TAIWAN: Animated film about Chinese goddess Mazu premieres in Taiwan

Record ID: 788412

  • Title: TAIWAN: Animated film about Chinese goddess Mazu premieres in Taiwan
  • Date: 1st August 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS (FILE) (CHINESE CARTOON PRODUCTION) FILM CLIP
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Reuters ID: LVABXE4MH0D1QYG25DAI7CMA54Y
  • Story Text: More than 20 goddess statues were walked down the red carpet in a busy downtown district of Taipei for the premiere of Taiwan's latest animation film, "Mazu", which depicts the legend of a sea goddess who is worshipped everywhere around the island.
    The parade was led by Chinese traditional marching bands and saw temple presidents deliver the statues of Mazu to their designated seats in the movie theatre.
    A VIP section of the theatre was reserved for the goddess statues, who were given offerings of flowers, fruit and even popcorn.
    The statues have been loaned from every major temple on the island, even as far away as the southern city of Kaohsiung.
    According to legend, the girl Mazu waited at the harbour for her fishermen brother and father to return home, holding a lantern which directed fishing boats and saved many lives.
    Chief producer, Joe Teng, hopes that her story of sacrifice and courage will send a positive social message and that the Chinese heroine will get international exposure.
    "What most represents Taiwan? Someone answered, Mazu. Then everybody agreed, so we started to conceptualize this film," he said at the Chinese Cartoon Production office.
    The animated film cost 2.3 million dollars and took three years to make. It features a combination of 2- and 3-D visual elements.
    "From character design to settings, everything was digitalized. It is a 2D plus 3D animation, but it is not only a change of format, but also shortened production time, and heightened quality," said Teng.
    He said his production company had developed a digital scripting process to overcome the disadvantages of paper sketches, traditionally used in Taiwanese animation. This also helped artists to communicate better between different drafts.
    Children came to watch the film of a goddess whose temples they frequently visit.
    "We've come to watch the movie in Taipei because of Mazu's story," said 11-year-old Cheng Chan-huan.
    People delivered prayers to the statues of Mazu, whose birthday is one of the biggest religious celebrations in Taiwan.
    "I hope Mazu blesses father and mother so they earn lots of money, and all the children grow up in peace," said Cheng Yi-ming.
    Chinese Cartoon Production was established in 1971. Thirty-six years of experience later, it is Taiwan's oldest animation company.
    The movie was first released on July 27 in major cities in China.
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