Cultural Heritage and Technological Innovation in Papercut Animation: The Artistic Journey of Shanghai Animation Film Studio (1950s-1980s)

Authors

  • Muxi Li School of Art, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, United Kingdom.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53469/jssh.2025.7(01).07

Keywords:

Shanghai Animation Film Studio, Paper-cut Animation, Cultural Heritage, Technological Innovation, Animation History

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution of paper-cut animation at Shanghai Animation Film Studio (SAFS) from the 1950s to the 1980s, focusing on the fusion of cultural heritage and technological innovation. Highlighting the contributions of pioneers like Wan Guochan and Hu Jinqing, the study explores how SAFS integrated traditional Chinese arts into animation to overcome technical limitations and respond to socio-political changes. Through an analysis of seminal works such as “Pigsy Eats Watermelon” and “The Fishing Boy,” the paper illustrates the studio’s role in shaping the landscape of contemporary animation.

References

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B. Jin, “My Thought Trajectory: An Interview with Hu Jinqing,” Film Art, vol. 1993, no. 3, pp. 50-54.

P. Sun and Z. Yang, “Paper-Cut Romance, Animated Life—Remembering Animation Master Hu Jinqing,” Contemporary Animation, vol. 2019, no. 4, pp. 47-52.

G. Cao and C. Sui, “A Brief Discussion on the Development of Chinese Paper-Cut Animation and the Artistic Characteristics of Different Periods,” Film Review, vol. 2009, no. 10, pp. 27+34, 2009. DOI: 10.16583/j.cnki.52-1014/j.2009.10.041.

Z. Jin, “The Evolution from Frame-by-Frame Hand-drawing to Ink Wash Animation,” M.A. thesis, China Academy of Art, 2011.

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H. Yue, “A Brief Discussion on Paper-Cut Films and Their Character Drawing Techniques,” Film and Television Technology, vol. 1995, no. 7, pp. 22-23.

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Published

2025-01-31

How to Cite

Li, M. (2025). Cultural Heritage and Technological Innovation in Papercut Animation: The Artistic Journey of Shanghai Animation Film Studio (1950s-1980s). Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 7(1), 68–72. https://doi.org/10.53469/jssh.2025.7(01).07

Issue

Section

Articles