Mu Xuxing didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Mulan is a completely different work from The Gift of the Magi," he explained. "Not all animations require paper figures to have real-life acting skills. Different styles of animation have very different requirements in this regard. To give a simple example, it's impossible for paper figures in ink-and-wash animations to have real-life acting skills, right?"
For ink-and-wash animations, what you often see is the blank space and the Zen spirit.
Ye Changlin himself was the director. After hearing what Mu Suxing said, he understood: "I thought I could see a good show this time." He said regretfully.
Mu Suxing said angrily, "Stop talking nonsense. I dare say that the grand slam of this year's Eleanor Awards is definitely "Floating Duckweed". As for me, the most I can get is the Best Animated Short Film Award."
Ye Changlin just said that. Naturally, he was more inclined to his own crew. He smiled when he heard it and said, "Then it will be your good wish."
The two chatted for a while and soon separated in the hall. Ye Changlin returned to his crew, while Mu Suxing walked to the seat arranged by the organizer in advance.
When he came over, there were already a few familiar faces sitting around him. Seeing him coming over, Tan Qingyi was the first to speak with a smile: "What a coincidence, you're here just as we were talking about you."
Several of them were the judges of the Eleanor Awards animation group a year ago. Mu Suxing greeted them one by one before sitting down: "What did you say about me?"
"Of course I'm talking about your Mulan," Xia Yongyuan said. As the vice chairman of the Blue Star Artists Association, Xia Yongyuan is a well-known painting master on Blue Star. Naturally, he is more impressed by the animation short film Mulan, which is centered on painting style. "Your animation short film is absolutely amazing. The character modeling and scene design are simply amazing. You hired a professional, right?"
Mu Suxing nodded: "The character modeling and scene design were determined by me, Professor Zhong Wenhua and Professor Tan Qingyi."
Xia Yongyuan turned around in surprise: "No way, Old Tan, you're hiding this? No wonder I always felt that the plane processing method in the animation was very familiar."
Tan Qingyi glared at him unhappily: "That's enough, isn't it enough that you used this to blackmail me for a meal? Are you not going to let Xiao Mu go too?"
Xia Yongyuan chuckled, and Mu Suxing realized then that the other party was teasing him, so he could only laugh along with him, feeling both amused and helpless.
"The animation is good, but there is one thing..." Zhang Rudao, a master with a double degree in directing and literature, said that if Tan Qingyi and Xia Yongyuan value the pictures, then he values the details and the deep meaning behind them: "Isn't the story behind this animation a little too deep?"
If "The Gift of the Magi" is an animated short that can be understood by ordinary audiences, then "Mulan" is the kind that cannot be understood by non-highly educated people. Whether it is the modeling, background, or the seemingly boring plot, it is full of allusions and symbols, and the montage that makes people understand but not understand. Those with little knowledge will mostly treat it as a boring animated short.
"So," Muxiuxing said, "this animation was not originally intended for general audiences."
"oh?"
Muxuxing hesitated for a while.
He didn't know how to tell the other party that, strictly speaking, the birth of "Mulan" was not due to a definite reason. If he had to say it, the reason was probably - because he was willing to do so.
As an animation producer, he certainly has his moments of willfulness, which has nothing to do with money or honor. He sought out professional professors, and tried and modified the animation again and again, deliberately adding all sorts of obscure and subtle details that were almost showy, purely because he enjoyed the process of doing so.
As the author of the widely acknowledged difficult and incomprehensible novel Ulysses, Joyce once jokingly told the public: "I have set so many puzzles in this book that it will force centuries of professors and scholars to argue about my original meaning... This is the only way to ensure its immortality."
Mu Xiuxing certainly had no intention of comparing himself to Joyce, he just simply found it very interesting.
It is fun to make popular and enjoyable animations, but it is also interesting to make mysterious and profound artistic animations.
As for whether it makes money or not, and whether the audience can understand it, that is not within his consideration.
Isn't the reason why he works so hard to make money so that he can be able to make the animations he wants according to his own preferences like he does now
Muxuxing thought about it and decided to be honest about only part of it: "If I must say it, this animation is actually made for myself. I have never considered making a profit from it, so basically everything is based on my personal preferences, and I don't care about the audience's feelings."
"But..." At this point, Muxuxing also laughed: "Isn't this the charm of independent animation short films?"
“Emphasizing my own preferences, thinking what I want, using what I want, and creating purely for my own ideas—this is what an independent animated short film is.”
Several people looked at each other, their expressions slightly surprised, followed by undisguised relief and joy.
"I'm very happy that you can maintain this kind of heart." Xia Yongyuan said in a deep voice.
They have witnessed all the ups and downs that Mu Suxing and Huaying have experienced in the past year, especially the recent Sherlock Holmes incident which has caused a sensation in the city. Although they don't say it, they are worried about this promising young man that they have taken a fancy to.
