In the world of animation, while there was still some diversity, it has been dominated by the likes of America and Japan for the longest time. For the most part, this is due to the costly and stigmatised nature of the medium of animation.
As it was considered to be a medium meant for a young audience and due to the costly nature of producing animation, it has been largely neglected by most of the world.
While the stigma behind animation still exists, animated productions have become more and more profitable overtime and as a result more animation industries are starting to rise up all over the globe. One of the most prominent examples of this has been the meteoric rise of Chinese Animation, known as Donghua.
For those who have only had a passing encounter with the world of animation, China’s formidable animation industry might seem to have only risen within the past five years or so.
However, as with most contexts, China’s history with it runs much deeper. Animation was first introduced to Shanghai in 1918 through the animated short “Out of the Inkwell” by the legendary Fleischer Studios and from then on, foreign animated productions have been popular throughout China. While locally produced animation existed, development was rare and sporadic, especially once China entered the Second World War. It was only when the war had ended did animation in China find any steady development though it would not enter its golden age until the formal founding of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio(SAFS) in the 50’s.
SAFS
Serving as a hub for the Chinese animation talents to congregate and work together, the SAFS produced some of China’s most iconic animated movies during this time, such as Pigsy Eats Watermelon (1958) and Havoc In Heaven(1961,64). SAFS’ animators developed and worked with many innovative and experimental styles of animation during this period such as paper cutout animation and folded paper animation.
Animated movies of the time were drenched in distinctly Chinese designs and iconography. However, this period of prosperity for animation would come to a screeching halt thanks to China’s Cultural Revolution which started in 1966.
Where the Hundred Flowers Campaign that came before it inspired the development of Art free from government influence or censorship, the Cultural Revolution actively killed it. Artists were imprisoned, publicly humiliated and exiled.
Thousands of artists were persecuted this way, with many hundreds dying during the ordeal. Almost no animated productions were made during this period.
The few films that did see production were clear propaganda. The films had none of the style of innovation and experimentation of the films that came before, as they were produced without any influence of traditional Chinese culture, a cornerstone of Chinese animation.
Reforms
Even after the worst of the Cultural Revolution was over and Reforms had begun in 1978 to repair the country, the medium of animation struggled to regain its footing.
While great and iconic films were produced during this time, such as Nezha Conquers The DragonKing (1979), and traditional Chinese culture returned with its influence, Chinese animation was still heavily hindered by the period of tragedy it had just suffered.
It saw very little development at the time and as a consequence, American and Japanese Animation took over China instead.
While most domestic productions past the 90’s were of little ambition for the most part, the Chinese animation talent was out sourced to other countries to help produce their animated productions instead.
In the short term China had no strong animations, any animations that were produced were clearly soulless attempts to copy the style of Western or Japanese animation.
But in the long term, the experience gained from working on these foreign productions paid off in a big way. And after decades of stagnation, since 2015 with the release of Monkey King: Hero Is Back, Chinese animation has seen a cultural renaissance with many international blockbusters coming out since then, such as Ne Zha(2019) and Bigfishand Begonia(2016). Ne Zha even peaked as the 24th most popular animated movie of all time as of now, beating out many Western greats like Moana and The Incredibles.
After decades of turmoil and tragedy, Chinese Animation has finally found its foothold not only within China but on the global stage.
While still in its infancy relative to giants like America and Japan, the Chinese Animation Industry has proven itself to be a promising , animated productions have become more and more profitable over time and as a result more animation industries are starting to rise up all over the globe.
One of the most prominent examples of this has been the meteoric rise of Chinese Animation, known as Donghua.