Hunan's Best — Media Powerhouse, a Dazzling Array (Part 3)
Hunan's First Historical Figure TV Drama—Xu Teli. Produced by Hunan TV in 1987, it was Hunan's first historical figure TV drama. Adapted from Ke Lan's biographical literature "This Is a High Mountain," with screenwriters Ke Lan and Wen Qiu, director A Yin, and starring Ren Guangzhi, Wu Hong, Yong Zuo, and Liu Huaizheng, this three-episode series...
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Hunan's First Historical Figure TV Drama — Xu Teli
Xu Teli was the first historical figure TV drama filmed by Hunan TV in 1987. The drama was adapted from Ke Lan's biographical literature This Is a High Mountain, with screenwriters Ke Lan and Wen Qiu, director A Yin, and main actors Ren Guangzhi, Wu Hong, Yong Zuo, and Liu Huaizheng. This 3-episode TV drama reproduces Xu Teli's life journey from youth to middle age and praises the noble character of the proletarian educator Xu Teli. Li Peng inscribed the title of the drama Xu Teli.
China's First Large-Scale "Red Classic" Youth Drama — Young Comrades
Young Comrades, jointly produced by Hunan TV and Changsha TV, won the Special Award of the 10th National "Five-One Project" for the building of spiritual civilization, was listed among the "Top Ten Most Popular TV Dramas" at the 2nd China (Zhejiang) TV Festival, and won the First Prize for Long-Form TV Drama at the 26th China TV "Flying Apsaras Awards." It is the first large-scale (23-episode) "red classic" youth drama in China. The drama takes Mao Zedong's five and a half years of study at Hunan First Normal School as its main background, showing the study life in their prime of a group of outstanding young people in the 20th century represented by Mao Zedong, Cai Hesen, Xiang Jingyu, Yang Kaihui, Tao Siyong, and others, as well as their pure and beautiful love stories. At the same time, it portrays a group of outstanding teachers such as Yang Changji and Kong Zhaosui, and profoundly reveals the realistic theme, closely connected with today's society, of "how students should study and how teachers should educate people."
Hunan's First Independently Produced TV Drama Series — Bloody Xiangxi
Bloody Xiangxi is the first large-scale TV drama series that Hunan Broadcasting and Film Group and Hunan Satellite TV began investing in, carefully planning, and independently producing in 2006. Set against the backdrop of the "September 18 Incident" that shocked China and the world in 1931, and using Japan's large-scale war of aggression against China as its thread, the drama vividly and powerfully tells the legendary story of how the "Gan people" of the nine bows and seventeen villages at the foot of Xuefeng Mountain in Xiangxi cast aside their past grievances and feuds to do all they could to defend their homeland and resist the Japanese invaders. It closely integrates tear-jerking family affection and love with deeply moving devotion to home and country, creating a group of vivid, flesh-and-blood characters. Southern Metropolis Daily evaluated the drama as the "most ferocious" TV drama of the year.
Hunan's First TV Drama to Move Toward the Market — Six Dreams
Six Dreams, jointly filmed and produced by Hunan Huaxia Company and Qiong Yao in 1988, became a marker of Hunan's TV dramas taking the lead nationwide in moving toward the market and beginning market-oriented operation. It is divided into six parts: Wanjun, The Mute Wife, Three Flowers, Xue Ke, Watching the Husband Cliff, and Green Grass by the River. Qiong Yao's Six Dreams series is one of the most influential and popular TV drama series in the mainland. This series of costume dramas set in the "late Qing and early Republic" not only made Jin Ming famous after Wanjun aired, but even spurred a wave of Taiwanese TV drama productions coming to the mainland for location shooting; and as soon as Green Grass by the River aired, dozens of "Qingqing Kindergartens" immediately appeared across China. This series also made stars of Yu Xiaofan, Zhang Peihua, Xu Nailin, and others.
Section Four
Animation Products — A Spectacular Scene
Hunan's First Professional Animation Production Company — Hunan Dongfang Cartoon Company
In 1993, Hunan undertook the production of China's first set of primary and secondary school animation textbooks. In 1996, Wang Hong and others established Hunan Dongfang Cartoon Company, Hunan's first company specializing in animation production, and in 1999 first introduced cartoon characters such as Blue Cat and Taoqi on Beijing TV. Precisely because of the success of this creative endeavor, Hunan's animation industry has since developed unstoppably.
