Characters in Chinese animation films need more personality, a well-known composer and film director said after visiting a Shenzhen animation base.

 

The Chinese animation figures have big flat surface on the faces, which is very easy to read for children, but no matter two-dimension or three-dimension cartoons, the characters in Chinese animation are not seen many levels and need more personality, the awarding-winning animation film director Randall Meyers told a seminar at the Children's Palace on Saturday.

 

 

 

The Norwegian, 51, won a first prize in the Berlinnale Film Festival 2000 for his animation film The King Who Wanted More Than a Crown.

 

Meyers made his remarks after visiting the newly opened Shenzhen Yijing National Cartoon & Animation Industry Base, which is home to over 30 cartoon and animation companies.

 

"The biggest difference between the Chinese animation and the West is the attention to details in making animation," said Meyers, without elaborating.

 

During the speech titled "Animation Beyond Borders," Meyers urged Chinese filmmakers to attract government financing and cooperate with foreign animation filmmakers.

 

"European governments pay much attention to financing animation for children as a means to stimulate European culture," he said.

 

In an earlier interview with the Shenzhen Daily, Meyers also warned that Chinese producers of animation films should not follow their Japanese counterparts, who, according to him, have turned the industry into a pure moneymaking machine.

 

"Watching cartoon and animation films is an educational process for children. We cannot put corporate interest first," he said, adding that the best cartoon and animation products do not always make the most money.

 

Wang Mingtao, director of Shenzhen Youth Animation & Comics Association, said one of Meyers's new animation films would be screened in Shenzhen in August with a 30-person symphony orchestra and live dubbing.

 

(Shenzhen Daily May 22, 2006)