Creating magic on screen

[Photo provided to China Daily]

While most of the present-day, big-budget animation movies are made using computers, stop-motion is a somewhat old-school option.

Among the 57 animation films released in the Chinese mainland in 2015, only the British feature Shaun the Sheep Movie is a stop-motion flick.

But Osborne is apparently the kind of filmmaker who insists on following his heart, regardless of whether it is the latest trend.

"A film is an attempt to forge a relationship with somebody and is a sort of conversation. The weakest part of a film is the craft and skill, and the strongest section is the story and the meaning," he says.

Osborne also says hard work is the best way for an animator to polish his skills, and he suggests that Chinese animators who have struggled for a long time with criticism over the quality of their work should do more than just improve visual effects.

"Skills won't help you create a good story. So if you have a story now, use whatever skills you have. Use the story as a way to develop your skills."

Interestingly, he says despite commercial success and festival-circuit honors, he is always discovering mistakes in his films.