by 3D animation that is gaining popularity in China
News from the Chinese anime world has become a hot topic in Japan over the last few years. Director Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name. (2016) and Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” (2001) have been officially released in theaters in China, and each has been a huge hit. The 3D animation “STAND BY ME Doraemon” (2014) was also very popular.
3D animation “Monkey King: Hero is Back” (2015) became a big hit in China, and domestic 3D animation has also been enthusiastically produced. “Nata Mado Advent” (2019) is also an explosive blockbuster. Similarly, the 3D animation “Nata Rebirth” (2021) was dubbed in Japanese and released in theaters in Japan in February 2021.
The fantasy masterpiece “White Snake: Engi,” in which the animation production company “Light Chaser Animation,” which worked on “Nata Rebirth,” teamed up with Warner Brothers in the United States, will be released in theaters in Japan from July 30, 2021, Will be. Of popular voice actors Suzuko Mitsumori, Snow Man of Daisuke Sakuma colleagues serve the dubbing of the Japanese: We introduce the attractions of “White Snake luck.” I would also like to touch on the influence that Chinese animation will bring in the future.
“White Snake Legend” moved Hayao Miyazaki’s heart.
The 3D animation “White Snake: Engi,” which was released in China in 2019 and has become a big hit with a box office of over 7 billion yen, is a love and adventure fantasy with the motif of “White Snake Legend” that has been handed down from ancient times in China.
The “White Snake Legend” is known as the “Human-Animal Marriage,” a beautiful woman who is an incarnation of a white snake and a young human being who falls in love. Based on “The Tale of the White Serpent,” the first color feature-length anime “The Tale of the White Serpent” (1958) of Toei Animation (currently Toei Animation) has been produced in Japan. Director Hayao Miyazaki joined Toei Animation after seeing this “Shirojaden.” “White Snake: Engi,” which is also related to the Japanese anime world, depicts the previous life of the main characters of “White Snake.”
At the end of the Tang dynasty, a young man, Sen (CV: Daisuke Sakuma), who lives in a snake hunting village, saves a beautiful girl, Haku (CV: Suzuko Mimori), who was swept away by the river. Haku had lost his memory but had a mysterious power. Sen takes Haku on a journey to regain her memory. Haku is gradually attracted to Sen, who has a pure heart. However, Haku remembers that he is a white snake youkai who has lived for hundreds of years.
The two were torn apart by a fierce battle between humans and youkai. The scene where Sen and Haku, who have just met, dance in the sky with a mysterious umbrella in their hands is very romantically depicted, coupled with the magnificent landscape unique to mainland China.
In the latter half of the story, Haku, who became a white snake, rampages on the screen is a masterpiece. Even though I know Haku’s identity, the scene where Sen hugs her makes me surprised.
The high quality of “White Snake: Engi” also tells us that Chinese animation has reached a reasonably high level. In addition, the theme that the protagonists seek freedom and love each other beyond the boundaries of the race is something that many people can sympathize with.
Chinese creators who grew up watching Japanese anime
It is said that the creators who are active in the current Chinese animation world are mainly the generation who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s when regulations were loose while being exposed to pop cultures such as Japanese animation, manga, and games. I am. Even if you watch “White Snake: Engi,” you can feel the influence of director Miyazaki’s “Princess Mononoke” (1997). You can also see that he is also studying Hollywood mega-hits such as the fantasy blockbusters “The Lord of the Rings” (2001) and “Avatar” (2009). Expressions unique to Chinese cultures, such as the opening scene reminiscent of ink painting, are also incorporated, and the scale of the story is also noteworthy. Compared to Hayao Miyazaki’s work and Disney & Pixar animation, it makes me feel that it is not yet sophisticated. Still, it is an ambitious work that makes me think of the breakthrough of the Chinese animation world. Kosei, who was the heroine and white girl’s companion in Toei Animation’s “White Snake Den,” appears in “White Snake: Engi” as Haku’s naughty younger sister, Sei (CV: Ayane Sakura). Looking at the ending of “Nata Rebirth,” it seems that a spin-off work in which Say plays an active part is also planned so that it may become a series of works like “Avengers” (2012).
Chinese animation world where talented human resources gather
The Japanese animation industry has a market of 2.5 trillion yen, including overseas.
The Japanese anime world is booming with big hits such as “Theatrical version” Devil’s Blade “Infinite Train Edition” and “Shin Evangelion Theatrical Version.” Still, the Chinese animation world is already said to be a 3 trillion yen market. I am. Chinese animation, which has a video distribution platform, is likely to expand its market in the future.
As the market is large, animators’ salaries working in China are good, and many young people want to become animators. According to the new book “Cheap Japan” Price “Shows Stagnation” (Nikkei Publishing) published in March 2021, the average monthly income of animators is 34,062 in Hangzhou, according to the Chinese recruitment website. It was yuan (about 520,000 yen), and Beijing was about 30,000 yuan (about 450,000 yen).
“This is above the average income of Japanese animators. Talented human resources gather in fields with potential. I think the time has come for the Japanese anime world to review the salary system fundamentally. Pirated editions, which had been a concern for many years, circulated in Asian countries are being corrected.
The number of Chinese anime fans who want to appreciate good animation is high, and regular works are increasing. It seems that it is going on. If it’s an exciting job, the beauty of animation is that you can enjoy it regardless of national borders.
