The Animation Options Blog

I’ll be at the fmx/09 conference this coming week in Stuttgart, hosting the “Focus on China” program and participating in the following presentations. Don’t miss the premiere of the “Road to Home” development teaser, in glorious HD resolution.

Tuesday, May 5th

“CULTURAL REVOLUTION, TAKE TWO” - 3pm, Meidinger Saal

When is a nation of more than 1.3 billion people a scrappy underdog? When it is China seeking to reclaim the animation legacy pioneered by the Wan Brothers in the early 20th century. Shanghaied by Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and then crushed by the juggernaut of Japanese anime, Chinese animation has been reeling for decades in a punch-drunk, outsource-fueled haze of stifled creativity. Until now. A new generation of Chinese animation filmmakers - versed in influences from Chuck Jones to Tarkovsky - has entered the world stage, eager to reclaim lost creative territory with films that are in turn thrilling, hilarious, gorgeous and thoughtful.

“A LONG MARCH ON THE ROAD TO HOME” - 4pm, Meidinger Saal

Currently in development, “Road to Home” is China’s first environmentally-themed animated feature film. Set on the Qinghai plateau, the film portrays the unique cultural characteristics of Western China while addressing universal themes of identity and co-existence, taking the friendship of a young girl and a wolf cub as its throughline. Directed by Lijun Sun with creator Wen Feng from a screenplay by Yi Yan, “Road to Home” features painterly landscapes and engaging characters, and is representative of the new wave of original Chinese animated feature films.

Friday, May 8th

“THE BEIJING FILM ACADEMY PRESENTS…” - 2pm, Raum Mannheim

The Beijing Film Academy is a world-renowned institution of cinematic education with cutting-edge facilities, comprehensive specialties, distinguished faculty, and innovative research & production. The Animation School of the Academy was one of the first nationally-accredited Animation Teaching and Research Bases in mainland China, descending from an animation specialty program established in 1952. Animation School Associate Professor Wen Feng and Guest Professor Kevin Geiger will discuss the current focus and future directions of the school, with recent examples of student and faculty work.

Hope to see you there.

Kevin Geiger
Beijing

Experts across the 3D industry reveal the tricks of the trade that can make all the difference when pitching a project to an agency, potential backer, broadcaster or movie studio - by Mark Ramshaw

The April 2009 issue of 3D World magazine features an article on project pitching that profiles the developing Chinese animated feature film, “Road to Home”, with observations on the process from Animation Options CEO Kevin Geiger. Full story here.

Ramin Zahed, Editor-in-Chief of Animation Magazine, invited me to write a byline piece sharing my personal insights on the revolution in original Chinese animated content.

That an overzealous young proofreader “corrected” the reference of Russian live-action filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky to Russian animator Genndy Tartakovsky only goes to show the unexpected sources that contemporary Chinese animation directors draw upon.

Kevin Geiger
Beijing