Ji Xinrong looked absentmindedly at the dark screen in front of him.
As a well-known animation film director in Blue Star, Ji Xinrong is also one of the judges for the Eleanor Animation Awards. Sitting next to him at the moment is also a well-known figure in the Blue Star animation industry -
Tan Qingyi is a professor of animation at Huaijiang Academy of Fine Arts and a judge at the International Fantasy Film Festival.
Xia Yongyuan is the vice chairman of the Blue Star Artists Association, one of the organizers of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Media Arts Festival, and a three-time winner of the Eleanor Best Animated Feature Film Award.
Zhang Ru, double doctorate degree in directing and literature from Xingning Film Academy, 10th honorary member of Blue Star Art Federation…
To outsiders, these animation producers seem to have no reputation and rarely appear in newspapers and magazines. However, to people working in the animation industry, these names are well-known and well-known. If other animation producers are just animation producers, then some of the people on the judges now are real veteran artists.
Ji Xinrong himself is not bad either, his animated film has won the Eleanor Award for Best Animated Feature Film, otherwise he would not be qualified to sit here as a judge. But it is obvious that no matter how high the box office of his movies is or how good their reputation is, they cannot be compared with these real artists in front of us.
"In the past few years, the same old faces have been coming and going. I wonder if there will be some unexpected surprises this year." Tan Qingyi said with a smile.
Xia Yongyuan shook his head: "It's difficult. Even though the country has vigorously supported animation this year and the support funds have been issued, don't you see what kind of animations are being broadcast on TV now?"
Most of the people sitting here were his old acquaintances. Xia Yongyuan had no scruples when chatting. He sighed, "Commercial animation is getting easier and easier, but artistic animation is getting harder and harder. This year is just the beginning, and there will be more money to be made in the future. Not to mention new faces, the older generation is lucky enough to resist the temptation and not switch to commercial animation."
Speaking of this topic, everyone sighed for a moment.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. The judging period is almost here. We'll know how good this year's works are and whether there are any new faces." Zhang Ru changed the subject and said, "Aren't there only 20 animated shorts submitted for the competition this year? Let's finish the review early and finalize the nomination list. We still have animated feature films to review tomorrow."
Just as he finished speaking, the big screen opposite happened to light up, reflecting a small new world in the dark theater.
The overall length of these animated shorts is actually only about 4-10 minutes. Occasionally, if they come across one that is quite meaningful, they will deliberately rewind and replay it. The judges will discuss it in a low voice from time to time, and then they will have a general idea of the content before moving on to the next one. On average, each short film does not exceed half an hour.
"I knew it was the style of old man Lin Hongxin from the beginning." Tan Qingyi shook her head in her heart: "The art design is still so amazing, but it's a pity..."
Xia Yongyuan: “The narrative is still too empty.”
Getting a nomination might not be a problem, but winning the award... Zhang Ru thought with some regret, afraid that his old friend would return home disappointed again.
"Let's see the next one."
One, two, three...
As time gradually approached noon, the judges' viewing efficiency gradually increased.
"This short film should be by Si Hongyi, right? This little guy is really..." Xia Yongyuan was helpless: "He has learned well from that old guy Lin Hongxin, his artistic aesthetics are getting higher and higher, and he has even learned his empty habits. Old Lin is really, he has done a lot of harm to others."
Xia Yongyuan felt very regretful.
As a leading figure in the Blue Star animation industry, he is now old. His biggest hobby on weekdays, apart from doing research in new directions himself, is to pay attention to the growth of new animation directors on Blue Star. He was very optimistic about Si Hongyi, but now it seems that this young man still has a lot to learn.
Zhang Ru nodded, also feeling extremely helpless.
"It's almost twelve o'clock, let's watch one more and then go eat?" Tan Qingyi suggested. There were still twenty minutes until twelve o'clock, which was more than enough time for them to watch an animated short film.
"Okay, let's watch one more movie, and we'll continue with the rest this afternoon."
Everyone nodded.
The big screen lit up again, and as unfamiliar scenes appeared on the screen, a string of low music rang in everyone's ears. Ji Xinrong, who was sitting in the crowd, still kept staring at the big screen, but his eyes revealed an extremely complicated expression.
