Can Chinese Animation Rise with the Power of 'New National Style' Driven by AI Technology?
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"It seems like the era for the true rise of national-style animation has arrived," said Ji Xiaoliang, Editor-in-Chief of Zcool.
On August 4th, the awards ceremony for the second season of Youku Animation's 'One Thousand and One Nights' Youth Animation Director Promotion Plan, themed 'All Out for New National Style,' and the launch of the third season were held at the Fashion Gallery of 751 Beijing Design Square. Many young animation directors and producers attended, sharing insights on industry hotspots such as the AI technology revolution and national-style animation creation.
In recent years, with the development of the domestic animation industry, more and more high-quality national-style animations have gained popularity among audiences. The concentrated emergence of Chinese animated films is expected to lead the industry into a new phase of development.
"The attitude of domestic audiences toward local animation works has undergone a qualitative change, and the application of national style in creation has shown results," said Yu Tian, a judge for Youku Animation's 'One Thousand and One Nights' Youth Animation Director Promotion Plan III, a veteran animator, and founder of ASK Animation.
Yu Tian believes that animators should focus more on the core of creation and adopt a global perspective in the early stages of production. "The mission of our generation of Chinese animators is to establish a healthy development model for Chinese animation, with a global vision and market."
The application of AI technology in animation has also become a key topic. According to the '2020 China Animation Industry Research Report' released by iResearch, the world is undergoing a new cycle of animation production industry upgrades, represented by 4K ultra-high-definition formats and stop-motion animation. The research and use of new technologies like AI in the animation industry are inevitable trends, and technology will also determine the future direction of China's animation industry.
Yu Bin, Co-founder and Chief Director of Junyixin Animation, pointed out that new martial arts and new national style will become creative trends in domestic animation, and technologies like AI and UE will spark more inspiration in content creation.
From the application of AI in early-stage character design to using AI to generate more art design solutions and optimize frame quality, Yu Bin demonstrated the effective use of AI in animation creation. Regarding the rapid development of AI technology, he believes that as long as creators keep up with the pace, AI will not replace designers or artists but will serve as a valuable tool for creators.
Song Pengkai, Director of Youku Animation, stated that since the launch of the 'One Thousand and One Nights' Youth Animation Director Promotion Plan, Youku Animation has been committed to discovering and supporting more outstanding young animation directors, hoping to showcase the charm of 'New National Style' animation through high-quality works.
It was reported that a total of 300,000 yuan in prizes was awarded to the winning creators, and the third season of Youku Animation's 'One Thousand and One Nights' Youth Animation Director Promotion Plan, themed 'New National Style, New Vision,' was officially launched. Song Pengkai added that Youku Animation will continue to explore integration with various industries, promote diversified development in the animation sector, and maximize the value of 'New National Style' animation across more industries, from full-chain IP development to commercial licensing.