Animator Li Wenyu: Reimagining an ancient legend of the Qiang with ink-wash animation

"I'm always fascinated by the language of animation," said Li Wenyu, an instructor at Sichuan University's College of Arts and the director of the Berlinale-selected animated film "A Story About Fire (Ran Bi Wa)."

Li found his way into animation through sheer passion. During his postgraduate studies at Peking University, he was mentored by Professor Ma Kexuan, a master of traditional ink-wash animation from the renowned Shanghai Animation Film Studio. This tutelage instilled in him a deep appreciation for classical Chinese aesthetics.

His six-year passion project, "A Story About Fire," is a masterpiece of both technique and narrative. 

The film breathes life through traditional hand-drawn ink-wash, celebrating the uncontrolled bloom of pigment on Xuan paper to mirror the flow of life and time. Li boldly blends this approach with paper cutouts, stop-motion and other styles. 

"I want to reveal the vast possibilities of animation to the audience," he stated. Through this visual symphony, Li interweaves an ancient Qiang ethnic legend with intimate themes of growth and companionship, crafting a timeless yet contemporary animated fable.

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PAGE X: Crafting animation from the heart of life

(All photos taken by CGTN's Zhao Ying)