Movie title: The Gift of the Magi
Original work: O. Henry
Director: Muxuxing
From the title, I couldn't tell what kind of animation it was. The director's name was also unfamiliar, so he must be a new director. Tan Qingyi thought quietly.
Like Xia Yongyuan, Tan Qingyi is also very concerned about the growth of new directors. That is why, when she looked at the unfamiliar name on the screen, she felt a little doubtful, but also a glimmer of hope.
For new directors, having their animated short film submitted for the competition means a kind of recognition in itself. However, in most cases, newcomers are always newcomers. They may have some highlights, but compared with those old hands who have been immersed in the industry for many years, they are still inferior in all aspects.
Tan Qingyi didn't expect how well this animated short film would perform - she just wanted to know whether this short film could surprise her, even if it was just the slightest bit of surprise, it would still be a surprise.
Narrow streets, small shops, and a woman who also belongs here, dressed neatly but with a sense of old-fashioned clothes. Before the plot officially begins, the director gives a close-up of the woman's long hair.
It was extremely beautiful long hair, and even though it was now crudely tied up with a dark brown hairband, it did not diminish its beauty.
It seems that the next storyline will be related to this beautiful long hair
Such a thought flashed through her mind, and Tan Qingyi stared at the big screen without blinking.
The woman in the picture was gesturing to the boss behind the counter. Her expression was sometimes tough and sometimes soft, until the man who looked like the store manager shook his head helplessly. Then a hint of joy appeared on her face. She hurriedly took out a handful of change from her pocket, carefully counted it twice, and then handed it over.
Um
Tan Qingyi sat up straight at once.
From the environment in which the characters in the picture are located, it can be seen that the background of the story should take place in a relatively poor town, and the characters in the animation seem to be bargaining over the price of vegetables.
This is nothing surprising.
What surprised Tan Qingyi was that the animation director narrated the entire plot extremely smoothly through the woman's expression and movements when bargaining, as well as the boss's helpless and slightly annoyed expression - and this animation had no dubbing.
Every year, the short films nominated for the Eleanor Awards have some awkward dubbing and some no voice at all. But that’s because these short films are full of metaphors. It doesn’t matter whether there are dialogues or not. The short film in front of us seems to be telling a short story. In this case, the audience can instantly understand what he wants to narrate just through the pictures...
"Not bad," Zhang Ru praised, "The switching of scenes is very smooth, and the performance is also wonderful. This somewhat complicated plot is described clearly without a single word. This new director is not bad."
Xia Yongyuan didn't say anything.
The animation in front of us has just begun. From the current point of view, this animation is indeed above standard, but we will have to watch it to know how it is.
The animation continues on the big screen.
Woman walking out of grocery store.
The scene jumps to an even smaller apartment, where a woman places bits of copper plates on a scratched wooden table and counts them back and forth three times.
She looked at the pitiful few copper coins on the table, with deep shame and pain in her eyes, as if she had confirmed something from the counting just now. Now she was no longer as strong and nonchalant as she behaved outside. When she threw herself on the shabby couch and burst into tears, Tan Qingyi's heart couldn't help but be ached.
It was a very dull plot, but it was precisely this dullness that made the eyes of everyone present light up.
"It's very real," Xia Yongyuan finally spoke, his eyes still fixed on the big screen in front of him: "The details, the details of the animation are so real, it's like..."
"It's as if the person who made this animation experienced it personally." Zhang Ru took over the conversation.
After a brief exchange of words, they continued reading, apparently not wanting to waste even a moment.
The 4-minute duration means that the viewing time will not be too long. As the animation plot progresses step by step, the whole story is presented to everyone in a timely manner.
In order to prepare a rare and valuable Christmas gift for her husband, the woman sold her long hair which was more beautiful than any other treasure.
She happily visited various shops and selected a platinum watch chain for her husband to match his gold watch.
Finally, when the young woman with short curly hair sat down at the shabby wooden table, her husband, who had just returned home, looked at her with an extremely strange expression on his face.
"The turning point is coming." Tan Qingyi whispered.
“The gift in the title should refer to the platinum watch chain, right?” Zhang Ru said, “It’s time to reveal the deeper meaning.”
Xia Yongyuan stared at the screen closely without saying anything.
