For students, January is not only close to the winter vacation but also signals the arrival of final exams. A mix of pain and pleasure, indeed. As a school specializing in film and television, the Shanghai Drama Academy's exams are certainly unique. But exams are exams, and they bring stress to everyone. Failing is not a pleasant prospect. However, for Jiang Cheng, who has always been diligent, this isn't too daunting. He can't guarantee scores over 90 in every subject, but he's confident of at least 80, so he isn't cramming in a panic.
Not just Jiang Cheng, Hu Ge and the others haven't been burying themselves in textbooks either. Instead, they've been engrossed in a thick script, reading and reciting their lines with varied inflections.
As it turns out, following the promotion of "[Immortal]," Hu Ge and the others have also seen a surge in popularity. A theater group approached them to star in a play called "I'm Crazy for Singing." In it, Hu Ge plays the lead male character Chu Tian Ge, Yuan Hong plays another lead Ye Feng, and Sun Xiao plays the comical Gai Shi Ai. The character Chu Tian Ge is even modeled after Hu Ge himself, indicating his current popularity.
Initially, the theater group wanted Jiang Cheng as well, but he politely declined.
"I'm Crazy for Singing" is another grand animation production by the Shanghai Fine Arts Film Studio, following "Lotus Lantern." It's China's first campus musical-themed animation and has opened a new chapter in the history of Chinese animated films with its youthfulness, rhythm, and innovative audio-visuals. To many adults, "I'm Crazy for Singing," much like the "Harry Potter" movies, possesses an inexplicable magic!
Last summer in Shanghai, the cartoon became a hit, and its accompanying novel saw six reprints in just a few months, selling 300,000 copies. In Wenzhou, the cartoon hadn't even aired, nor was there any hype about the book, but it became popular first.
Some even claimed that "I'm Crazy for Singing" marked the awakening of Chinese animation, but Jiang Cheng disagreed. Not out of any bias towards Japanese manga, but he believed Chinese animation still lagged behind in artwork, character construction, voice acting, and storylines.
Firstly, the artwork - doesn't China have talented animators? In recent years, works like "Journey to the West," "Lotus Lantern," and "I'm Crazy for Singing" were decent. But what about years later? Other works like "Legend of Nezha" and "Big Ear Tutu" either rested on their laurels or regressed in quality. As we move into the new century, other industries are progressing; why is Chinese animation regressing?
Then, character construction - the portrayal is too simplistic. Good guys must be handsome or beautiful, while villains, regardless of their actual appearance, are always hideous. This makes the animation predictable and dull. Why not focus more on psychological depiction? Look at "EVA" and its detailed portrayal. Why can't we have that in China?
Another critical flaw is the lack of innovation and excessive conservatism. Many animations recycle the same old stories promoting traditional Chinese virtues. Why not try something new? China has a rich literary history to draw from. Look at "Kung Fu Panda" - its plot is nothing new, but why does it captivate the world using our own cultural elements?
Voice acting is another area where China lags far behind Japan. While Japan has schools dedicated to training voice actors, in China, most animation voiceovers are done by film and TV stars. They lack the professionalism of their Japanese counterparts. What happened to the art of vocal mimicry from ancient times?
Lastly, the target audience for Chinese animations is too young, mostly under five. In contrast, Japanese anime appeals to all age groups. Everyone can find something to enjoy.
Jiang Cheng enjoyed "I'm Crazy for Singing" from the start, not just for the animation but also for its music. But whether Hu Ge and the others starred in a stage play of the same name, he wasn't sure. Was it always there, or a result of his rebirth's butterfly effect? He was surprised to learn about the stage play version of "I'm Crazy for Singing" and even more so to hear about opera and upcoming TV adaptations.
"I'm Crazy for Singing" inspired Jiang Cheng. Its success was primarily due to capturing young people's interests - pop music, youth, rebellion, and band battles, all elements that resonate with the youth.
An idea began to form in his mind: could he make a musical film?
Musicals have been a popular genre since the 1930s in the West. While the development of Chinese musical films has been in sync with the global scene, they differ from the Hollywood variety. They've gone through three phases: singing films and music films from the 1940s, unique model operas like "The East Is Red," and narrative films with musical segments like the old Hong Kong musical "Three Smiles." However, due to the traditional and reserved nature of the Han people, who value propriety, musical expression has always been limited.
But regardless of where, people love to sing and dance, to express their passion through these mediums. Young people, especially, are like the morning sun, full of youthful energy, eager to express and "show off" themselves. Maybe it's vanity, but it's a privilege of youth, building confidence and maturity. Despite parents' disapproval, many youths enjoy dancing in clubs, and KTVs have become their playgrounds.
In fact, China has always lacked a true musical film.
It won't be easy to produce because of traditional attitudes. Many parents view singing and dancing as frivolous pursuits. An occasional indulgence is fine, but pursuing it seriously is seen as counter-mainstream, which is why musicals struggle in China.
To make one, it can't be a heavy, art-house musical drama; those don't have a market in China. The alternative is a youth or campus musical, devoid of heavy themes and focusing on young people's attitudes, dreams, or love pursuits. If well-made, such a film can spark an unparalleled craze among students worldwide.
If a stylish, youthful musical like "I'm Crazy for Singing" were released now, it would surely attract a massive young audience!