China's First Listed Animation Enterprise — Hunan Tuowei System Information Co., Ltd.
Hunan Tuowei System Information Co., Ltd. was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, becoming China's first listed animation enterprise and the second listed cultural communication company in our province. Tuowei Information is a new-type cultural enterprise with e-commerce and mobile phone animation as its main business. Since 2001, it maintained profitability for six consecutive years, with average annual growth of operating revenue of 30.60% and average annual growth of net profit of 38.70%. In 2007, its turnover was 230 million yuan, realizing a net profit of 77.61 million yuan and paying more than 28 million yuan in taxes. Its successful listing is an important step in Tuowei Information's leapfrog development, a new force among Hunan's listed cultural enterprises, and an important milestone in the development of the "Animation Xiang Army." It will have positive significance for the development of Hunan's cultural industry, animation industry, and information industry.
China's Most Influential Brand in the Animation Industry — Hunan Hongmeng Cartoon Communication Co., Ltd.
Hongmeng Cartoon Group was established in May 2004 and is a "National Animation and Game Industry Revitalization Base." Hongmeng Cartoon produces 15,000 minutes of original animation annually, ranking first nationwide for three consecutive years. In January 2006, in the selection activity for the "2nd (2005) China Top Ten Influential Brands," it was awarded the title "China's Most Influential Brand in the Animation Industry." In December 2006, at the Beijing Cultural and Creative Industry Expo, it won the "Top Ten Most Investment-Worthy Creative Bases" award in the "2006 Creative Investment List" selection activity; in December 2006, at the annual meeting of the China Animation Association held in Shanghai, Hongmeng Cartoon won four firsts in the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's annual review: first nationwide in annual output of original animation programs, first in the number of "Excellent Animated Films" recommended by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, first nationwide in the scale of animation program broadcasting, and first nationwide in the benefits generated by animation programs. In December 2006, Hongmeng Cartoon was awarded the title "National Animation and Game Industry Revitalization Base — Publication Production and Distribution Center."
China Animation Industry Base — Sanchen Cartoon Group Co., Ltd.
Sanchen Cartoon Group Co., Ltd. (Hunan Blue Cat Cartoon Media Co., Ltd.) is located in the Changsha High-Tech Development Zone and was established in 2007. The company's business spans electronic audio-visual publishing, audio-visual chain leasing, animation production and distribution, brand (image) licensing and derivatives, and franchised specialty stores, forming a brand-new economic model with information technology as its carrier — the happy cultural industry. In February 2004, the company's flagship product "Blue Cat" was recognized by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce as a "China Well-Known Trademark." The company is a "National Animation Industry Base," "National Cultural Industry Demonstration Base," "(Hunan) National Animation and Game Industry Revitalization Base," "Original Publishing Research Center," and "Digital Media Development Center." The company's production Blue Cat and Taoqi 3000 Questions has been confirmed by Guinness as the world's longest animated series.
Producer of China's First Award-Winning Original Animated Feature Film — Hunan Shanmao Cartoon Co., Ltd.
Hunan Shanmao Cartoon Co., Ltd. is a large high-tech cultural enterprise engaged in the research and application of computer animation software, animation film and television production, games, music program production, and the research and development of cartoon character derivative products. The company has self-operated import and export rights, exporting animation derivative products mainly based on the "Shanmao Jimi" brand cartoon images. The company has registered trademarks such as "Shanmao" and "Shanmao Jimi," with product categories reaching more than 10,000 kinds, among which "Shanmao Jimi" has been recognized by the Administration for Industry and Commerce as a famous trademark and a "National Key Cultural Export Enterprise." The company's production The Adventures of Shanmao Jimi, China's first large-scale magical educational and entertainment animated feature film, was selected for the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in the United States in 2009 and won the "Best Animated Film Award," becoming the first Chinese original animated feature film to win an award since the founding of the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.