Soon, the animation revealed the reason for the husband's strange expression - the young husband handed a paper package to his wife, and the woman deftly untied the rope. Under the dim light, the exquisite set of combs sparkled on the wooden table that could not be more shabby.
Xia Yongyuan's heart moved slightly, and a guess emerged in his mind.
Sure enough, when his wife happily took out her Christmas present, took out the beautiful platinum watch chain, and wanted to see how the watch chain looked with the gold watch, the young man fell on the couch, put his hands under his head, and smiled slightly.
The scene immediately flashed back to a few hours ago—
In the gloomy picture with memories, the wife sold her long hair in exchange for an exquisite platinum watch chain and happily ran home. At the same time, the young man gently stroked the gold watch in his pocket, calmly and calmly handed it to the pawnshop, and then bought the complete and beautiful hair comb set when passing by the window of Broadway.
After a brief recollection, the picture became clear again.
A young woman in an apron stood in the kitchen, frying steaks that were rarely eaten for dinner on weekdays. Outside the window, in the backyard where visibility was extremely low, a gray and white cat flicked its tail and jumped down from the fence of the same color.
"The Gift of the Magi" ended here, but everyone present was still unable to come back to their senses.
To be frank, they were all experts in the art of animation and could judge the quality of an animated short film by just watching it for a few times. At first glance, the animation in front of them seemed as plain and ordinary as its plot, but Xia Yongyuan and his friends could see the special features of this animated short film at a glance.
—It’s so true.
At their level, it is actually very difficult to be moved by any animation, because they themselves are experts in animation. They know the rhythm and foreshadowing of storyboards and narrative techniques and structures very well. How can they be moved by the emotions created in that way
But The Gift of the Magi is different.
This animation is so realistic.
It is this plain and real atmosphere and details that make them subconsciously feel distressed and bitter for the lives of the male and female protagonists in the film.
The thing in the world that can most touch people's hearts is a feather arrow that can pierce your heart accurately and fiercely when people are caught off guard. It is always the most helpless and powerless reality.
Reality is what can truly touch people's hearts.
"I like the animation script. The twist at the end is very interesting," said one of them.
"The film style is also quite good, which shows that they put a lot of effort into it. The overall performance is also very good. It's hard to believe that it is the work of a new director."
A few people exchanged opinions, and then they were surprised to find that several big bosses in the same industry did not say a word. Xia Yongyuan stared at the dark big screen for a while, and suddenly pressed the control button in his hand, and the animation immediately went back to the beginning of the plot.
How could a work by a new director be so compelling that several bigwigs couldn't help but watch it a second time
Several people were extremely surprised. Before they could figure out what was going on, Xia Yongyuan finished reading it for the second time and lowered his head in deep thought. At the same time, Tan Qingyi took action again.
The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time...
After watching the short animation five times, no one tried to rewind and watch it again. The others looked at the big screen that had returned to darkness in confusion, and then looked at the bosses who remained silent.
You know, even Lin Hongxin’s animated short film just now was only watched twice by these respected judges, but the animated work in front of them was played on a loop for a full five times!
Looking at the time again, it was already 12:10, but the few people who had just suggested eating after the movie were motionless, as if they were still recalling the plot in the animation.
Zhang Ru closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again: "Very impressive."
"If this scene wasn't really an animation, I would have almost suspected that the two protagonists were played by the best actor and actress," Tan Qingyi said. "The architecture, costumes, movements, expressions, and character performances are so wonderful that a director without a certain amount of experience would not be able to produce them."
Xia Yongyuan's evaluation was brief and powerful: "The animation script is very good, and the director's level is completely worthy of it."
"This performance is really amazing." Zhang Ru smiled bitterly, "To be honest, if I didn't know this director at all, I would have suspected that he had observed my life. Many of the micro-expressions and movements in this performance, and the psychology they showed, are exactly the same as mine before."
Because I understand, I feel heartbroken.
"A director of this caliber, it's impossible that he has no fame at all, right?" Tan Qingyi asked, "Have you heard of Mu Suxing?"
After a brief silence, someone finally spoke up: "I know this person."
Ji Xinrong looked at the dozen or so glances cast towards him in an instant, and his heart suddenly became more complicated.
