China’s sci-fi industry is experiencing a surge in popularity, with recent productions featuring Chinese themes and showcasing the country’s unique imagination and culture. “The Wandering Earth II” and “Three-Body” TV drama are recent blockbusters that have gained considerable attention online. According to a report analyzing the industry’s four primary business sectors, the industry’s total revenue was 82.96 billion yuan in 2021, up 50.5 percent year on year, with sci-fi games making the maximum contribution. However, there is still significant work to be done to further industrialize the sci-fi sector and cultivate talent to support its continued development. To address this issue, industry insiders suggest introducing sci-fi education in primary and middle schools and creating a communication platform for sci-fi creators and professionals in science and technology fields. The sci-fi industry’s continued growth will require a well-established film industry with standardized management and operational processes, according to Guo Fan, director of “The Wandering Earth II.”
China’s Thriving Sci-Fi Industry: Potential for Further Development
China’s sci-fi industry is on the rise, with recent blockbuster hits like “The Wandering Earth II” and “Three-Body” TV drama gaining considerable attention online. These productions feature Chinese themes, showcasing the country’s unique imagination and culture, contributing to the growth of China’s sci-fi industry by instilling confidence and vigor.
“The Wandering Earth II,” directed by Guo Fan and starring Andy Lau and Li Xuejian, is a prequel to the 2019 sci-fi blockbuster “The Wandering Earth.” The movie tells the story of humanity building enormous engines to propel Earth to a new solar system as the sun rapidly burns out. Since its release on January 22, the movie has earned over 4 billion yuan (US$579 million) at the box office, and has been released in 23 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Renowned Chinese sci-fi writer and Hugo Award winner, Liu Cixin, believes that China’s rapid development and modernization process have provided fertile ground for the growth and evolution of Chinese science fiction. Guo Fan adds that people’s exposure to news of Chinese astronauts engaging in extravehicular activities and China’s lunar probes landing on the moon has made them more receptive to the futuristic scenes depicted in sci-fi movies.
China has also released various documents promoting sci-fi movies, emphasizing their significance as a catalyst for the high-quality development of Chinese films. Several major Chinese cities, including Chengdu in Sichuan Province, have taken significant steps to boost the development of their sci-fi industries. Chengdu is also the cradle of “Science Fiction World,” China’s most popular sci-fi periodical. In addition, the city has been selected to host the 81st World Science Fiction Convention in 2023, a testament to its growing reputation as a hub of sci-fi culture and creativity.
The 2022 China sci-fi industry report, jointly compiled by the Beijing-based China Science Fiction Research Center and the Research Center for Science and Human Imagination under the Southern University of Science and Technology in south China’s Guangdong Province, was launched in February this year. The report highlights the significant role that scientific and technological progress and economic development have played in providing a realistic basis for sci-fi literature and art, as well as a sizeable cultural consumption market for sci-fi creation.
In conclusion, China’s sci-fi industry is experiencing a surge in popularity, with Chinese themes and culture at the forefront of production. The country’s rapid development and modernization process, along with its scientific and technological progress, have laid the foundation for further growth and evolution in the industry. With significant investments and support from major cities and institutions, the future looks bright for China’s sci-fi industry.
China’s Sci-Fi Industry Grows at Steady Pace, Generating New Opportunities
The sci-fi industry in China has seen significant growth, according to a report analyzing its four primary business sectors. In 2021, the industry’s total revenue was 82.96 billion yuan, up 50.5 percent year on year, with sci-fi games making the maximum contribution with a revenue of 67 billion yuan, up 39.6 percent year on year. The sci-fi film and TV industry also saw substantial growth, with total revenue hitting 7.19 billion yuan, increasing 171.4 percent year on year.
Professor Wu Yan from Southern University of Science and Technology noted that new policies and awards, along with the launch of many new films and videos, have bolstered confidence in the industry. However, there is still significant work to be done in terms of further industrializing the sector and cultivating talent to support its continued development.
Guo Fan, director of “The Wandering Earth II,” emphasized the need for a well-established film industry with standardized management and operational processes. Following the filming of “The Wandering Earth,” Guo’s studio and the Beijing Film Academy established a film industrialization lab aimed at promoting such standards across the industry.
Director of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, Wang Ting, suggests that imaginative education could help cultivate talent in the field of innovation, but there remains a shortage of skilled professionals in the sci-fi industry. To address this issue, industry insiders suggest introducing sci-fi education in primary and middle schools and creating a communication platform for sci-fi creators and professionals in science and technology fields.
In conclusion, the sci-fi industry in China is generating new opportunities with steady growth across its various sectors. However, there is still much work to be done in terms of industrialization and talent cultivation to ensure continued success in the future.
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