Pics from CICAF
sushipanda No Comments »Two days ago I took the train from Shanghai to Hangzhou to participate in the 5th annual Chinese International Cartoon and Animation Fair (CICAF). There are dozens of animation festivals/exhibits in China every year, but CICAF is the biggest because it is sponsored by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), so it’s an official Communist Party event attended by tons of bureaucrats, television stations, and Chinese animation companies eager to prove that they’re actually accomplishing something.
Hangzhou is home to many animation companies, although it’s hardly the only major Chinese city in recent years to experience a boon of investment in said industry. The Chinese government has made no secret that they see animation as a major growth area, and not surprisingly provincial and municipal governments have attempted to lure investment through subsidies and tax breaks. As a result, there is an abundance of mediocre product created with limited markets. Yet companies continue to sprout up, fed and nurtured by a state and culture that knows little about innovation but much about grandiose displays of manufactured progress.
And thus we have the CICAF. I was skeptical of attending, as Republic does work that is very different than the 3D features, cartoon serials, and anime that represent themselves so well here. Still, because we are an American company, the organizers gave us a booth for free, as well as a full page ad in the guidebook. Since Hangzhou is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Shanghai (though it’s not that close when you’re lugging a huge 24 inch monitor, two laptops, and 50 DVD showreels with you), I decided to come out here to check it out. Below are some pictures:
As you can see, we didn’t quite bring our exhibitionist selves. I won’t even show you the other booths as it’s a little shameful how unprepared (or ambivalent) we were
This is what you see when you walk into the exhibition center: CCTV’s massive booth
The view looking out from the main entrance of the exhibition hall
I hand carried our heavy Dell 24 inch Ultrasharp monitor, which I promptly set up in my hotel room to test in case it got destroyed being wheeled around aggressive Chinese train riders
A view from the terrace of the exhibition center
Our neighbors were quite popular; they sold girl’s cosplay outfits and had two young Japanese girls manning the aisles
Surprise! A booth that sold nothing but China’s favorite mascot, the cao ni ma’s
Another shot of our cosplay neighbors
On day #2 I got downgraded to this ridiculously horrible, cheesy hotel next to the exhibition center
A picture from our table during the opening night banquet, when they were introducing all the government officials, including a Chinese military general. You know, because the PLA loves its anime
Chandelier hanging from the huge atrium we were sitting in
A picture with friends after we finished our dinner. The abalone was good
On day 2, the college freshman that helped me man my booth brought over a little cao ni ma for decoration. I think he felt sorry for me. Or embarrassed that he was stationed at such a stripped down, minimalist booth
Day 2 was open to the public, so there were even more kids waiting to buy sexed up doll costumes for cosplay from our neighbor
One of Republic’s proud founders and his booth
A view of the main exhibition hall
I’ve had three of these while sitting here. Today, it tasted better given the news of the day about Arlen Specter, as you can see on my laptop screen behind
The reviews are in, and my live tweeting of last night’s John Legend Shanghai concert was, as the 
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