As a judge, he understood their feelings at the moment - after all, as someone who had watched "The Gift of the Magi" very early in advance, Ji Xinrong had privately watched this animated short film no less than a hundred times, and the more he watched, the more frightened he became.
To be honest, the things that happened between him and Mu Suxing at Xingning University of the Arts could really be called a grudge, especially the time when they were filming "The Little Prince", which was a joke. Ji Xinrong was very embarrassed and naturally did not have any good feelings towards Mu Suxing. He even felt a little disappointed in him because the other party was obsessed with material things and turned to commercial animation.
He still had no good feelings towards Muxuxing, but his principles as an animation producer prevented him from saying anything hypocritical.
Good is good, bad is bad. He will not make malicious criticisms of "The Little Prince" because the director of "The Little Prince" is Mu Suxing, and of course he will not make things difficult for him because "The Gift of the Magi" is Mu Suxing's work.
"He is a recent graduate of Xingning University of the Arts. He is 22 years old this year. The Little Prince released two years ago is his work. In addition, he also opened an animation company on his own and directed two popular commercial animations. The Gift of the Magi is his graduation project." Ji Xinrong said, finding himself unexpectedly calm.
"Twenty-two years old?" Xia Yongyuan looked at him in surprise: "Are you sure?"
Tan Qingyi was also a little surprised: "How could a 22-year-old young man who has never suffered and has always been smooth sailing create such a realistic work as "The Gift of the Magi"? Are you kidding me?"
Or maybe the real director of this animation is actually someone else
Thinking of this, Tan Qingyi's beautiful eyebrows suddenly frowned.
"I know why he was able to create a work like The Gift of the Magi," Zhang Ru, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. "No wonder I always felt that the scenes and buildings in this animation were very familiar. The director must have visited Zijing Town to observe it on site."
"Bauhinia Town?"
"A remote mountain town," Zhang Ru explained briefly, "I have a friend whose new movie is being filmed in Zijing Town. He mentioned to me before that he met someone there who was particularly suitable to play the leading role in his movie. Unfortunately, the other person was an animation director who also came to Zijing Town to collect materials. I didn't think much about it before, but now it seems that it should be this animation director."
Xia Yongyuan immediately became interested: "You mean, in order to make this animation well, he went to a small town in the mountains to collect materials and made in-depth observations?"
"That should be the case," Zhang Ru nodded, and added, "According to my friend, the animation director must have worked hard on this aspect, so the details of this animation are so touching."
As soon as he finished speaking, several people looked at each other, and there was some obvious joy in their eyes.
At their current stage, honor and money are no longer their goals. The overall Blue Star animation industry is so sluggish that they have been looking forward to a few talented and motivated new directors. How can they not be happy when they suddenly see someone who is both talented and down-to-earth
As for the other party having worked on commercial animation
Since this new director was willing to travel thousands of miles to a backward rural town to observe and collect materials for his graduation project, it is obvious that he is serious about animation and can concentrate on it. Since he can stick to his original intention, does it matter much whether he makes commercial animation or not
The doubts in his heart were resolved, and Xia Yongyuan was relieved. He smiled and said, "It seems that we have succeeded in fulfilling Sister Tan's wish this time. We have found a treasure."
—
"It should be clear now, right?" Zhou Yurui couldn't help but urge.
As the animation producer of "Asuka", Zhou Yurui had not originally thought of hyping it up in this way. The fact that things had developed to this point was also the idea of the marketing team - it's not that he had a guilty conscience, he just simply didn't like being stepped on by another person.
It's obviously his work, why should it be attributed to another director
Didn't he say that as a commercial animation director, does he know what art is? What is artistic animation
Seeing more and more people praising Mu Xiuxing in various ways, while at the same time praising "Flying Birds" and saying that it was still a little worse than "The Little Prince", Zhou Yurui, who has always been arrogant, was almost pissed off!
Fortunately, this time, the marketing company finally gave him a satisfactory answer: "Okay, go to Weibo to clarify."
Finally waited for this moment.
Zhou Yurui immediately posted on Weibo. Naturally, someone in his team had written a statement of clarification for him in advance. But when he was about to post it, he remembered how unhappy he had just been and changed his mind temporarily. He deleted the draft sent to him by the public relations department and posted another Weibo post instead.
