After the Cultural Revolution, a hundred flowers blossomed, and the animation industry in China also ushered in the second spring. Animators in China devoted themselves to animation creation with greater enthusiasm, and along the road of "national style" in the past, they made new explorations in themes, artistic forms and production techniques, and achieved gratifying results. At the same time, due to the implementation of the open policy and the expansion of foreign exchanges, China's animation industry is also more in line with international standards, breathing more fresh air, showing a vibrant scene.
1979, China's first color wide-screen animated feature film "What Makes the Sea Noisy" came out. This work, known as "colorful, elegant and imaginative", has been well received at home and abroad. The national style has been well continued on it. The cartoon "Three Monks" has inherited the traditional art form and absorbed modern foreign expression techniques, making a new attempt in developing national style. The cartoon Snow Child has a beautiful and poetic picture. Mr. Nan Guo showed the artistic style and simple style of Han Dynasty. Huo Tong combines the characteristics of decorative modeling and national art, including Two Little Peacocks, One Night Gallery, Foxes Beating Hunters, Good Cat Mimi, Fool Buying Shoes, Black Rooster, Duckling, Ginseng Fruit, Naughty Golden Monkey, If I Were Song Wu, butterfly spring, etc. 1984 The large-scale cartoon "The Golden Monkey Demons" once again put the Monkey King on the animated screen, creating a touching image of the Monkey King. In the way of expression, it combines traditional national style, abstract painting and modern music to explore the new development of national art. The cartoon "A Clip to Save Deer" is elegant and lyrical, with the quaint style of Dunhuang murals. The paper-cut "Grass Man" simulates the form of China's meticulous flower-and-bird painting. In addition, the goddess fills the sky, grabs pillows, Talepool, water deer, cleaning, nets, stealing donkeys, witches, crocodiles and little girls. It is also full of ethnic customs.
Third, the new development after the 1990s.
From the development of animation to 1990s, China's animation creation has a slow trend compared with the world's animation development. Under the impact of American and Japanese animation, and because of the lack of market operation, the recovery of animation is relatively slow. In the past, animation in China was purely invested by the state, and people were unwilling to invest, which led to the loss of animators and the slow development of animation industry in China. China animation should change its previous operation mode. In order to revive domestic animation, Meiying Factory has produced the animated film Lotus Lantern for four years, which is the largest cinema animated feature film invested by China so far. The story is based on the folklore of China. The pictures and characters are carefully designed, and the music production is extremely elegant. At the same time, the application of modern high technology also adds a lot of color to the film, giving people a refreshing feeling and winning unanimous praise from the audience. At the same time, a number of excellent cartoons were born, such as Five Weeks in a Balloon, Kyle Polo's Return to Du Xiang, Ouch, Mom and so on, which injected new vitality into animation and presented a thriving scene.
Looking at the development of China animation in recent decades, we can see that China animation has been committed to taking a road with its own characteristics. After the reform and opening up, this purpose has not been abandoned in the tide of world animation. Cartoons are filled with lively and fresh breath, giving people beautiful enlightenment. At the same time, we attach great importance to the significance of education, and adhere to the principle of "entertaining through education" in comic creation, so that comics will not become superficial and purely entertaining. After decades of painstaking efforts, Chinese cartoons have built an animation kingdom.
People in China show movies for the first time.
Zhongmin 1903 released its own film in Beijing. Lin, a businessman from China, came back from Europe and America, carrying a projector and film, showing films in Lotte Tea Garden in the mill, which was the beginning of China people transporting films from abroad to China for screening. Since then, the film has been shown in Dashilan Daguanlou Theater outside Qianmen, Civilized Tea Garden in Xidan Market, Auspicious Theater in Dong 'an Market and Harmonious Theater in Xinfeng Market in Xicheng.
The appearance of the first China film.
All the early films shown in China were made by foreigners. 1905, the documentary Dingjun Mountain, a Beijing opera fragment shot by Fengtai Photo Studio, was the first film made by China people themselves. Therefore, this year is considered as the birth day of China films.
The first cinema in China.
1907 The first cinema, Ping An Film Company, was built in Chang 'an Avenue, Beijing, and operated by foreign capital.
China's first film episode
On February 3rd, 1930, 1930, the film Wild Grass and Idle Flowers produced by Lianhua Company was released. A movie song "Looking for Brothers" written by Sun Yu and composed by Sun Yu prepared for the film with wax disc dubbing, which became the first film episode in China film history.
The first domestic audio film
193 1 In March, the song "Girl Red Peony" shot by Shanghai Star Company was released, and the first domestic audio film came out.
China's first feature film series
During the period of 1928, with the gradual rise of commercial films such as martial arts and costume films, the star film company released a martial arts film "Burning Red Lotus Temple", which was warmly welcomed by the audience. Encouraged by the box office revenue, Star Company has continuously released movie sequels. By the end of 193 1 year, * * * has filmed 18 episode, making it the first feature-length movie series in China history.
China's first best actress.
1933, Star Daily, which was founded in Shanghai, encouraged the enterprising spirit of female stars, and Hu Die ascended the throne of the first "movie queen" in China. After the election was announced, a grand coronation ceremony was originally planned for the film queen. Due to Hu Die's repeated humility, the ceremony was cancelled, and this activity was combined with the "Aviation Salvation and Recreation Special Olympics".
