The special event marking the 18th anniversary of China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF) is guided by the Publicity Department of CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee and co-sponsored by Hangzhou Industrial Development Center for Cartoon, Animation and Games as well as the Publicity Department of CPC Shangcheng District Committee.
Huang Haifeng, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee, Chief of the Publicity Department and Director of the Executive Committee of CICAF, attended the event and awarded Lele, mascot of the festival, the key to the Gate of Cartoon and Animation.
Chief Huang awards Lele the Key of Growth
Niu Jun, Deputy Chief of the Publicity Department of CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee, Director of the Cultural and Ethical Progress Office of Hangzhou, Secretary General of the Executive Committee of CICAF, extended the invitation to all for the 18th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival at the special event.
Deputy Chief Niu extends invitation to all at the event
Director Zhou receives the donated painting
Participants to the special event included the responsible people of the enterprises in Hangzhou growing up with CICAF such as Zoland, Electronic Soul, Sparkly Key Animation Studio, Tencent, Wawayu, Ynuo and others as well as Murong Yindao, a famous cartoonist who set up his studio in Hangzhou.
“Tell the world, I am 18 years old”
Messages and videos of best wishes were delivered and displayed on site of the event not only from the youth of Hangzhou but also from the friends in the UK, France, Finland and other parts of the world who once participated in CICAF.
The blessing video from Christian, a French cartoon master
Over the past 18 years, CICAF has extended its reach to more than 60 countries and regions around the world.
Wu Jianrong, Vice Chairman of China Animation Association
and Board Chairman of Zhejiang Zhongnan Construction Group is in an interview.
Wu Jianrong, Vice Chairman of China Animation Association and Board Chairman of Zhejiang Zhongnan Construction Group was present at the event and brought CICAF his wishes.
Videos reviewing the past of CICAF
18 years ago, June 1st of 2005 witnessed the kickoff of the 1st CICAF by the West Lake, starting the Dream Trip of Hangzhou to make itself the Capital of Cartoon & Animation. Xi Jinping, then Secretary of CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee expressed his ardent expectation, i.e. efforts shall not be spared to make CICAF a magnificent event for cartoons and animations as well as a festival for the people with high starting point and standards.
Bearing in mind the expectations of General Secretary Xi and focusing on the purpose “to make it a magnificent event for cartoons and animations as well as a festival for the people”, CICAF has conducted relentless efforts over the past 18 years to improve its capability in terms of professional and industrialized operations, going global and building up brand values, which has become a shared memory of this generation.
The teenagers then fascinated by cartoons and animations now have become parents. With their children, they binge-watched animated series, enjoyed comicons, and celebrated the 18th birthday of CICAF on this special day.
Sending best wishes on the scene
As Hangzhou today boasts not only the annual event CICAF but also activities featuring series of cartoons, animations and games throughout the whole year, “CICAF that Never Ends” is becoming a brand-new symbol of this Capital of Cartoon & Animation.
Pooling advantageous resources in cartoons and animations, Hangzhou has in this year launched a series of activities themed with “CICAF That Never Ends”. On the scene of this event, In77 Shopping Center, Starbucks, LOFTER of Netease, e-sports cheering squad, scenic spots of Jingshan Huahai (Sea of Flowers in Jingshan) and Huyao Xiaohongniang (Fox Spirit, the Little Matchmaker) demonstrate their programs respectively.
■In77 Shopping Center
■LOFTER of Netease
■Starbucks
■Scenic spot of Jingshan Huahai (Sea of Flowers in Jingshan)
■Scenic spot of Huyao Xiaohongniang (Fox Spirit, the Little Matchmaker)
■E-sports cheering squad
18 years of growth of CICAF constitutes the wonderful shared memory of Hangzhou citizens. To enhance interactions with the masses and enable people to better enjoy the happiness from cartoons and animations, 2 unique interactive devices, “painting scrolls” and “sound recording booth”, are installed on the ground, with which visitors can draw pictures and record blessing audio messages. After drawing and recording done, the visitor will receive a unique postcard as a souvenir. These devices have been very well-received among visitors.
Children who have won the Tianyan Cup are drawing blessing paintings with Murong Yindao
The blessing painting finished by the children and Murong Yindao
Many visitors are attracted by the sound recording booth
(photo by Li Zhong)
The photo wall marking the 18th anniversary of CICAF
It is not nessesary to feel sorry for the visitors who have missed today’s special event. Later on, the interactive devices will be not only deployed in the Generation Z Block on floor -2 in B area of In77 Shopping Center, but also connected to H5 online, which will enable absent fans of cartoons and animations to express their wishes via the cloud to CICAF. Fine hand-painted works and amusing audio blessing messages will be displayed to the public on the scene of the 18th CICAF.
1→18 New starting point, new excitement
Catwalks and dances in Hanfu of the Song Dynasty
(photo by Li Zhong)
Thanks to the importance attached by leaders of governments in Zhejiang province at different levels, the guidance offered by state departments such as National Radio and Television Administration, China Media Group, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, CICAF has grown into a top event of its kind in terms of scale, popularity and influence in China over the past 18 years. Surely, the great support of CPC Committees and Governments in Zhejiang Provincial and Hangzhou Municipal levels, passionate efforts made by the enterprises and local universities engaging in cartoons, animations and games as well as the love and care of fans are also indispensable during this process.
Lele is unlocking the Gate of Cartoon and Animation
(photo by Li Zhong)
Starting from scratch, the industry of cartoon, animation and games in Hangzhou has realized the metamorphosis from small to big, weak to strong with the growth of CICAF. Today, CICAF is still experiencing daily growth with its framework and ecological conditions constantly improving. At the beginning of 2000, there was no animation originated in Hangzhou. The founding of Zoland in 2003 marks the start of exploration of Hangzhou in making original cartoons and animations.
(photo by Li Zhong)
Over the past years, as Hangzhou Mode, in which CICAF serves as a vital platform for the development of China’s industry of cartoon and animation, has become increasingly mature, a group of famous cartoonists including Tsai Chih Chung, Deyong Zhu and Murong Yindao were attracted and set their studios in Hangzhou. Many renowned enterprisessuch as TV Tokyo of Japan, Tencent and Perfect World also have set up branches here. In 2021, the output value of Hangzhou in cartoon and animation exceeded RMB32 billion.
The way of Generation Z to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Capital of Cartoon & Animation
With the time-backgroud of high-quality and digitized development characterized by common prosperity, the cartoon and animation industry of Hangzhou is facing a brighter future. New chapters are bound to be written on the journey themed with “building a new paradise through hard work in the new era”.
It is reported that the Executive Committee Office is racing against the clock to make preparations for the 18th CICAF so as to ensure its holding in late November of this year.
Scan the QR code and send your blessings
Your paintings and voice may appear on the scene of the 18th CICAF!