The internet and 21st century media are bringing Chinese animations to a wider audience. But the greater exposure has yet to lead to greater popularity, and some say that's because of a lack of professionals working within the genre. Now, film colleges are upping their game, when it comes to specialized training courses needed to supply China's growing animation industry.
Last summer saw five major Chinese animations, including the country's first world-class 3D movie, "Legend of a Rabbit".
But they all fell at the box office, enjoying less than sizeable returns.
Insiders point to a lack of promotion, but also say there aren't enough professionals working in China's animation sector.
Sun Lijun, head of Cartoon Inst., Beijing Film College, said, "The income of an animation writer is one tenth of a normal movie script writer. A normal movie can be completed within six months, but an animation usually takes three to five years. So a lot of outstanding animation writers switch professions."
It's not that there's a lack of training available.
More than a thousand colleges and universities have animation departments, turning out tens of thousands of graduates each year. But the unemployment rate in the field remains high, since most of them major in the technical side of production.
Meanwhile, there's a lack of script writers and marketing experts specializing in animated movies.
Now, things appear to be changing. Many colleges say they've begun analyzing the market demand, diversifying their courses, and cooperating with foreign resources.
It seems that things may be slowly changing, as a new generation learns more and more about what it takes to move big screen audiences, with - quite literally - moving pictures.
Source: CNTV
Editor: Xu Xinlei
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