Drawing Life, Animating Stillness: A Brief History of Chinese and Foreign Animation Performance Styles

A single Monkey King somersault, Nezha soaring skyward, the seven Calabash Brothers leaping in unison… Why do these deeply ingrained childhood memories feel so alive? Because they are not merely drawn—they are “performed.” We often say that animation is “moving pictures, ” yet whether the motion feels authentic or ingenious depends on extremely complex aesthetic system and technical design. Why do Chinese animated characters have a unique charm when they move? How do they differ from the Disney and Japanese animations we are familiar with? The answer points to one key phrase: animation performance style.

This session brings together two scholars, Ma Xiaogua and Fu Guangchao, who have long researched animated performance, to lead a discussion on the secrets behind how characters “move. ” Through side-by-side comparisons of Chinese, American, Japanese and Soviet animation systems, they will highlight the cultural differences and technical evolution in animation “motion design. ” Together, they will conduct an “on-the-spot lesson in animated action, ” combining audiovisual elements with rich illustrations.