LIFETIME OF IDEAS

Cartoonist Tsai Chih-chung’s decadeslong work has been inspired by ancient Chinese philosophy and history, as his biography reveals. reports.

veins is Chinese culture,” he “It’s a perfect combination.”

Tsai, who was based in Vancouver, Canada, at one point now spends a lot of time on the mainland, where he runs an animation studio in Hangzhou, the capital of East China’s Zhejiang province.

Among the feature-length animation films he is working on is a biographical film on Guan Yu, a third-century general and a synonymfor loyaltyandvalor inChinese culture. The movie is expected to be completed by October.

Another project is Kung Fu Shaolin Temple, which is expected to be ready for release in 2017.

“Zen, kung fu and the Shaolin Temple are evergreen Chinese cultural symbols,” he says.

“They will always be popular themes for viewers not only in China but overseas,” he adds.

Speaking of animation films, Tsai believes the plot and emotions comprise the core of such movies.

“If the storytelling and choice of topic are poor, everything will be in vain even if advanced technology is used.”

As for how he sees his new mainland career, Tsai says his knowledge of physics tells him that there is a formula for each industry and the cultural sector is no exception.

“If people with great ideas want to be successful in the cultural sector, they need to cooperate with someone who can turn their ideas into products. And, they have to find a person who can use the products to make money.”

He does not see the point of staying away from market.

But, he says: “Anyonewhosurvives on catering to public tastes is doomed to fail at some point. So, it is always better to educate the public about better things by giving them something unprecedented.”

In August, Tsai will hold a cartoon exhibition in Beijing, inspired by dozens of Robin Hood-like characters from the 14th-century Chinese classic Shui Hu Zhuan (Outlaws of theMarsh).

He also plans to produce a series of souvenirs, including umbrellas, cups and poker cards, to mark the exhibition, which he expects will sell well.

“When it comes to animation, people are used to Walt Disney and Japanese works, asChinese cartoonists cannot always match them.

“If we can create something equally good, people will buy,” he says. says. and the DeathlyHallows.

REUTERS J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books.