Editor's note: Speaking of animation, post-80s and 90s Chinese people would automatically think about the Japanese animations or Disney's classic works they watched in their childhood. Yet those animations made in China, say, the series adapted from traditional Chinese folk stories and modern writer Zheng Yuanjie's fairy tales from 1950 to 1994 by Shanghai Animation Film Studio, are also etched in their memories.
In recent years, Chinese animation films and series are trying to break new ground. The 2015 animation film Monkey King: Hero Is Back and 2016 Big Fish & Begonia are two highly praised works. Yet compared to foreign counterparts, Chinese animation still has a long way to go. Here are five new series made in China that are currently popular among young audiences.
Lingjian Mountain. [Photo/Mtime; screenshots of Lingjian Mountain]
Lingjian Mountain
Animation series Lingjian Mountain was adapted from an online Chinese novel of the same name. The writer, Guo Wang Bi Xia, started working on martial arts fantasies in 2013, and this is his third novel.
The series tell the story of a boy named Wang Lu and his adventures on his way to be a powerful prince.
Bearing a strong resemblance to Japanese animation, the series was adapted by two companies from China and Japan and was also broadcast in both countries from January 2016.
The animation series got 7.1 points out of 10 on Douban, one of China's most popular movie review sites.
"I thought this was a Japanese work and only after I finished the episode 5 did I discover it was produced in China. As a homemade animation, it is very interesting, far beyond my expectation. But Chinese producers take too much from their Japanese counterparts and don't create their own work. It is like all the people received the same cosmetic surgery and became beautiful. They all look the same," a Douban user Yiyiaixiaoshuo commented online.
Fights Break Sphere. [Photo/Official weibo account of Fights Break Sphere ]
Fights Break Sphere
Broadcast in January from 2017, the new series was also an adaptation of an online martial arts fantasy by Tian Can Tu Dou.
Resembling other kung fu series, the animation is about a young genius' journey on his way to becoming a martial arts master.
Although it only got 5.4 points out of 10 on Douban, the series still attracted a large number of followers. According to the statistics on iQIYI, the first season was viewed more than 700 million times.
This kind of adapted series is always based on a popular online novel that often has had a large readership. The faithful readers often become the audiences of the TV adaptation. Compared to those who never read the original work, the formers are more critical of the animation version.
"I have no idea how many fans of the novel have been hurt by the adaption. The atmosphere of the beginning is nice, yet the animation did not catch the essential characters of the protagonists," user Linglan commented on Douban.
Year Hare Affair. [Photo/Official weibo account of Year Hare Affair ]
Year Hare Affair
Year Hare Affair, or Na Nian Na Tu Na Xie Shi, was adapted from namesake comic series by cartoonist Lin Chao. Since 2011, the comic about the contemporary Chinese history has been popular on many BBS and social media.
The author tells the history through a group of cute rabbits in uniforms who symbolize the People's Liberation Army, and images of other animals. Sometimes, these animals would talk with a dialect that sounds funnier than simply using Mandarin.
The first season was broadcast in March 2015 and the third one concluded on March 8, 2017. The second and third season got 8.6 and 8.4 points out of 10 on Douban.
"This is a really funny yet heart-warming work. I became more patriotic after watching the series," Shaosiming, a Douban user, commented online.
Little Monk Yichan. [Photo/Official weibo account of Little Monk Yichan]
Little Monk Yichan
This is another touching series about a seven-year old monk Yichan, and his master Adou's daily lives.
Premiered in 2016, the series had its episode 35 broadcast recently. Each episode focuses on a certain topic, including family, romance and friendship.
Despite telling stories from the perspective of a child, the series targets adults and aims to provide some "chicken soup" to let audiences learn to be tolerant and give more love to others.
The animation got 9.5 points out of 10 on Douban.
"I did not expect it is so interesting. I watched 26 episodes at one go," user Carolsv commented on Douban.
Hua Jiang Hu. [Photo/Official weibo account of Hua Jiang Hu]
Hua Jiang Hu
Premiered in 2014, the series Hua Jiang Hu has had four seasons. The story is based on Chinese history during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960), when there were continuous wars and fights among many small kingdoms.
The series got an average of 7.9 points out of 10 on Douban.
To those who fancy historical stories, the animation provides another way to learn Chinese history. Yet the series doesn't pay too much attention to historical details.
Some audiences complained about goofs in the series.
"I like the story, but the producer should be more careful with the history. How can you imagine an ancient Chinese girl hanging around in short pants and sweaters exposing her shoulders?" Yanyumimanxumijing remarked online.
