ToonSeum Continues Toon Series in China

The ToonSeum continues its Toon in series with a screening of selected works by seminal Chinese animator Te Wei. These rare classics, completed in the late 1950's and 60's, showcase the painstaking art of watercolor animation.

Te Wei's beatific shorts are serene portraits of nature and motion. A popular artist in China throughout the 1960's, Te Wei became a victim of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution and was no longer able to continue producing films. Much of his work fell into public domain and was introduced to American audiences in the old cartoon calvacade variety shows of the 1970's and 80's. Te Wei died in February at the age of 95.

"Te Wei's animation is, in every sense of the phrase, a painting come to life,” said ToonSeum Manager John Mattie. "The meditative pacing and fluidity of the work is simply breathtaking. As a child, these cartoons were so mysterious, so different from anything else I'd seen. Viewing them again as an adult has been just as revelatory."

Included in the screening will be "Where Is Mama" and "The Cowboy's Flute." This screening is appropriate for all ages. Guests will also be able to view the current exhibit "The Art of AKIRA," a celebration of Japanese cel animation.