Editor's Note, 

The 4th Xiamen International Cartoon and Animation Festival (XICAF) aims to produce the No 1 cartoon competition in China. It has set up CYBER SOUSA REWARDS, and offers relevant activities as a platform for showcasing and communicating with insiders and cartoon lovers.

"Xiamen is one of China's most attractive cities. Situated at the coast of the Fujian Strait this wonderful city with its palm trees, vast beaches and historical architecture attracts many foreigners". Katrin - Laowai in Xiamen

Editor: Zhao Chunzhe

Brief Introduction of XICAF

With three years experience, XICAF has doubled its scale and increased the number of exhibitors by 30% compared to last year.

Some of the activities on offer at XICAF this year include a CYBER SOUSA CARTOON competition，the Xiamen cartoon forum，the Cartoon Week show，a technique exhibition，a cosplay showcase，an e-sports　competition，a BOXIN CUP cartoon competition，the cartoon passion event and new media activities．

A highlight of XICAF will be the CYBER SOUSA CARTOON COMPETITION, which has collected 2520 representative pieces of works, including 217 from over 30 different countries and regions. The number of pieces in the competition this year has shot up by 1053 when compared to last year. Nine awards will be unveiled at the CYBER SOUSA Awards Ceremony on the evening of November 6th.

Spotlights

 - XICAF is supported by software service companies MIIT and Fujian IT Administrative Office

 - XICAF hosts exhibits from international enterprises such as SONY. 

 - XICAF highlights the purpose of serving the cartoon and animation industry, introducing mobile cartoon works, a parent-child cartoon creation event, as well as enterprise diagnosis services.

 Cosplay comes out in Xiamen

Festival brings cosplay to China 

Executive Deputy Mayor of Xiamen, Ding Guoyan stated that it was of importance to brand Xiamen’s cartoon and animation industry and boost the culture. The industry can only be pushed forward by enhancing publicity and forming powerful social influence.

CYBER SOUSA COMPETITION Reviewer Yao Feila said there were few pieces of excellent representative works of Chinese origin, which is an inseparable key point of a successful market. The one reason that we do not have representative works was because of the long development of cartoon culture in America, Japan and France. So it is a must to find a unique development route. The other reason was that China’s cartoon illustrators are too young and have not yet matured professionally, which requires professional training for around ten years.

Carsten Keller, computer graphic(CG) technique expert from MPC (MPC: a top British digital photo and video effects company) concluded that in one piece works, the creation of the story and players were of most importance, while the digital effect was just technique and approach, although it could produce unbelievable scenes.

ASIFA-Hollywood president Antran Manoogian remarked that China produces many cartoon and animation works every year. Although there is quite a lot of imitation, it is not a bad thing. The key is to build China’s own characteristic and style. The nation has boosted its own talents and production platforms and is now able to create works because some Dreamworks and Disney pre-production work is done by companies from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. He hopes China will produce more original works with its own flavor.

Shanghai Leisure Culture founder Lai Youxian: ‘I liked cartoons very much during my childhood, especially Dr.Slump which made me laugh when watching it. So it aroused in me the question why do people laugh every time? Since I had a talent for making people laugh, I stepped into cartoon industry. I redrafted TIBETAN MASTIFF, a popular novel with picturesque, descriptions, into a cartoon book, hoping it could become China’s ‘The Lion King’.