By Chen Miaolin, Fang Jingyi
Since its establishment in Hangzhou in 2005, the China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF) has successfully held 19 editions, evolving into the largest, most popular, and most influential professional event in the field of animation in China.
Last year, the 19th CICAF saw the participation of 10.81 million people both online and offline, with 955,000 attending various offline activities. This year marks the 20th anniversary of CICAF, a milestone year, and the 20th edition celebration will be held grandly in Hangzhou from May 29 to June 2.
The 20th CICAF is set to captivate the hearts and minds of animation enthusiasts worldwide. Nearly 300 animation IPs from renowned domestic and international companies will be showcased at its main venue. As a hallmark of innovation and artistic expression, it promises a memorable experience that celebrates the dynamic world of animation.
Six highlights of upcoming 20th CICAF
Animation, a universal language, fosters international cultural exchange. The 20th CICAF will further enhance its international influence and cooperation. It has attracted participation from 50 countries and regions so far, including prominent studios and organizations such as Pixar Animation Studios from the United States, the Gwangju Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency from the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Animated Film Association. This year’s “Golden Monkey King Awards” competition and the “Magic Eyes” China (Hangzhou) International Children’s Comics Contest have received over 3,200 submissions from more than 20 countries and regions worldwide.
During the press conference held on May 18, Pascal Leger from Brittany Studios expressed his anticipation of exchanging ideas and collaborating with renowned Chinese animation companies and outstanding content creators at the upcoming CICAF and iABC.
This year’s CICAF also features special events such as the “20 Years of Chinese Animation” themed exhibition and the “20 Years Together” International Animation Film Week. These events highlight landmark moments and masterpieces from the past two decades in Chinese animation.
Fully leveraging Hangzhou’s digital prowess, the 20th CICAF will showcase the emerging trend of “Animation+Technology”. The festival will introduce a new “Digital Entertainment Park” exhibition area, displaying interactive content such as training grounds for cyber-pet robotic dogs, holographic anime avatar photography studios, AI image recognition and cloud computing portrait workshops, AR motion capture adventures in Kapibara, and immersive metaverse transformation live streaming rooms.
In addition, “Animation Plus” will be a new highlight in this year’s CICAF, which will fully integrate animation with business, culture, tourism, sports events, and IP creation. Besides the main stage, key commercial areas and trendy spots in Hangzhou will collaborate with the CICAF to host a series of animation-related events, supporting the integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism during the festival.
Talent cultivation has been an essential part of the development of the cartoon and animation industry. In collaboration with top animation companies and educational institutions, the 20th CICAF will host talent recruitment fairs and showcase students’ works, fostering industry-academia partnerships and talent development.
Coinciding with International Children’s Day, the festival will offer interactive experiences and activities across multiple venues in Hangzhou to showcase that this is a festival for all. Apart from the main venue at the Whitehorse Lake International Exhibition Center in Binjiang district, a sub-venue at the China Cartoon and Animation Museum will be set up, along with three branch venues in Shangcheng district, Xiaoshan district, and Lin’an district. Furthermore, five synchronized animation events will be held in Yuhang district, Xihu district, Linping district, Fuyang district, and Jiande city, respectively.
Animation float parade shines
To herald the animation feast, the grand parade for the 20th CICAF took place on May 18 at Hubin Pedestrian Street in Shangcheng district, drawing numerous tourists and residents on-site to greet their favorite anime characters.
This year’s parade blended traditional Chinese culture, intangible heritage, immersive dramas, and animation to deliver unique performances that showcased both anime and traditional Chinese style.
Among over 600 paraders who brought a fabulous performance to the audience were eight international students from Zhejiang University of Science & Technology, invited by Hangzhoufeel, all clad in traditional Hanfu.
Alina from Romania is a big fan of animation and video games. She had a great time interacting with people dressed as various characters, taking photos, and participating in the float parade, making it a memorable experience for her.
Colin, a Jamaican student, enjoyed the animation blast at the parade as well and said he felt like a kid, wandering around and marveling at the crazy cool displays. For him, seeing his favorite childhood characters sparked a wave of nostalgia. “The vibe from other fans was pure hype and excitement,” he noted. “It was like escaping reality and being transported into an imaginary world.”