Shared Visual Language Sparks Cross-Border Creative Synergy
Renowned Japanese animator Shuhei Morita, celebrated for his Oscar-nominated work Possessions and direction of Tokyo Ghoul, has identified a unique cultural bridge between Chinese and Japanese animation industries: the enduring power of 2D aesthetics rooted in traditional art forms.
In an exclusive interview with CGTN, Morita emphasized how the symbolic flatness of Chinese ink-wash paintings and Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints forms a distinct Eastern visual language. "This isn't about technological competition with 3D animation," he noted, "but rather preserving a cultural signature that both nations have perfected over centuries."
The director's analysis comes as streaming platforms report surging global demand for Asian animation, with cross-border co-productions increasing by 38% since 2020 according to industry analysts. Morita suggested that deeper collaboration could help both countries' studios maintain artistic identity while scaling production.
Cultural historians observe that this aesthetic alignment reflects centuries of artistic exchange across the East China Sea. Contemporary animators are now reinterpreting these traditions through modern storytelling techniques, creating what Morita calls "a new visual esperanto for Asian narratives."
