My Animation Era

"Calabash Brothers" is a paper-cut animation.

This subject matter may not be that new for domestic animation, but it is definitely rare.

certainly!

This is for people in the industry.

Ordinary viewers cannot tell the difference between paper-cut animation and ordinary animation. Eagle-eyed viewers may be able to see some clues, but it is difficult to associate them with the art of paper-cutting.

"Is this a shadow puppet show?"

After many viewers saw "Calabash Brothers", the first thing they thought of was shadow puppetry.

However, this speculation was quickly rejected by everyone, because when Wanbao Animation officially introduced "Calabash Brothers", it used a paper-cut animation series.

Paper-cut art!

The appearance of this term immediately reminded the audience of window grilles. Calabash Baby is actually a paper-cut character? This discovery surprised many viewers.

After the surprise, there was a sigh.

This form of artistic expression is so nostalgic that at first glance, I thought it was a rerun of an old animation from decades ago!

I never expected that in this materialistic and fast-paced era, there would be people who would be serious enough to make a cartoon that expresses the art of paper-cutting.

It’s really rare.

It's a pity that it was born in the wrong era. If this animation was placed twenty or thirty years ago, it might have caused a huge sensation, but now...

It's not that "Calabash Brothers" is not good enough, but it does feel out of place in today's context.

This feeling is amazing.

It's obviously a new cartoon, but it looks like a cartoon you watched on a black and white or big-ass color TV set many years ago.

The most inconsistent thing about the entire animation is not the plot, the setting, nor the visual presentation, but the word "dynamic review" that appears at the beginning of the film actually starts with the year 2017.

Changing it to 1997 will not violate the law!

However, this is just a joke and should not be taken seriously. For "Calabash Brothers", a work with a very different style, the audience's recognition is still very good.

The animation "Calabash Brothers" was first broadcast on China Overseas Children's Channel.

Since the title of the film bears the golden name of China Overseas Film Studio and the vigorous promotion of China Overseas Children's Channel, many viewers are curious to take a look, so the ratings for the premiere are not bad.

It's just not as good as the original...

On the one hand, it is due to the historical background, and on the other hand, the Wanbao version of "Calabash Brothers" is no longer the same thing as the original version.

While still in production, Gu Miao discovered that the character design of Wanbao's version of "Calabash Brothers" was in great conflict with the original version.

The original version has thick eyebrows and big eyes.

As for the Wanbao version, it seems to be in line with the aesthetic preferences of today's children. The image of Calabash Baby is more cute and childlike, which is not the same style.

This cannot be blamed on Liang Xiaodong's random changes.

He is not Gu Miao, and he has never seen the so-called original version. He just made "Calabash Brothers" according to his own understanding, and there is nothing to blame.

And, it’s nice to have differences.

If the Wanbao version was made exactly the same as the original, and even the details could be restored one to one, then Gu Miao would think that this kid Liang Xiaodong had awakened the "system"?

Or is this kid also a time traveler?

…

"Calabash Brothers" premiered very well. Although it is not as good as the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" animation currently being broadcast by CCTV, it is still a hit.

the most important is.

This is a paper-cut animation, which can be regarded as a new attempt by Puppet Studio to explore new fields.

Liang Xiaodong is extremely satisfied with this result. After all, exploring new fields will always face great risks. He has been mentally prepared for the "Calabash Brothers" to be poorly broadcast and the ratings will be dismal.

Unexpectedly, today's children quite like the animation style of "Calabash Brothers".

Meiying Studio is also very satisfied.

Through this cooperation with Wanbao, Meiying Studio has a masterpiece that can be used in the new era, and no longer needs to be ridiculed for resting on its laurels.

Seriously speaking, Meiying Studio has been in a really awkward situation in recent years.

If it hadn't been for cooperating with Wanbao Animation and producing such works as "The Story of Avanti" and "Calabash Brothers" together, I am afraid that today's audience would have forgotten the existence of Meiying Studio.

"It's a pity for the American Film Studio..."

Gu Miao sighed long and long: "The older generation of artists are passing away one after another, and the talent hollowing out is serious. They lack the ability to adapt to the market and the sense of catching the market trend. I am afraid that they will only exist in memory in the future."

Looking back on those days, how glorious was the Meiying Studio?

Can a place where even Hayao Miyazaki specially came to make a pilgrimage be an ordinary place? In the early days of American Film Studio, it is no exaggeration to say that it was the overlord of Asian animation.

But that was all in the past.

No matter how glorious it was in the past, it cannot conceal the loneliness of the new era.

Take Wanbao as an example. The number of animation minutes produced in one year is more than the total number of minutes produced by American Film Studio in the past ten years.

What? Slow work produces fine work?

This is not right either!

Judging from the works released by American Film Studio in recent years, they have not met the standard of "slow work and meticulous work", and the quality of their works is far inferior to that of twenty years ago.

"Loneliness is inevitable."

Lao Zhang shook his head and said: "The older generation of artists have passed away one after another, and the training of new generations of talents cannot keep up. How can we produce excellent animation?"

"Of course, temporary silence does not mean eternal silence. Perhaps after a period of time, Meiying Studio will usher in an opportunity for revival and produce animation works that will dazzle everyone."

"That will take some time."

Gu Miao thought about it and felt that if she had time, she could make a pilgrimage to the Meiying Factory to see what the current situation of the Meiying Factory was like.

As a banner of domestic animation, it is also the pride of domestic animators. To be honest, no one wants Meiying Studio to continue to be depressed and lonely.

It wouldn't be enough to pull it off, but through some cooperation, Gu Miao would be happy to allow Meiying Studio to find a path suitable for future development and regain its vitality.

Don’t say anything else.

Works like "The Chinese Story" and "Five Elements in the Mist Mountain" can definitely be produced together with the American Film Studio!

Especially ink style animation.

The first ink cartoon "Tadpole Looking for Mom" ​​was a masterpiece produced by American Film Studio that shocked the world. As the saying goes, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse.

No matter how lonely it is, Meiying Factory's experience and talent pool in this area are much stronger than Wanbao.

"I have to find Liang Xiaodong to get a lead."

Gu Miao thought for a while and felt that it seemed a bit presumptuous for her to rush to the Meiying Studio to discuss the so-called cooperation.

There's no rush in this matter.

Let Liang Xiaodong, who has a good relationship with both parties, be the intermediary first to test the tone of the other party. If it feels feasible, then everyone can sit down together and discuss the details.

A pilgrimage is a must.

The works of Meiying Studio had a great impact on Gu Miao's childhood. It would be unreasonable not to visit such a holy place.

Hayao Miyazaki can go, but he can't?