{"id":809,"date":"2017-04-21T23:30:02","date_gmt":"2017-04-21T15:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acas.world\/?p=809"},"modified":"2022-12-30T12:03:05","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T04:03:05","slug":"german-animation-and-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acas.world\/cn\/2017\/04\/21\/german-animation-and-china\/","title":{"rendered":"German Animation and China"},"content":{"rendered":"

Download PDF<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

By Rolf Giesen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cartoon Movie, <\/em>a yearly event that takes place in France every March, is sponsored by CARTOON, an international non-profit association based in Brussels. Cartoon Movie<\/em> was first inaugurated at the Babelsberg Studios in Germany. CARTOON\u2019s remit is to support the European animation industry by organizing several types of events through the year dedicated to animation professionals. As one of these events, Cartoon Movie<\/em> aims to unite animation producers from all over Europe and provides a platform for them to promote their latest feature-length projects as well as locate possible partners, co-producers, distributors, and sales agents.<\/p>\n

This year, Cartoon Movie<\/em> took place in Bordeaux. Although Europe was its main focus, it also included some projects from non-European countries such as Israel, Canada, and South Korea, which was the only Asian country present for this event. Cartoon Movie has previously organized study trips to Seoul, the capital of South Korea, as a bridge for cultural exchanges in animated filmmaking between Asia and Europe. The most recent trip was scheduled in April 2017. The organizers have been reluctant, however, to build bridges and dialogues with China and Chinese animation, and it has so far been unclear as to why.<\/p>\n

I think this attitude may change in the near future. Firstly, with the gradual adoption of Trump\u2019s conservative policies and new formula of \u201cAmerica First\u201d in the U.S., ties between other parts of the world, such as China and Europe, might be strengthened. Furthermore, China is now actively building a new \u201cSilk Road\u201d that connects one end of the Eurasian continent (Asia) to the other (Europe), to unite a continent rich in cultural diversity and history. In the following parts of this essay, I will discuss the symbolic \u201cSilk Road\u201d that connects China and Europe, more specifically Germany, in the history of world animation.<\/p>\n

Shadow Plays and Silhouette Films<\/strong><\/p>\n

The idea of moving images, as embodied in shadow plays and optical toys such as the zoetrope, came from the East and found a receptive audience in the West. Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981), a female German animator born in Berlin, was the first person to produce a feature-length animated film based on a shadow play. It was a silhouette film entitled The Adventures of Prince Achmed <\/em>(1926), <\/em>a fairy tale that even had an episode featuring China (Fig 1). An evil sorcerer sells the heroine to the Emperor of China, and later she is rescued by Prince Achmed. This was one of the earliest attempts to create transcultural cinematic connections between China and Germany in animated filmmaking.       <\/p>\n

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Fig 1: The Adventures of Prince Achmed<\/em>, 1926<\/p>\n

Manfred Durniok<\/strong><\/p>\n

Half a century later, Manfred Durniok (1934-2003, Fig 2), a West Berlin producer, went to China in 1974 and made Meeting Place Peking<\/em> (1974), <\/em>a documentary film about life in China. He later produced Greetings from China <\/em>(1979), which was the first big music programme for German TV. Durniok might be better known for his Academy Award-winning Istv\u00e1n Sz\u00e1bo live-action film Mephisto <\/em>(1981), but his secret goal and ambition were to become the \u201cGerman Walt Disney\u201d and make animated films. It is therefore a small wonder that Durniok later co-produced low-budget animated feature films in collaboration with the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. He secured money from German TV, prepared the film scripts, and collaborated with the animators at the Shanghai Animation Film Studio.<\/p>\n

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Fig 2: Manfred Durniok (1934-2003)<\/p>\n

In 1983, Durniok invested in the production of Secrets of the Heavenly Book <\/em>(1983, Fig 3), a classic Chinese animated feature film produced by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. This film was celebrated as one of the best feature films produced by that studio. Six years later, Durniok went on to produce Reynard the Fox<\/em> (1989), a 2D animated TV film, in collaboration with the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. It tells the story of a fox named Reynard, who is a well-known animal character in European fables.     <\/p>\n

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Fig 3: Secrets of the Heavenly Book<\/em>, 1983<\/p>\n

Durniok also produced a series of feature-length stop-motion animated films at the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. Keraban\u2019s Fantastic Voyage <\/em>(1996-97) is an example. The protagonist Keraban is a die-hard Turk who does not want to pay the newly imposed taxes for passing the Bosporus from Constantinople to Skutari. Instead, he travels around the Black Sea and has many adventures.<\/p>\n