Zhou Yurui v: Thank you very much for your love of "Asuka", but I am the producer of this animation. No one wants their work to be attributed to someone else. I hope everyone will stop tying "Asuka" together with other directors. Thank you.
"I really like "Flying Birds", the pictures are really great! I want to express my gratitude to the director!"
"I feel sorry for the director. His hard-earned work was attributed to someone else and became a trending topic. It's so miserable. No wonder some people keep saying that "Flying Birds" is not as good as "The Little Prince". It turns out that they were not made by the same person."
"Eh? Didn't everyone say that "Flying Bird" was made by Xingxing's pseudonym? What's going on here?"
"What else could it be? Some people have run out of ideas and can't do anything themselves, so they just use other people's names to satisfy their own needs. I'm really impressed. Can't they just make commercial animations? Is it necessary for them to come out like this and bully newcomers? I'm really drunk."
"To be honest, I think "Flying Birds" is much better than "The Little Prince". The former has substance, while the latter is just whining without reason. The whole plot is incomprehensible, and the only thing it looks good is the pictures. I don't know why it is praised so highly."
…
The entire Weibo trend changed so quickly that many of Muxuxing's fans were completely confused when they saw the sudden change in the style of comments. They didn't think that "Flying Birds" was better than "The Little Prince". They just thought that the pictures of "Flying Birds" were indeed stunning, and the director was also one they liked, so they happily praised it.
What is the result now
What the hell
As soon as these words came out, not only the fans of Muxuxing, but even the haters were angry—
Sweet Wine V: It's OK to criticize Mu Suxing, after all, he is now more like a businessman who is only interested in making money than a so-called animation producer. But it's not OK to criticize his works. Don't you have any idea whether "Flying Birds" is comparable to "The Little Prince"? You still say that Mu Suxing took your credit. To be honest, even I, a hater, can't stand it. This is probably not the worst time that Mu Suxing has been criticized, right
Both parties made a lot of fuss about this, but Mu Xuxing, one of the parties involved, seemed to know nothing about it and did not say a word about it.
Just when the netizens were intentionally or unintentionally leading the topic to the direction of "Muxuxing was feeling guilty, so he didn't say anything or show up", a series of completely unexpected news suddenly exploded the Internet -
Xingning News v: Congratulations to Mr. Muxuxing for his work "The Gift of the Magi" being nominated for this year's Eleanor Best Animated Short Film Award. Congratulations!
Wait, didn’t they say that Mu Su Xing Jiang has run out of ideas? Then what’s the matter with this Best Animated Short Film Award
Fans who are knowledgeable began to explain to fans who are not, how prestigious the Eleanor Award for Best Animated Short Film is. Although the onlookers did not know much about it, they were well aware of the great reputation of the Eleanor Award in the film and television industry. Since this animation director was nominated, he was obviously not an incompetent person.
The rest of the people were skeptical and doubtful about the accuracy of the news. Then a series of information made them shut up completely.
Tan Qingyi v: The young are formidable.
Zhang Ruv: Some people asked me why I nominated a director in the field of commercial animation. I think this question itself is strange. If a director can keep his original intention and not be affected by the external environment, then what does it matter if he makes money through animation? His talent is still there, and he can still calm down and make animations that really move people. That's enough. The scary thing is that some people are obsessed with artistic animation on the surface and call themselves artists, but their hearts have long been eaten away by the worm of desire and are empty. This is the most tragic thing.
Xia Yongyuan v: I like serious young people.
The author has something to say: Um... Can I take out a loan (?) to ask for nutrient solution (whisper) The kind that pays back 10,000 yuan a day during the summer vacation qaq
Thank you to the little angels who cast their votes for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution~
Thanks to the little angel who cast [rocket launcher]: Meng Hui Wen Xue 1;
Thanks to the little angels who threw [hand grenades]: Physics and Advanced Mathematics, Yan Tong 1;
Thanks to the little angels who cast [mines]: Nian Hongyao, It's a secret!, o Hongdou Xiangsio, _ Qing_, 23249812, Yan Tong, w Feng Yu, Shen Jiu1;
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated [nutrient solution]:
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Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!