Baby Tadpoles Look For Their Mother
China | 1961 | Animation , Children, Family | 15’

“Baby Tadpoles Look for Their Mother” is China’s first ink-wash animated film, produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio. It is adapted from the fairy tale of the same name by Fang Huizhen and Sheng Lude, drawing artistic inspiration from the fish and shrimp paintings of renowned artist Qi Baishi. The story follows a mother frog who lays her eggs and leaves. The eggs hatch into a group of tadpoles, who slowly grow tails. After an old shrimp describes their mother’s features, they set out to find her. Along the way, they mistake a goldfish, a crab, a turtle, and a catfish for their mother. In the end, the little tadpoles finally reunite with their true mother.

The Deer’s Bell
China | 1982 | Animation | 20’

“The Deer’s Bell” is an ink-wash animated film produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio, adapted from a beautiful legend passed down from the White Deer Grotto Academy. The film tells the touching story of a girl who rescues a young deer during a herb-gathering trip. From then on, the deer and the girl live together, forming a deep bond. Later, the deer reunites with its parents and leaves with them. Before parting, the girl gifts her beloved bell to the deer as a keepsake. With its subtle and restrained style, the film portrays the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, as well as the profound emotional connection that can develop between humans and animals.

Buffalo Boy and the Flute
China | 1963 | Animation,Short,Music | 20’

“Buffalo Boy and the Flute” is an ink-wash animated film produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio .The film tells the story of a young cowherd searching for his buffalo, using the boy’s journey as the main narrative and the sound of his flute as a subtle thread. With no dialogue throughout, the story unfolds as follows: A little cowherd falls asleep while tending to his buffalo and dreams that it wanders away. During his search, he plays a bamboo flute he made himself, and the buffalo, drawn by the melody, returns to him. Upon waking, he guides his buffalo home with the same enchanting flute music.