There are more examples of collaboration between Durniok and the Shanghai Animation Film Studio in puppet animated feature films. One example is Around the World in 80 Days <\/em>(1998). The protagonist of the film is Phileas Fogg, a member of the British Reform Club. He starts a journey around the world in 80 days to win a bet of 20,000 pounds. From the Earth to the Moon<\/em> (1998-99) features Barbicane, a member of the Cannon Club of Baltimore. He is obsessed with the idea of using a giant projectile to go to the Moon. Five Weeks in a Balloon <\/em>(2000-2001) revolves around two friends, Fergusson and Kennedy, who undertake an adventurous balloon trip to Africa with totally different purposes: one wants to explore the continent for scientific reasons, while the other is more interested in the mystic parts of Africa.<\/p>\n

Durniok was the first non-Asian to become an Honorary Citizen of Beijing in 2000. He passed away in 2003. It is a pity that his sudden death brought an end to the collaboration between German and Chinese animation production companies. Just shortly before his death, he spoke with Wang Borong at the Shanghai Animation Film Studio about a project of adapting Richard Wagner\u2019s The Ring of the Nibelung <\/em>into an animated film. Durniok\u2019s last animated film in collaboration with the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, a puppet animated film called Children of Captain Grant<\/em>, was released posthumously in 2005.   <\/p>\n

Laura\u2019s Star in China<\/strong><\/p>\n

With Durniok\u2019s sudden death, the animated encounter between China and Germany was suspended for some time. In 2007, some prominent German animation producers visited Beijing, including Stefan Thies (NFP Neue Filmproduktion), Tony Loeser (Motion Works GmbH), and Thilo Rothkirch (Rothkirch Cartoon Film). Rothkirch collaborated with 3D Animagics, an animation studio in China, and produced his first Sino-German animated feature film, Laura\u2019s Star and the Mysterious Dragon Nian<\/em>, in 2009 (Fig 4). The film was released in China by the Shanghai Media Group two years later.      <\/p>\n

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Fig 4: Laura\u2019s Star and the Mysterious Dragon Nian<\/em>, 2009<\/p>\n

It was the first Sino-German co-production in 3D animated filmmaking. More than 50% of the film was produced in Beijing, a small percentage was made in India, and the remaining parts in Berlin, Germany. Lang Lang, a famous Chinese pianist and also a fan of animation, participated in the production of this animated film. Laura\u2019s Star and the Mysterious Dragon Nian <\/em>won the International Gold Panda Awards for Best Domestic Animated Feature Film and Best Screenplay at the Sichuan TV Festival held in Chengdu, China in 2011. Rothkirch, however, could not continue his collaboration with China in animated filmmaking. He passed away in Berlin in 2014.   <\/p>\n

Laura\u2019s Star <\/em>revolves around two girls\u2014Laura, born in the West (Germany), and Lingling, born in the East (China). While playing in a park, Laura happens to find a shooting star that has landed on earth, which has magic powers. When Laura and her family go to Beijing, China, she brings the star with her. Through this magic star, Laura encounters Lingling at a concert in Beijing. Before a happy ending of cross-cultural friendship, the two girls need to undergo a series of adventures. They ultimately defeat the villains and send the star back into the sky.   <\/p>\n

Sino-German cooperation in animation, if not co-production, continued. Little Big Panda<\/em> (2011, Fig 5), a 2D animated feature film, was regarded as the most expensive domestic animated feature film in China at that time, with a budget of more than $50 million USD. But in fact, it was directed by Michael Schoemann and was produced in European countries such as Germany, Spain, and Belgium for less than $10 million USD. Chen Xiaoxiong, a wealthy and well-connected Chinese investor, spent a lot of money on dubbing this animated film into Chinese using famous voice actors and on launching a large scale promotional campaign, with the ambition of competing with Hollywood\u2019s Kung Fu Panda<\/em> (2008). That is how the budget of the film increased to $50 million USD. It premiered in China in 2011. Unfortunately, the German production did not live up to Chen’s expectations, as it could not surpass the international popularity of Kung Fu Panda<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Fig 5: Little Big Panda<\/em>, 2011<\/p>\n

Animals United<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another aspect of the animated Sino-German encounter is the German animated films that were released in China. One example is Animals United <\/em>(2010, Fig 6), which was released in Germany in 2010. Inspired by Erich K\u00e4stner\u2019s satirical book The Conference of Animals <\/em>(1955), it was a 3D computer animated comedy adventure film, directed by Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe. It was released in China in 2011 and became an instant hit. Although it was not a Sino-German co-production or cooperation, the ties between China and Germany continued through cross-cultural screenings.<\/p>\n

