Shanghai Animation Film Studio

Animation Department (1946-1957)

Shanghai Animation Film Studio was a former cartoon group under the art department of Northeast Film Studio. Northeast Film Studio was established in the Hegang Heilongjiang province on October 1, 1946, after the disbandment of its predecessor Manchukuo Film Association. It was the first known studio established by a communist party.^[4]

In 1948, the cartoon group was pulled out from the art department and became an individual department called animation department. It was soon divided to Shanghai Film Studio the following year, after Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China (PRC) from atop Tiananmen. By 1950, the whole department had moved to Shanghai along with the Wan Brothers as well as great artists from Central Academy of Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Suzhou and other leading institutions. The studio's animators developed their unique style of rich Chinese characteristic after the success of The Conceited General and The Magical Pen in both the domestic and international markets. In 1955, they produced the first Chinese colour animation Why is the Crow Black-Coated. It was also the first Chinese animation that won international prizes.

Establishment (1957-1966)

Shanghai Animation Film Studio was finally established in April 1957 with the help of government funding. They were way behind the world technically, but were encouraged to make films by using unique Chinese techniques only. In 1958 the Wan brothers created a new technique, Jianzhi. In 1960, a new form of animation, Zhezhi (also known as origami), was created by Yu Zheguang along with his film Cōnɡmínɡ De Yāzi (The Smart Duckling). In the same year, Te Wei developed an animation technique of ink wash which was inspired by the famous ink wash artist Qi Baishi to make his film Where is Mama. He said

Where is Mama was recognized in many international film festivals, including the Locarno International Film Festival in 1961, the 4th Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 1962 and 17th Cannes Film Festival in 1964.^[6]

Cultural Revolution (1966-1975)

Chinese animation was brought to a larger audience when the Cultural Revolution was initiated in 1966 through the establishment of "Peoples cinemas", which in its most primitive forms of poorer villages could be nothing but a white sheet and a projector. One of the most recognized Chinese Animations "Havoc in Heaven", which is about a legendary monkey named Wukong who wants to destroy the old world, has a strong Cultural Revolution theme. The film builds on an old Buddhist legend together with the political message of the "Four Olds campaign" "破四旧立四新" and Mao Zedong's motto "Everything under heaven is in utter chaos; the situation is excellent". Unlike some artforms, the government did not cut Shanghai Animation Film Studio's funding. Animations was one of the art forms used to further the emancipatory ideology of the working class. Most animations made during this era made use of propaganda to educate illiterate groups of the masses about contemporary political affairs, including Support Vietnamese to Fight Against America, Expose the Peace Negotiation Conspiracy of America, and After School. Just like in La Nouvelle Vague France during the same time allot of experimentation was made with theatre and moving pictures.

Present (1975-Present)

In 1992, one of the first western companies to come in contact with the studio was "Prrfect Animation" in San Francisco, United States. They attempted to bring efficiency, dependability and quality control into the program.^[7] In 2001, the studio became part of the Shanghai Film Group Corporation.

In March 2013, the studio sued Apple Inc. for selling over 110 of their films in iTunes without authorization.^[8]