Hunan's Largest Indoor Animation Theme Park — Hunan Xiledi Cartoon Park
Hunan Xiledi Cartoon Park officially opened in early 2007. It is a "Changsha Minors' Practical Activity Base" and "Hunan Animation Experience Center." Located in Yuhua District, Changsha, it occupies a core hub position among Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, with an area of 60,000 square meters, making it the largest indoor cartoon theme park in the country. Named after cartoons, Xiledi provides various novel, interesting, and educational amusement facilities mainly featuring animation and cartoon images, various puzzle and entertainment performances and trade fairs, and supporting service items such as amusement grounds, dining, cartoon cinemas, and magic mazes, integrated into a never-ending carnival. Since opening, Xiledi has received nearly one million visitors from within and outside the province, and its healthy and novel amusement atmosphere has won unanimous praise from children, parents, and teachers, earning it the reputation of "Hunan's indoor Disney."
China's First Cartoon Festival Named by a Local Animation Enterprise — the "Hongmao and Lantu" 2005 Changsha Cartoon Art Festival
Relying on the China Cartoon Industry Forum, China's largest-scale industry summit for cartoons and digital art, the 2005 Changsha Cartoon Art Festival was held in Changsha, Hunan. The festival was exclusively titled "Hongmao and Lantu" by Hunan Hongmeng Cartoon Communication Co., Ltd., making it China's first cartoon festival named by a local animation enterprise, and it would accelerate Changsha's pace toward becoming China's and even the world's largest original animation production base. Its themed activities included thirteen major events, including the opening ceremony, the Cartoon Art Expo, the 4th China Cartoon Industry Forum, the COSPLAY Big Star Cartoon Live-Action Show, and the China Mobile Original Mobile Phone Animation Competition. Moreover, compared with cartoon festivals already held in other domestic cities, the Changsha Cartoon Art Festival highlighted international characteristics, national characteristics, industrial characteristics, and original characteristics, and received unanimous praise from exhibitors and animation fans.
China's Only Animation Fireworks Brand — Tongmei Fireworks
Hongmeng Cartoon Group and Hunan Tongmei Animation Fireworks Co., Ltd. jointly held a project launch meeting to jointly create the only animation fireworks brand in China — Tongmei Fireworks. This cooperation was carried out through brand image licensing, with Hunan Tongmei Fireworks Co., Ltd. fully applying Hongmeng Cartoon's series of cartoon image designs to its products. Among the products already designed, there are nine major categories, including combination fireworks, firecrackers, spray flowers, spouting pearls, aerial shells, line incense, mixed fireworks, large-scale pyrotechnics, and stage fireworks, all of whose outer packaging is printed with cartoon images such as Hongmao and Lantu.
China's First Cartoon Spring Festival Gala — the 2005 Hongmao and Lantu Animated Spring Festival Gala
On February 6, 2005, China's first cartoon Spring Festival Gala, co-produced by Hunan Hongmeng Cartoon Company and Hunan Golden Eagle Cartoon Channel, featured the "Center" and "Digital Media Development Center." The company's production "Blue Cat's 3000 Questions" has been confirmed by Guinness as the world's longest animated series.
Producer of China's First Award-Winning Original Animated Feature Film — Hunan Shanmao Cartoon Co., Ltd.
Hunan Shanmao Cartoon Co., Ltd. is a large high-tech cultural enterprise engaged in the research and application of computer animation software, animation film and television production, games, music program production, and the research and development of cartoon character derivative products. The company has self-operated import and export rights, exporting animation derivative products mainly based on the "Shanmao Jimi" brand cartoon images. The company has registered trademarks such as "Shanmao" and "Shanmao Jimi," with product categories reaching more than 10,000 kinds, among which "Shanmao Jimi" has been recognized by the Administration for Industry and Commerce as a famous trademark and a "National Key Cultural Export Enterprise." The company's production The Adventures of Shanmao Jimi, China's first large-scale magical educational and entertainment animated feature film, was selected for the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in the United States in 2009 and won the "Best Animated Film Award," becoming the first Chinese original animated feature film to win an award since the founding of the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.
Hunan's Largest Indoor Animation Theme Park — Hunan Xiledi Cartoon Park
Hunan Xiledi Cartoon Park officially opened in early 2007. It is a "Changsha Minors' Practical Activity Base" and "Hunan Animation Experience Center." Located in Yuhua District, Changsha, it occupies a core hub position among Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, with an area of 60,000 square meters, making it the largest indoor cartoon theme park in the country. Named after cartoons, Xiledi provides various novel, interesting, and educational amusement facilities mainly featuring animation and cartoon images, various puzzle and entertainment performances and trade fairs, and supporting service items such as amusement grounds, dining, cartoon cinemas, and magic mazes, integrated into a never-ending carnival. Since opening, Xiledi has received nearly one million visitors from within and outside the province, and its healthy and novel amusement atmosphere has won unanimous praise from children, parents, and teachers, earning it the reputation of "Hunan's indoor Disney."
