Chinese multi-industry, disturbing animation: the best cartoons were shown in Moscow

From fantasy to inspiring reality

The 16th Big Animation Festival has opened in Moscow. Chinese director Sun Haipeng’s 3D cartoon adventure Lion Dance set the tone for the next ten days. A full-blown fantasy riot awaits ahead of viewers, from sweet girlish stories from Brazil and France to serious documentary and experimental animation programs exclusively for adult audiences.

The spectacular “Lion Dance” combines the dramatic coming-of-age story of a failed teenager from a poor Guangdong province and the bewitching exoticism of Chinese culture. It is interesting that in the East, the lion dance has long served as a ritual for expelling evil spirits and attracting good luck and contains elements of martial arts. Chinese film ratings have named “Lion Dance” the most exciting film of the year, and critics say its success signals a change in the direction of national film production from traditional mythological plots and fantasy towards realistic stories. There was even a heated discussion in the press about the small size of the eyes of the characters and their slanting, which is unusual for Chinese animation. Many saw in the new design a rejection of the canons, hidden racism and an insult to the nation. One way or another, the desire of the protagonist to his dream – to become the best in the lion dance championship, his sincerity and perseverance, overcoming life’s difficulties and strong friendship are designed to inspire the audience to believe in the reality of miracles.

The Brazilian full-length cartoon Tarsilnia in the World of Colors (directed by Celia Katunda and Kiko Mistrorigo) will please you with a bright intricate world filled with fantastic creatures. The main character goes in search of her mother’s souvenirs stolen by a mischievous caterpillar. The film’s visuals are based on the bizarre universes created by the Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral (1886-1973). Tarsila is an adherent of folk art and was considered one of the leading modernist artists in Latin America, her work can be seen in various museums around the world, including the Hermitage.

Among almost a dozen animated feature films, the absurd and sad picture “Many North” by the famous Japanese director Koji Yamamura is of particular interest. She has already won awards, including the Grand Prix at the prestigious Ottawa Film Festival and the Audience Choice Award in Kyoto. A dark, surreal film filled with metaphors and symbolic signs, it lacks dialogue and any coherent story, Yamamura’s dim, meaningless North does not leave the viewer even a glimmer of hope. It is worth adding that the film was shot in a technique of drawing on paper, which is rare today, and is addressed to adult movie connoisseurs.

In a scattering of short programs it is difficult to single out something important – they are all tailored for an audience of different ages and preferences. There are separate programs of Russian, foreign and serial animation for children. Fans of cultural discoveries can turn their attention towards collections of modern Iranian animation, animadoc, experimental and special programs (all of them are marked with an age limit of 18+). For the most die-hard viewers, a six-hour immersion in Animation Night is waiting for you, where a select program of the best adult cartoons can be seen literally “in one sitting”.

Fans of not only watching a movie, but also creating it with their own hands will be able to animate characters on their own at unique workshops on rotoscoping, animated origami and looped gif-animation sketches drawn on tracing paper. In addition, for the first time at the festival, a series of master classes “Black Snow” for deaf and hard of hearing children was launched. Its participants will make a cartoon based on a New Year’s fairy tale using sign language. One of the leaders of the animation laboratory, director Elizaveta Khlomova is currently working on her own author’s cartoon, the characters of which also speak sign language.

The guest of honor of the festival is the master of domestic animation Yuri Norshtein. For thirteen years he has been giving public lectures every year within the BFM. This year, the topic of his conversation with the audience is incredibly relevant and burning – “Fear, compassion, support, catharsis. How animation speaks volumes. In a recent interview, Chinese animation artist Chen Xi, chairman of the BFM international jury, acknowledged that animators around the world express anxiety and pessimism towards modern reality, and suggests that “disturbing cinema” is an effective consolation and psychotherapy for both its creators. as well as for the audience.