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Fig 6: Animals United<\/em>, 2010<\/p>\n

A Jewish Girl in Shanghai and Marco Polo <\/strong><\/p>\n

Another example of Sino-German connection in animation is A Jewish Girl in Shanghai <\/em>(2010, Fig 7), a 2D animated feature film made by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. Although it was not a co-production between China and Germany, the story was about China and Germany during World War II. The film features two Jewish children, Rina and her little brother Mishalli, who leave Europe and seek refuge in Shanghai in 1939. During their stay in Shanghai, Rina gradually befriends Zhou A-gen, a Chinese boy, who helps them to survive. The children develop a deep friendship and embark on numerous adventures, resisting the oppression of the Japanese army and their Nazi allies.<\/p>\n

The film script was written by Wu Lin, a former history teacher. He first became interested in Shanghai’s Jewish community in 2005, at a time when many newspapers and magazines published stories about Jewish refugees to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The film was well received in China and around the world. It was regarded as the first Chinese animated film to feature Jews and the Holocaust, thus promoting friendship between the Chinese and the Jewish community. <\/p>\n

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Fig 7: A Jewish Girl in Shanghai, <\/em>2010<\/p>\n

On the other side of the border, China is often represented in German animated films. Tony Loeser\u2019s TV animation series The Adventures of the Young Marco Polo <\/em>(2013-) is an example (Fig 8). The production of this series does not involve China, but the story addresses China. It features young Marco Polo on a journey to find his father, who is lost while exploring the Silk Road to China. Accompanied by his faithful friend Luigi and a Chinese princess named Shi La Won, the young Marco Polo heads for China along the Silk Road.                   <\/p>\n

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Fig 8: The Adventures of the Young Marco Polo<\/em>, 2013<\/p>\n

Coda  <\/strong><\/p>\n

I am convinced that cultural exchanges between Europe and China, be it in the form of co-production, collaboration, cross-cultural representation, or cross-cultural screening, can be a win-win situation for both parties. Recently, independent Chinese animated films have found their way to Germany. Liu Jian\u2019s Have a Nice Day<\/em> (2017) was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in 2017. Sino-German encounters in animation will surely continue in the future.       <\/p>\n

Filmography: Feature-Length German Animation with Chinese Co-producers, Chinese Topics, or Outsourced to China:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1923-26
\nThe Adventures of Prince Achmed
\n(Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed)
\nDirector\/Writer\/Animator: Lotte Reiniger
\nArtists: Carl Koch, Walter Ruttmann, Berthold Bartosch, Alexander Kardan
\nProducer: Louis Hagen
\nComenius-Film
\nGenre: Arabian Nights fairy tale
\nSilhouette film with Chinese episode<\/p>\n

1983
\nSecrets of the Heavenly Book
\n(Das Himmelsbuch\/Tianshu qitan)
\nDirectors: Wang Shuchen, Qian Yunda
\nCo-Producer: Manfred Durniok
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen, Berlin\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Chinese fantasy tale
\nCel animation
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

1989
\nReynard the Fox
\n(Reineke Fuchs)
\nDirectors: He Yumen, Zhuang Minjin
\nAssociate Director: Manfred Durniok
\nWriters: Fu Bing, Zhongli Yao, Michael Kerwer
\nBased on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
\nScore: Fang Zheng
\nProducers: Manfred Durniok, Markus Sch\u00e4chter (ZDF)
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen, Berlin\/Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), Mainz\/Oriental Communications\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Animal fable
\n2D animation
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

1996
\nSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs
\n(Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge)
\nDirector: Qian Yunda
\nProducer: Manfred Durniok
\nInspired by a story collected by the Brothers Grimm
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen, Berlin\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Fairy tale
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

1996-97
\nKeraban\u2019s Fantastic Voyage
\n(Kerabans phantastische Reise\/Jue Jiang Kaliban)
\nDirector: Hong Hu Zhao
\nAssociate Director: Manfred Durniok
\nWriters: G\u00fcnter R\u00e4tz, Sibille R\u00e4tz, Manfred Durniok, Chen Gui Bao, Wang Da Wei, Hong Hu Zhao
\nFrom a novel by Jules Verne
\nProducer: Manfred Durniok
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen, Berlin\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Adventure
\nPuppet animation
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

