Many Chinese born in the late 1970s or early 1980s waited in vain for the second half of the animation film Saving Mother.
"I watched the first half when I was a kid, and at the end of the credits it said 'please wait for the second half'. I spent my whole childhood waiting for it but it never came," says Qian Jianping, president of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio.
According to Qian, the studio did not finish the whole film until 2006 — for various reasons — almost 22 years after the first half was produced.
The cartoon Qian mentions is based on a traditional Chinese legend about a kid named Chen Xiang who saves his fairy mother, who was imprisoned by her brother because she fell in love with a mortal.
Most Chinese are all familiar with the characters from the Monkey King, Calabash Brothers, Avanti among others, all of whom are from animated movies made by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio (SAFS).
Founded in 1957, SAFS is the most influential animation production company in China, and it used to be the nation's only animation filmmaker.
Apart from the studio's great influence over several generations of Chinese children, it also created a variety of animation styles based on traditional Chinese arts, including watercolor painting animation, paper cuts and puppet animation.
By using exquisite art techniques, those films turned a variety of Chinese folklore and fairytales into motion pictures, and won much favor with local audiences.
Challenges from abroad
In the 1980s, SAFS' dominant position as the nation's best animated filmmaker was challenged when foreign cartoon series from Japan and the US were introduced into China. "A more serious challenge came as foreign companies opened branches in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, offering attractive remuneration to our animation talents," Qian says.
The creation of 3-D cartoons by computers posed an even greater threat to SAFS, as almost all of its cartoons were hand-drawn and 2-D at that time.
Over the past three years, SAFS has exercised great effort in marrying its classic cartoon characters and the latest technology. In 2012, a 3D version of Monkey King was aired, and box office takings surpassed 50 million yuan ($8 million).
"Our plan is to present one high-quality movie each year, and the ultimate goal is to establish a complete cartoon industry chain including movies, TV series, merchandising, as well as a theme park," Qian says.
In order to reach such a goal, SAFS is planning to revive its classic cartoon-producing techniques, but with new technology.
The nation's first puppet animation, Avanti, will screen in 2015, and the film will use 3D printing technology, according to Qian.
A watercolor work group was established early this year, and animation creators in the group are trying to research and develop a film with state-of-the-art technology.
Furthermore, an indoor interactive cartoon park started construction this year at Wanhangdu Road, where SAFS was formerly located. The park is expecting to welcome its first visitors in about two years.
To date, the SAFS has produced more than 40,000 minutes of animation.
Most Popular Cartoons from SAFS
Monkey King
The film was created from 1961 to 1964, and the story comes from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
In 2012, a 3D version was released and its box office surpassed 50 million yuan.
Mr Black
The TV series Mr Black was extremely successful in 1987. Based on the series, the feature film Mr Black was made in 2010. Mr Black is a smart and brave black cat who protects the forest and animals living there.
Three Monks
A short film adapted from Chinese folklore. The story describes the three monks’ differing attitudes towards getting water.
The tale is told from a Buddhist perspective.
Ups and downs
From 1957 to 1966
The major works of SAFS were feature films, with the most famous during that period being the Monkey King. Its most successful short art film is Where Is Mother, a watercolor painting animation film about a little tadpole looking for its mother. Both pieces are focused on Chinese traditional culture.
From 1979 to 1999
Apart from feature and short films, SAFS won huge success in producing animated television series, with the most famous being Mr Black, about a feline cop who is an excellent detective.
From 2000 to 2010
SAFS had experienced its most difficult time in history due to fierce competition from home and abroad. Meanwhile, the 3-D animation trend made SAFS’ traditional hand-drawn cartoons less attractive to audiences.
From 2011 to now
SAFS is quickly adapting to changing trends by creating a larger variety of cartoons based on popular games and toys, as well as original stories.
Specially made cartoons
Watercolor animation
As a Chinese animation creation, watercolor animation began in 1960. The signature watercolor animation was Where Is Mother?
Paper cuts animation
This unique film form applied paper cut skills in its production and design process. It is derived from Chinese traditional folk arts of shadow play and paper cuts.
The most popular paper cut animation TV series was Calabash Brothers, produced in 1986. It is about seven magical brothers who come from seven different colored calabashes. The series was edited into a feature film in 2008.
Puppet animation
The 14-episode animated puppet series Avanti was created from 1979 to 1989. The story was adapted from Uygur folk legend Avanti.