China's First Cartoon Festival Named by a Local Animation Enterprise — the "Hongmao and Lantu" 2005 Changsha Cartoon Art Festival
Relying on the China Cartoon Industry Forum, China's largest-scale industry summit for cartoons and digital art, the 2005 Changsha Cartoon Art Festival was held in Changsha, Hunan. The festival was exclusively titled "Hongmao and Lantu" by Hunan Hongmeng Cartoon Communication Co., Ltd., making it China's first cartoon festival named by a local animation enterprise, and it would accelerate Changsha's pace toward becoming China's and even the world's largest original animation production base. Its themed activities included thirteen major events, including the opening ceremony, the Cartoon Art Expo, the 4th China Cartoon Industry Forum, the COSPLAY Big Star Cartoon Live-Action Show, and the China Mobile Original Mobile Phone Animation Competition. Moreover, compared with cartoon festivals already held in other domestic cities, the Changsha Cartoon Art Festival highlighted international characteristics, national characteristics, industrial characteristics, and original characteristics, and received unanimous praise from exhibitors and animation fans.
China's Only Animation Fireworks Brand — Tongmei Fireworks
Hongmeng Cartoon Group and Hunan Tongmei Animation Fireworks Co., Ltd. jointly held a project launch meeting to jointly create the only animation fireworks brand in China — Tongmei Fireworks. This cooperation was carried out through brand image licensing, with Hunan Tongmei Fireworks Co., Ltd. fully applying Hongmeng Cartoon's series of cartoon image designs to its products. Among the products already designed, there are nine major categories, including combination fireworks, firecrackers, spray flowers, spouting pearls, aerial shells, line incense, mixed fireworks, large-scale pyrotechnics, and stage fireworks, all of whose outer packaging is printed with cartoon images such as Hongmao and Lantu.
China's First Cartoon Spring Festival Gala — 2005 Hongmao and Lantu Animated Spring Festival Gala
On February 6, 2005, China's first cartoon Spring Festival Gala, "Hongmao and Lantu Celebrate the New Spring," co-produced by Hunan Hongmeng Cartoon Company and Hunan Golden Eagle Cartoon Channel, was broadcast on Hunan TV. This gala was China's first large-scale virtual Spring Festival Gala hosted by virtual hosts and entirely cartoon-produced. The high integration of 2D and 3D was a major feature of the gala's production, with the 2D animation production techniques reaching Disney's 1-shot-1 standard. The gala's content was very rich, featuring not only the peace, joy, and liveliness of traditional Spring Festival Galas but also the unique humor and fantastical magic of the cartoon world. The gala fully utilized animation art's strengths in expressing action, exaggeration, humor, and transcending realistic environments. The production and broadcast of "Hongmao and Lantu Celebrate the New Spring" was a milestone event, marking a great leap forward in China's animation technology.
China's First Mobile Original Animation and Comics Competition — Mobile Animation and Game Competition
In 2006, the "First China Original Mobile Animation Competition" was hosted by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Communist Youth League Central Committee, the Hunan Provincial People's Government, and China Mobile Communications Corporation; organized by the Cultural Industry Department of the Ministry of Culture, the Publicity Department of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee, the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture, the Hunan Provincial Information Industry Department, the Communist Youth League Hunan Provincial Committee, and Hunan Mobile; and co-organized by Tuowei Information, Hunan TV, and Kuqi Animation. The competition collected a total of 18,000 works, with downloads reaching 1.39 million times. It made China's animation industry truly feel the strong vitality of mobile animation. Starting from the first edition in 2006, it has been held annually. The "Second China Original Mobile Animation Competition" held in 2007 further heated up the charm of mobile animation, elevated it to a national competition, and saw a large number of animation enterprises and famous animation artists investing resources, kicking off the "land grab" for "mobile animation." The "China Original Mobile Animation and Game Competition" has become a national mobile animation and game competition and has successfully held four editions so far.