1998
\nAround the World in 80 Days
\n(Die Reise um die Erde in 80 Tagen)
\nDirector: Hu Zhao Hong
\nAssociate Director: Manfred Durniok
\nWriters: G\u00fcnter R\u00e4tz, Sibille R\u00e4tz, Manfred Durniok, Hu Zhao Hong
\nFrom a novel by Jules Verne
\nProducer: Manfred Durniok
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen, Berlin\/Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR)\/Oriental Communications\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Adventure
\nPuppet animation
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

1998-1999
\nFrom the Earth to the Moon\/Trip Around the Moon
\n(Von der Erde zum Mond\/Die Reise um den Mond)
\nDirector: Hu Zhao Hong
\nAssociate Director: Manfred Durniok
\nWriters: G\u00fcnter R\u00e4tz, Manfred Durniok, Hu Zhao Hong
\nFrom a novel by Jules Verne
\nProducer: Manfred Durniok
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen\/Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR)\/Oriental Communications\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Science Fiction
\nPuppet animation
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

2000-2001
\nFive Weeks in a Balloon
\n(F\u00fcnf Wochen im Ballon)
\nDirector: Hong Hu Zhao
\nAssociate Director: Manfred Durniok
\nWriters: Manfred Durniok, G\u00fcnter R\u00e4tz, Sibille R\u00e4tz, Hong Hu Zhao
\nFrom a novel by Jules Verne
\nProducer: Manfred Durniok
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen, Berlin\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Adventure
\nPuppet animation
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

2003-2005
\nChildren of Captain Grant
\n(Die Kinder des Kapit\u00e4n Grant)
\nFrom a novel by Jules Verne
\nManfred Durniok Produktion f\u00fcr Film & Fernsehen, Berlin\/Shanghai Animation Film Studio
\nGenre: Adventure
\nPuppet animation
\nCo-Production
\n(Producer Manfred Durniok passed away during production.)<\/p>\n

2005-2006
\nLaura\u2019s Christmas Star
\n(Lauras Weihnachtsstern)
\nDirectors: Piet De Rycker, Thilo Graf Rothkirch
\nWriters: Rolf Giesen, Piet De Rycker
\nBased on a children\u2019s book by Klaus Baumgart
\nProducers: Thilo Graf Rothkirch, Maya Gr\u00e4fin Rothkirch
\nRothkirch Cartoon Film\/Warner Bros. Germany\/Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
\nAnimation executed in China by 3D Animagics, Beijing
\nGenre: Christmas fantasy tale
\n3D animation
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2006-2007
\nTwo Times Lotte
\n(Das doppelte Lottchen)
\nDirector: Toby Genkel
\nWriters: Michael Schaack, Rolf Dieckmann
\nFrom a children\u2019s book by Erich K\u00e4stner
\nProducer: Michael Schaack
\nLunaris Film\/TFC Trickompany Filmproduktion\/Warner Bros. Germany
\nGenre: Children\u2019s story
\n2D animation
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2007-2008
\nMoonbeam Bear and His Friends
\n(Der Mondb\u00e4r – Das gro\u00dfe Kinoabenteuer)
\nDirectors: Thomas Bodenstein, Mike Maurus
\nWriters: Mark Slater, Gabriele M. Walther
\nFrom a children\u2019s book by Rolf F\u00e4nger and Ulrike M\u00f6ltgen
\nProducer: Gabriele M. Walther
\nBeta Film\/Caligari Film
\nAnimation partly executed in China by Sophie Animation Ltd. in Dalian
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2007-2009
\nLaura\u2019s Star and the Mysterious Dragon Nian
\n(Lauras Stern und der geheimnisvolle Drache Nian)
\nDirectors: Piet De Rycker, Thilo Graf Rothkirch
\nWriters: Rolf Giesen, Piet De Rycker, Thilo Graf Rothkirch
\nBased on children\u2019s books by Klaus Baumgart
\nScore: Guy Cuyvers, Henning Lohner
\nPianist: Lang Lang
\nProducers: Thilo Graf Rothkirch, Maya Gr\u00e4fin Rothkirch, Jung Chi Gwang
\nRothkirch Cartoon Film\/Warner Bros. Germany\/3D Animagics\/Shanghai Media Group
\nMost of the animation executed in China by 3D Animagics, Beijing
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation
\nThe most successful animated feature film from Germany in Chinese cinemas (released in 2011)<\/p>\n