With Mu Xiuxing's ability, even if he doesn't make any artistic animation, but only does commercial animation and draws comics, he can still gain both fame and fortune. Can such a person who has everything he wants really calm down and make artistic animation that is difficult to even make a profit
Fortunately, Muxuxing is still the Muxuxing they are familiar with.
"You, you..." Tan Qingyi also laughed, with a hint of relief in her eyes: "When do you plan to come back?"
This coming back obviously refers to coming back to make animations.
"In fact, I have plans to make an animated series in the near future."
Zhang Ru grasped the key words: "Series?"
"Yes," Muxuxing nodded: "Specifically..."
He was interrupted before he could finish his words. The host on the stage said helplessly, "Director Mu, I'm telling you, if you continue like this, our judging panel will have to take back the award, right?"
This was of course just a joke, as the Eleanor Awards never had the right to take back an award. But when everyone turned their eyes to the big screen, they were still slightly surprised.
This time is different from the last time. Last time, Mu Suxing thought he had no chance, so he was careless throughout the whole process. Although the probability of winning the prize this time is not high, with the experience of the first time, Mu Suxing would not be so absent-minded to this extent - and this is indeed the case.
What was written on the big screen at this moment was not "Best Animated Short Film Award" but "Best Editing Award".
Did the jury decide that "Mulan" was not selected, and then gave him the "Best Editing Award" as compensation? It can't be just to see his confused expression at this moment, right
He muttered to himself, but quickly put on a polite smile on his face. After receiving the award, he said a few routine words on the spot and went down.
Compared with other awards, there is really nothing much to say about the "Best Editing Award".
Probably a consolation prize.
Thinking of this, Mu Suxing walked downstairs without looking back. Before he sat down, the other side started again: "This year's Eleanor Award for Best Action Design goes to Mu Suxing's "Mulan". Congratulations to Director Mu!"
Muxiuxing: …
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Mu Xiuxing had no choice but to continue walking toward the stage, and then took the award certificate—this kind of award is always handed out in the form of an award certificate, and said half-jokingly and half-seriously: "Host, you see, we have met twice before, can you tell me whether I have a chance to win the Best Animated Short Film Award?"
The host pondered and said, "Since you want to know so much, then of course—" Everyone's eyes subconsciously drifted to the stage, but they heard him continue, "Of course it's impossible."
Mu Xuxing sighed and had to continue walking back.
He had only taken a few steps when the host opened the envelope in his hand at a speed that seemed very slow, but was actually much faster than the previous one, and said loudly: "I declare that the winner of this year's Eleanor Award for Best Animated Short Film is - Mulan! Congratulations to Mulan!"
The camera on the scene was immediately focused on Muxuxing—
Muxiuxing: …
Didn't I just cause a big trouble here last time? Is this the end
For a moment, the fans watching the live broadcast clearly saw this expression on his face, and then the next moment, that bit of depression was completely put away by him, replaced by just the right amount of surprise. When everyone in the hall was still just showing a subtle smile, the live broadcast barrage was already full of laughter.
"Hahahahaha, how big a grudge do you have? You keep tormenting our star!"
"I don't care if this face-changing is hilarious or not. In my heart, this year's Eleanor Best Actor Award belongs to our star!"
With this interruption, the originally depressing and dull atmosphere seemed to relax a lot, and soon, the much-anticipated best actor and best actress awards were announced. The winners were the male and female protagonists of "Floating Duckweed" directed by Ye Changlin.
However, what no one expected was that this time, the most watched was still not the best actor and actress, but the animated picture of the organizer "Sanliu Muxuxing". Before the Eleanor Awards Ceremony was over, the related animated picture had already been spread all over the Internet - just for this, Ye Changlin even gave him a meal.
At this time, Mu Suxing didn't know that his behavior had become an emoticon in the hands of netizens. As soon as the award ceremony ended, he slipped back to the hotel.
"Is there still no movement in Xingning Province?" Qiu Fengmao's voice came from the phone.
Muxiuxing understood what he meant: "It's not enough."
"Isn't this enough?" Qiu Fengmao was a little confused.
"It's not easy to get those people to admit their mistakes." Mu Suxing shook his head: "No matter how hard the outside world forces them, it will be useless to them internally."
"Then don't we have to give up the market in Xingning Province forever?" Qiu Fengmao said unwillingly.
"Not necessarily," Mu Suxing said, looking at the note in his hand, which had several phone numbers written on it. He said nonchalantly, "Since the outside doesn't work, let's try to break through from the inside."
"…Inside?" Qiu Fengmao looked surprised: "What do you want to do?"
"Give them a big gift," Mu Suxing said briefly, "A real gift." After all, the people in charge of film and television and the people in charge of paper media publishing are not the same department.