21st China Int'l Cartoon, Animation Festival opens in Hangzhou

The 21st China International Cartoon and Animation Festival (CICAF) opened on Thursday in Hangzhou, a bustling animation hub in east China's Zhejiang Province, bringing a five-day celebration of animation, games, and crossover creativity.

At the event, fans can enjoy interactive performances and exhibitions showcasing both Chinese and international animation.

For instance, they can take photos with cosplayers, including characters from the popular Chinese video game "Black Myth: Wukong" and classic figures like Ne Zha, collect limited-edition products at booths, and even test their strength in a robot boxing match.

More than 300 leading enterprises are participating in the festival, displaying their new works and innovations. For example, one company has created a digital figure of Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, a renowned poet from China's Song Dynasty (960-1279). He served two terms in Hangzhou, leaving a wealth of meaningful poems and delectable allusions such as Dongpo Pork.

"We believe Su Dongpo, a famous poet who is deeply connected to Hangzhou, can be integrated into both culture and tourism. That's why we developed this digital figure. It's the second time he has participated in the festival. The version seen this year is even smarter than last year's one," said Shen Yuliang, general manager of Zhejiang Zhongnan Animation Co., Ltd.

In addition, China Media Group (CMG) demonstrated a collection of models used to produce stop-motion animation, one of the oldest forms of animation, at its exhibition booth.

These animations were created for major events such as the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Spring Festival Gala, and this year's cartoon festival.

"The filming and production process took around two months; for stop-motion pictures, it's not very long because this form naturally takes more time, but we believe it still has huge potential in modern times," said Jiang Tao, head of the Anime Filming Studio under CMG.

Apart from performances and exhibitions, forums are also held to boost the development of the animation and cartoon industry. One of the forums invited experts from schools, leading short video content platforms, and animation artists to discuss how to nurture young talents.

"What we choose to do is to open the gate of our schools and integrate industry with education. We introduced animation programs from leading firms like NetEase and Alibaba to inform our students about what the industry really wants," said Chen Lingguang, dean of the School of Animation and Digital Arts at Communication University of Zhejiang.

Hangzhou has been hosting the annual festival since 2005.

21st China Int'l Cartoon, Animation Festival opens in Hangzhou

21st China Int'l Cartoon, Animation Festival opens in Hangzhou

Fuel price hikes due to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict are placing significant cost pressures on livelihood industries in the Philippines and New Zealand, which are heavily dependent on imported energy, while also driving the growth of the new energy vehicle market.

In various gas stations across Manila, the Philippine capital, diesel prices have surged more than twice the levels seen at the end of February, with increases also noted in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices.

Businesses such as restaurants and vendors relying on LPG have expressed concerns over escalating costs, fearing they may soon be unable to cover their expenses.

"The cost of our goods has gone up. Our income has decreased as a result. The money we earn is barely enough to cover restocking, let alone pay our employees' wages," said Rey, a food vendor.

In Auckland, New Zealand, a senior executive at a local car dealership said the surge in fuel prices is prompting more consumers in the country to shift from conventional cars to new energy vehicles.

"(Fuel price hike) really has increased the sale of our electric vehicles, particularly battery electric vehicles. Consumers are now experiencing battery electric vehicles. They see their economic advantage. It's good for the market. It's also good for New Zealand in terms of sustainability," said Simon Rutherford, CEO of Auto Distributors New Zealand, a division of Armstrong Motor Group.

Fuel price hikes squeeze livelihoods in energy-importing Philippines, New Zealand