China's first film to win an international award.
1935 In March, the film Yu directed by Cai Chusheng won the prize at the Moscow International Film Festival held by the Soviet Union. This is the first time that a China film has won an international film festival, and Jade has become the first film in China to win an international prize.
New China's first feature film
1949, Northeast Film Studio (later renamed changchun film studio) produced the first feature film Bridge in New China under extremely difficult conditions.
This bridge was born on the eve of the founding of New China. Because it is produced by the film studio established by our party, it can be said that it is the first feature film produced by New China.
China's first color film.
China's first color film was the opera film Life and Death Hate, 1948 was shot in Shanghai. Produced by Huayi Film Company, directed by Fei Mu and starring Mei Lanfang. Huang Shaofen, a famous photographer, is the photography director and Li Shengwei is the photographer. Although the color of the film is not ideal due to lack of experience, it is the first color film in China after all.
China's first color widescreen film.
1958, Shanghai Film Studio (Haiyan Factory) filmed the first 35mm color wide-screen stereoscopic feature film "Biography of the Veteran" in China. This is the first color widescreen movie in China and the first widescreen movie in Chinese mainland. The film takes the arduous fighting life of the first pioneers in the Great Northern Wilderness as the theme, and fully shows the vast scenery of the Great Northern Wilderness with a wide color screen, which complements the content of the film. From 65438 to 0959, the film won the Silver Award for Technical Achievement at Moscow International Film Festival.
China's first color stereoscopic widescreen film.
From 65438 to 0960, Shanghai East Lake Cinema became the first stereoscopic cinema in China. This is also the first time that China has put a three-dimensional film on the screen. 1962, Shanghai Tianma Film Studio produced China's first color wide-screen three-dimensional feature film, The Magician's Adventure. This film not only created the first color wide-screen three-dimensional feature film in China, but also remained the only one.
The first film production company in China.
1909 Blaskey, an American, longs for this treasure trove of wealth. Not far away, Wan Li came to Hong Kong Road and established the Asian Film Company. This is the first film production company in China.
China's first film publication
1922 1 shadow magazine founded by Kengfu Gu and Lu Jie.
The first film school in China
1922 In March, Zheng Qiuzheng, Zhang Shichuan and others founded the first film school in China-Star Film School (later changed to Star Actor Training College), with Zheng Qiuzheng as the principal, specializing in training film talents.
China's first complete screenplay.
From 65438 to 0924, Hong Shen's Shen Tu was published in Oriental Magazine.
China's fine arts film won the international prize for the first time.
From 65438 to 0956, the magic pen of puppet film won the first prize of children's entertainment film in the 8th International Children's Film Festival.
China's first newspaper clipping
1958, Wan Guchan directed China's first newspaper clipping, Pigs and Pigs Eat Watermelon, which added a new variety to art films.
China's first cartoon.
1926, Wan Brothers overcame many difficulties such as funds, venues and materials, and finally successfully developed China's first animated film "Make a scene"; It is also the beginning of China's fine arts films.
The first foreign film translated by China.
1948, in order to eliminate the language barrier, the Northeast Film Studio (later renamed changchun film studio) negotiated with the Northeast Representative Office of the Soviet Film Export Corporation, which provided a film for the Oriental Film Studio to try to translate Chinese. This is China's first translated film Ordinary Soldier.
China's first horror movie
1937, the newly established Xinhua Film Company released a well-known film "Midnight Singing", which was the first domestic horror film to appear on the screen in China. It not only created a sensational effect at that time, but its value and charm can still be verified after more than half a century.
China's first film to win the Guinness World Record.
In June 5438+February 65438+February 2002, the China film romance on lushan mountain was officially awarded the Guinness Book of World Records, becoming "the longest-running film in the same cinema in the world". This is the first China film to set a Guinness World Record, and so far, it is the only one.
New China's first feature film co-produced by China and foreign countries.
1958, Beijing Film Studio and French Garance Art Studio co-produced the children's feature film Kite, which is the first Chinese-foreign feature film co-produced in New China.
China's first musical comedy.
In 1930s, China films entered an unprecedented period of prosperity, and the styles of films became more and more abundant. 1935, Dentsu Company released China's first musical comedy feature film "Urban Scenery". The film's fresh, lively and provocative artistic style occupies an important position in the film history.
China's first film award selected by professional filmmakers.
Among the three major film awards in China, Golden Rooster Award is a professional film award selected by professional filmmakers. The Golden Rooster Award was founded in 198 1 China Lunar Year of the Rooster and is selected once a year. The judges are film artists and film critics. It is not only the first film award in this category, but also the only one. It is also the highest award in the professional selection of China film industry.
China's first film award established by the government.
1932, at the initiative of enthusiastic people in China's education and film circles at that time, China Educational Film Association was established in Nanjing. The China Educational Film Association held its first film selection in the following year, and Humanity and Flowers of Freedom were rated as excellent films. Since then, several competitions have been held. At that time, many leaders of the association had the status of high-level government, so it can be said that this was the earliest film award with government color in China film history.
The first film award really established by the government department in China film history was 1956. After the founding of New China, 1956 set up the "Excellent Film Award of the Ministry of Culture" to reward the excellent films produced since 1949-1955.