The Influence of Cultural Policies on The Development of Experimental Animation in China Since the Reform and Opening-Up
List of Authors
Lu Yuqiao, Wan Samiati Andriana W. Mohamad Daud
Keyword
Experimental Animation; Avant-Garde Animation; Cultural Policy; Institutional Input; Art Media Development
Abstract
Since the reform and opening up, China's cultural policies have not only promoted the development of animation industry, but also had a far-reaching impact on experimental animation and avant-garde animation (including animation being showcased in the art museum system). Through literature review and theoretical analysis, this paper discusses how policy, as an "institutional input", can facilitate or impede the development of animation as art media. It is found that under the guidance of national macro-policies, China's animation industry has achieved explosive growth in output since around 2000, but the policy orientation has long focused on economic benefits and ideological security, which indirectly caused experimental animation to be marginalized. However, these policies also provide a platform for animation education and original creators. An increasing number of artists are engaging in animation creation within institutions such as universities, art museums, and film festivals, thereby expanding the artistic expression space of animation. This paper explains the relationship between cultural policy and art media's development from the theoretical perspective, and analyzes how the policy environment affects the development of China's experimental animation and avant-garde animation by exploring the institutional changes in Shanghai Animation Film Studio and the rise of independent animation in the new century. It is found that reasonable policy support can provide resources and platforms for animation art innovation, while excessive control or utilitarianism may hinder the development of animation media. Finally, this paper calls for balancing industrial development and artistic innovation in the formulation of cultural policies, creating a more open and diversified institutional environment, and promoting the prosperity and development of China animation.