2009-2011
\nLaura\u2019s Star and the Dream Monsters
\n(Lauras Stern und die Traummonster)
\nDirectors: Ute von M\u00fcnchow-Pohl, Thilo Graf Rothkirch
\nWriters: Ute von M\u00fcnchow-Pohl, Sabine M\u00e4del, Rolf Giesen, Thilo Graf Rothkirch, Klaus Baumgart
\nBased on a children\u2019s book by Klaus Baumgart
\nScore: Henning Lohner
\nProducers: Thilo Graf Rothkirch, Maya Gr\u00e4fin Rothkirch
\nRothkirch Cartoon Film\/Warner Bros. Germany
\nMost of the animation executed in China by 3D Animagics, Beijing
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation, stereoscopic
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2009-2011
\nLittle Big Panda
\n(Kleiner starker Panda)
\nDirectors: Greg Manwaring, Michael Schoemann
\nWriter: J\u00f6rg Tensing
\nScenario Consultant: Rolf Giesen
\nArt Directors: Juan Japl, Miquel Pujol
\nScore: Detlef A. Schitto, Bernd Wefelmeyer
\nProducer: Michael Schoemann
\nCo-Producer: Xiao Xiang Chen
\nBenchmark Entertainment Picture Productions\/Angels Avenue\/uFilm\/ORB Filmproduktion\/Yisang Media Investment
\nAnimation executed in Spain and Belgium
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n2D animation, stereoscopic
\nCo-Production<\/p>\n

2011-2013
\nRabbit without Ears and Two-Eared Chick
\n(Keinohrhase und Zweiohrk\u00fcken)
\nDirector: Maya Gr\u00e4fin Rothkirch
\nWriters: Klaus Baumgart, Thilo Graf Rothkirch
\nFrom a children\u2019s book by Klaus Baumgart and Til Schweiger
\nScenario Supervisor: Katharina Wieker
\nScenario Consultant: Rolf Giesen
\nStoryboard Consultant; Piet De Rycker
\nProducers: Thilo Graf Rothkirch, Maya Gr\u00e4fin Rothkirch, Til Schweiger, Tom Zickler
\nRothkirch Cartoon Film\/Warner Bros. Germany\/barefoot films
\nAnimation executed in China by 3D Animagics in Beijing
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2012-2013
\nKnight Rusty
\n(Ritter Rost – Eisenhart und voll verbeult)
\nDirectors: Thomas Bodenstein, Hubert Weiland
\nCo-Director: Nina Wels
\nWriters: Mark Slater, Gabriele M. Walther
\nBased on a children\u2019s book by J\u00f6rg Hilbert and Felix Janosa
\nScore: Andreas Grimm
\nProducers: Gabriele M. Walther, Irene Wellershoff (ZDF)
\nCaligari Film\/Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
\nAnimation partly executed in China, by Sophie Animation Ltd. in Dalian
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation, stereoscopic
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2013-2014
\nLittle Dragon Coconut
\n(Der kleine Drache Kokosnuss)
\nDirectors: Hubert Weiland, Nina Wels
\nWriters: Mark Slater, Gabriele M. Walther
\nProducer: Gabriele M. Walther
\nCaligari Film\/Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
\nAnimation partly executed in China by Sophie Animation Ltd. in Dalian
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2015-2016
\nKnight Rusty 2
\n(Ritter Rost 2 – Das Schrottkomplott)
\nDirectors: Thomas Bodenstein, Marcus Hamann
\nWriters: Mark Skater, Gabriele M. Walther
\nProducer: Gabriele M. Walther, Irene Wellershoff (ZDF)
\nCaligari Film\/Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2015-2016
\nTed Sieger\u2019s Molly Monster
\nDirectors: Michael Bruhn, Michael Ekbladh
\nWriter: John Chambers
\nBased on a children\u2019s book by Ted Sieger
\nProducers: Alexandra Schatz, Richard Lutterbeck
\nAlexandra Schatz Filmproduktion\/Little Monster\/Sluggerfilm\/Trickstudio Lutterbeck
\nAnimation partly executed in China by Sophie Animation Ltd. in Dalian
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n2D animation, stereoscopic
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

2016-2017
\nRabbit School \u2013 Guardians of the Golden
\n(Die H\u00e4schenschule – Jagd nach dem goldenen Ei)
\nDirector: Ute von M\u00fcnchow-Pohl
\nWriters: Katja Gr\u00fcbel, Dagmar Rehbinder
\nInspired by a classic German children\u2019s book by Fritz Koch-Gotha and Albert Sixtus
\nProducer: Dirk Beinhold
\nAkkord Film Produktion\/Virgin Lands Animated Pictures\/NDR
\nGenre: Fantasy tale
\n3D animation
\nOutsourcing<\/p>\n

Bio:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rolf Giesen is a screenwriter and author who lives in Berlin, Germany. He is the author of Chinese Animation: A History and Filmography<\/em> (McFarland, 2015).<\/p>\n\r\n\t\t