Constructing a Theoretical System for the “Chinese School of New Animation”

Abstract Chinese animation has always emphasized practice over theory. Due to its lack of a corresponding theoretical system, Chinese animation’s creative and industrial practices have suffered great setbacks. The once famous “School of Chinese Animation” unexpectedly declined with the rise of the wider animation industry. At the same time, the emerging animation industry is now facing similar problems. Therefore, it is imperative to construct a theoretical system for the “Chinese School of New Animation”. To achieve this goal, the school should be studied from the perspective of social context, realistic demands, historical experience, and its main content. Its theoretical construction should emphasize three primary aspects: artistic ontology, industrial mechanisms, and cultural diffusion.