The 17th China International Comics Festival (CICF) kicked off on Wednesday in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, attracting hundreds of ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) IPs, more than 1,000 cosplayers, and over 10,000 animation enthusiasts. 🎉🎨
During the opening ceremony, winners of the 21st China Animation & Comic Competition (CACC) Golden Dragon Award were announced. A total of 51 awards were presented, with the most highly anticipated prizes in both comics and animation going to works from Guangdong.
The Best Story Comic Award was given to Chu Wu (The Crow), a thrilling adventure about a food delivery worker who embarks on a journey into another world. In animation, the Best Animated Feature Film Award went to Luo Fanchen (Into the Mortal World), a fantasy tale focusing on a descendant of China's classic mythological figures – the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. 🐦✨
Japanese artist Fujimoto Tatsuki also took home the Overseas Animation & Comic Award for his work Goodbye, Eri. This year's Golden Dragon Award competition saw a record-breaking 800 overseas submissions, showcasing international talent and creativity. 🌏🏆
Encouraging local artists to showcase the beauty of Chinese stories, the committee introduced the Best Splendid China Special Award for the first time this year. Nominees highlighted Chinese cultural heritage through art pieces featuring lion dances and the Silk Road. 🦁🛤️
Since its inception in 2004, the CACC Golden Dragon Award has been the official competition of the CICF, often referred to as the \"Chinese Academy Award for animation and comics.\" 🏅
The total output value of China's animation industry has skyrocketed, rising from 88.2 billion yuan (about $12.6 billion) in 2013 to 221.2 billion yuan (about $31.5 billion) in 2020, according to Xinhua. 📈💰
As the festival continues, fans are eagerly anticipating more exciting showcases and announcements! 🌟
