Abstract

    Animation, as a special kind of film, becomes popular in the world with various cartoon images and imagination. It is prosperously developed into a kind of animation culture. However, due to the culture diversities in each country, different cultures have different animations. This paper aims to analyze the differences between American and Chinese cartoon industry from the perspectives of the contents and materials selection, industry scale, target audience and aims. Then around education style and film rating system, the author analyzes the reasons for the differences. At the end of this paper, it is suggested that Chinese animation should take a leaf out of American animation on many aspects.
 
Key words：American animation, Chinese animation, cultural difference

摘要

动画片作为一个独特的影片种类, 以其卡通的影像元素、丰富的想像空间,在全世界备受欢迎并作为一种文化产业蓬勃发展。然而因各国的文化差异，使得各国的动画片温化也存在着巨大差异。本文旨在对比分析占有统治地位的美国动画片和有待发展和创新的中国动画片的差异。本文从两国动画产业的规模，动画片的观众群，动画片的内容和取材以及影片目的四个方面进行分析对比，找出并分析产生这些差异的主要原因——电影分级制度的缺失、不同的教育方式，通过认识中国动画产业存在的不足和借鉴美国动画产业的成功因素，为中国动画产业的发展提供了一些可行的建议。对于促进和加快中国动画产业的良好发展有着现实意义。

关键词：美国动画片;中国动画片;文化差异

1 Introduction
   Animation, according to wikipedia, is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and it can be created and demonstrated in several ways. The most common method of presenting animation is as a motion picture or video program, although there are other methods. “‘Animation’ is derived from the Latin ‘anima’, the ‘animating principle’, the vital force inside every living creature. It is often used as a translation for the Greek word psyche, and related to the Christian concept of soul. ‘Animation’ would be the technique of giving ‘soul’ to inanimate objects, drawings, etc”. Jin reports that the history of American animation can be traced to 1907. It can be divided into five periods: the early pioneer period is from 1907 to 1937; the initial development period is from 1938 to 1949; the developing period is from 1950 to 1966; the slack time is from 1967 to 1988 and the golden age is from 1989 to now. Enlightened by American animation, Chinese animation started its history. In the early 20th century, the film Shuzhendong Chinese Typewriter by brothers Wan in 1922 was regarded as the earliest Chinese animation.