Cartoon and animation festival sure to get looney toons animated
Float parades are one of the highlights of the annual China International Cartoon and Animation Festival.
Looney toon fanatics are in for an animation treat as the 14th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival gets underway.
The festival, which will go on until May 1, promises more than 50 activities with exhibitions, forums, businesses, competitions and events at Baima Lake Cartoon and Animation Square and another 10 venues across Hangzhou.
“It’s the most creative cause that unrolls in the most beautiful place in the world,” said Borivoj Dovnikovic Bordo, former general secretary of the International Animated Film Society, about the festival and Hangzhou.
Special trains commuting between subway stations have been decorated with domestic cartoon characters and scenes before the gala.
Various forums on domestic animation will be held during the event, and outstanding enterprises such as CCTV Animation, Tencent, NetEase and Zoland Animation will also attend the forums.
Japan’s Manga Contents Promote Organization will present itself at the festival with its group of delegates. Corus Entertainment, a Canadian media magnate, will launch an incubator competition project named “ChinaTales” during the carnival of animation.
Organizers of the most renowned cartoon and animation festivals worldwide, such as France’s Annecy Animation Festival and Canada’s Ottawa International Animation Festival, will participate in the Hangzhou Summit of the Association of CG International. Meanwhile, the summit has attracted domestic and foreign professionals, together with senior executives from animation companies. Among them are Lee Unkrich, director of “Coco,” this year’s Oscar best animated feature film; the creative team behind “Loving Vincent,” a 2018 Oscar nomination for best animated feature film; the creative team behind “Blade Runner 2049,” an Oscar best visual effects film this year. Hiroyuki Itoh, chief of Crypton Future Media and creator of the popular virtual figure Hatsune Miku, will also attend the summit.
The International Animation Game Business Conference attracts participants from more than 80 children’s channels, new media and distributors, over 1,500 domestic and foreign animation game companies.
A figures exhibition will showcase both domestic intellectual property figures and classic foreign figures from companies like Nintendo, Shueisha, Warner Bros, Paramount and Disney.
Visitors can appreciate cosplay performances, character voicing contests and float parades, among others.
It is also the first time CICAF will sell digital tickets to the public. Digital tickets can be purchased at www.damai.cn and the official WeChat platform (cicaf2012).
According to the organizers, the past 13 festivals received a total of 15 million visitors. A turnover of 12.85 million yuan (US$2.03 million) was reached in the past 13 festivals. Han Meilin, an artist who designed the 2008 Beijing Olympics mascot, is the creator of CICAF mascot Le Le, a superb illustration of Monkey King.
Manga fans take a selfie.
Schedule of the 2018 CICAF
• CICAF Summit Forum — New Youth Forum
Date: April 24, 9am–5pm
Venue: Banquet Hall A&B, Jianguo Hotel
• CICAF Summit Forum — Manga Venture China Carnival
Date: April 25, 9am–12pm
Venue: Banquet Hall A&B, Jianguo Hotel
• The International Animation Game Business Conference (iABC)
Date: April 24–27
Venue: The First World Hotel
• iABC — Canada session
Date: April 25, 1:30pm
Venue: The First World Hotel
• CICAF Grand Cosplay Awards
Date: April 26-30
Venue: Building B, Baima Lake Cartoon and Animation Square
• Cartoon and Animation Industry Expo
Date: April 26-May 1
Venue: Exhibition Hall, Baima Lake Cartoon and Animation Square
A building painted with cartoon scenes
• International Animation Films Week
Date: April 26-May 1
Venue: Designated cinemas, colleges and universities in Hangzhou
• Comic Interactive Show
Date: April 26-May 1
Venue: surrounding areas of Baima Lake Cartoon and Animation Square
• Animation Films Promotion Seminar
Date: April 26, 9:30am-5:30pm
Venue: Artinno Town, Xihu District
• Workshop of World Excellent Animation Works and the 1st China Youth Animation Film Directors Forum
Date: April 26, 9am-12pm
Venue: No. 1 Conference Room, Jianguo Hotel
• CICAF Summit Forum — Cake Talk (creative, animation, knowledge, exchange talk) Young
Date: April 26, 2-5:30pm
Venue: Banquet Hall A, Jianguo Hotel
• CICAF Summit Forum — Main Forum
Date: April 27, 9:30am–12:30pm
Venue: Jianguo Hotel Banquet Hall A&B
• Animation Films Venture Capital Conference
Date: April 27, 9am–12pm
Venue: Artinno Town, Xihu District
• CICAF Summit Forum — Cake Talk Master 1
Date: April 27, 2-5:30pm
Venue: Banquet Hall B, Jianguo Hotel
• Cartoon Character Voicing Competition Final and Award Ceremony
Date: April 27, 6:30–9pm
Venue: Zhejiang University of Media and Communications
Le Le, mascot of CICAF designed by Han Meilin, an artist who designed the mascot for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
• CICAF Summit Forum — Cake Talk Master 2
Date: April 28, 9:30am–12:30pm
Venue: Banquet Hall B, Jianguo Hotel
• China Comic and Animation Museum Global Collection Kick-off Ceremony
Date: April 28, 2-3pm
Venue: Banquet Hall A, Jianguo Hotel
• Hangzhou Summit of the Association of CG International
Date: April 28, 2:30-5:30pm
Venue: Banquet Hall B, Jianguo Hotel
• Children’s Cartoon Competition Award Ceremony
Date: April 28, 3pm
Venue: Hangzhou Youth Center, 22 Zhaoqingsili Street, Xihu District
• CICAF Summit Forum — Cake Talk Education
Date: April 28, 7-9pm
Venue: Xiangshan campus, China Academy of Art
• Cartoon and Animation Float Parade
Date: April 29, 10am
Venue: Creativity Street, Zhongshan Road N., Xiacheng District (from Fengqi Road to Tiyuchang Road)
Cosplay on the Metro in Hangzhou
