Chinese Animation : A History And Filmography

Tawaraya Sotatsu popularized the ‘Tarashikomi’ style of painting meaning “Dripping in” which means applying a second layer of paint before the first is dry, it was mainly used for creating fine detail on water surfaces or flowers.

As any cliché artist would say, “I started drawing a lot when I was younger;” but not me –I can’t remember when I started to enjoy the arts. I have always been driven to create and express myself. I painted scenery to calm my nerves, draw intricate objects to focus on details, and draw dynamic poses to allow development of my eye. The mountain of used sketchbooks fills its’ own bookcase, dating back to early elementary years when I would create little stories much like a comic book. Despite my deep love for the arts, I always loved animation much more. Animation is the perfect blend of drawing and creating visual aid, while elaborately designing a storyline and plot to engage the audience –animation lets the average audience member to feel

In many people’s opinions, animation means funny and humor and designed for children. The content of the animation is nothing more than fairy tales, legends, fables, etc. Animation even becomes a symbol of Disney cartoon. However, if we re-examine the animation from another point of view, we will find that it has grown out of a single commercial mode constraints. Some of the animations are complicated, obscure and abstract. Variety kinds of visual images in it stimulate the audience's optic nerves. This is the salient features of experimental animation. Experimental animation belongs to the field which between film and pure art. Innovation is the soul of it. In the production process, the

A very prominent form of motion pictures today and even a hundred years ago would have to be animation. The first animated film composed of only illustrated images was released in Paris in 1908 and was called Fantasmagorie. In 1920 the first full color cartoon is released, paving the way for the future of this industry. Soon after that in 1922 the history of animation would be changed for ever with the introduction of the first film created by Walt Disney. This was the start of something special that Disney could have never expected. In 1937, Disney struck gold with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves which many consider as the beginning of full-length animated features because it included sound and color. For my actual report

What images come to mind as you reflect on your childhood? Playgrounds, blackboards, and soccer balls may be among the warmest of memories. Yet for many mermaids swim their thoughts, princesses get swept of their feet, and lions roar to their loyal place in the animal kingdom. There is no doubt that today’s entertainment has most of its touch using classical influences. Walt Disney has produced animated films that have captured the heart and imagination of audiences of all ages around the world through the magic of storytelling and imagery. Many of us appreciate the imagination and magic that Disney puts into its animations with out knowing they are based off of classical and traditional storylines

Te Wei’s Conceited General (1955) was exceptional in being one of the first Chinese animations to have color. Under Mao’s reign, the film was a stepping stone towards a more cohesive style of animation that was distinctly Chinese. With a strong moral and nationalistic aspect, Conceited General was an example of an attack on the values of the old system of feudalism and the integration of the values of Mao’s talk at the Yunan Forum (1946).

During the 1940’s America was fighting battles both at home and overseas, both on-screen and off. The reason being, World War II changed the possibilities of animation. Before the war, animation was only used for comedy and entertainment. Animation were these shorts played with color, music, and storytelling both hand drawn and computer animated. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a turning point in this form of entertainment because never before has the movie industry and nation been so aligned with interests and goals. To explain, “Film studios used animated characters to spread propaganda and educate Americans about their enemies. And the animators themselves were employed to make insignia for military units and equipment” (Stillich). In brief,

Animation these days is about the bigger picture. It’s about the idea of not losing faith. It’s about how powerful a tool ‘hope’ is, and that anything is possible if you believe in it. It’s about how people are equal and they all have the same opportunities,

Animation has a variety of differences between Japanese culture and the culture of the United States. While animation is usually made for the sole purpose of entertainment for children in the United States, Japanese animation, also known as anime as it is referred to both in Japan and in the West, is a form of media that is enjoyed by people of all ages. Unlike the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SpongeBob Square pants, both very popular American animations shows in their times, anime focuses more on drama and other non childlike qualities. The differing cultures of the United States and Japan can be considered the main factor to the huge differences in their own respected animation styles.

Animation is the technique of photographing successive drawings or the positioning of models to create illusion of movement in the movie. Animation is all around us. Animation is in our homes, schools, and workplace. Films that used animation were mainly Disney movies. Disney movies used animation in cartoons every since mid 1900s.

There have been many animated movies that were very popular during the 1940’s and 50’s. Some are still watched and have been recreated in today’s times: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Dumbo. Although not the first animated movie to be created, Fantasia (1940) was the first movie to connect classical music with animations.

Anime and cartoons had very similar origins. Gertie the Dinosaur from 1914 is considered the first American cartoon. Japan’s first anime is not as clear, but many believe it to be 1917’s An Obtuse Sword. Both of these animated features were short, silent, and black-and-white. Their rise in popularity and introduction of the style of animation seen in the modern world did not begin until their “Golden Age” of animation. In the US, the “Golden Age” was from the 1920’s to 1960’s; this was when Walt Disney created his own animation studio and began to put out longer cartoons with sound and color. Snow White from the late 30’s was Disney’s first big feature film hit. In the

Clay animation films were created in the 1908’s, however it’s in 1916 that it started to become popular overseas.

In a world where technology is rapidly developing and evolving, it is sometimes hard to keep up with the changes that are made. When looking back on changes that are made it is particularly interesting to look at the development of animation over history. Today when one thinks about animation it is impossible not to think of Disney and their major motion pictures. The Shreck films, Finding Nemo, and Happy Feet, to name just some of the dozens of animated films Disney has produced, raked in million upon millions of dollars at the box office, and have been hit films with people in all age groups.

The technological factors in the animation industry are not really favorable. Though there are several supportive technologies, there is constant rapid change, resulting in quickly obsolete technologies. Consequently, keeping up with the dynamism of animation technologies becomes difficult.