China’s sci-fi industry is experiencing rapid growth, with total revenue reaching 82.96 billion yuan in 2021, up 50.5% YoY. Sci-fi games contributed the most to the industry with a revenue of 67 billion yuan, while the sci-fi film and TV industry saw significant growth, with total revenue hitting 7.19 billion yuan. The introduction of sci-fi-related policies and awards and the launch of new films and videos have bolstered confidence in the development of China’s sci-fi industry. However, there is still a shortage of skilled professionals in the sector. To tackle this, industry insiders suggest introducing sci-fi education in primary and middle schools where possible and setting up a communication platform for sci-fi creators and professionals in the fields of science and technology. Bringing imaginative stories to life requires a well-established film industry, not just in terms of equipment and technology, but also in terms of process and standards. Filmmaker Guo Fan established a film industrialization lab in partnership with Beijing Film Academy aimed at standardizing management and operational processes across the film industry.
China’s Booming Sci-Fi Industry: A Glimpse into Chinese Imagination and Culture
China’s sci-fi industry has been gaining attention recently, thanks to blockbuster movies like “The Wandering Earth II” and TV dramas like “Three-Body.” These productions feature Chinese themes and showcase the country’s unique imagination and culture. As a result, China’s sci-fi industry has been instilled with confidence and vigor, contributing to its growth.
“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, according to box office tracker Maoyan. As of March 10, it has also 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 stated that China’s rapid development and modernization process have provided fertile ground for the growth and evolution of Chinese science fiction. Meanwhile, Guo explained that people are more receptive to the futuristic scenes depicted in sci-fi movies due to news of Chinese astronauts engaging in extravehicular activities and China’s lunar probes landing on the moon.
Moreover, economic development has provided a sizeable cultural consumption market for sci-fi creation. In recent years, China has released various documents on promoting sci-fi movies. A document jointly issued in 2020 by the China Association for Science and Technology and the China Film Administration emphasized the significance of sci-fi movies as a catalyst for the high-quality development of Chinese films.
To further boost the development of its sci-fi industry, several major Chinese cities, including Chengdu in Sichuan Province, have taken significant steps. The city is the cradle of “Science Fiction World,” China’s most popular sci-fi periodical. In addition to this, 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. It shows that the Chinese sci-fi industry has enormous potential for further development, with its unique themes, imagination, and culture.
China’s Sci-Fi Industry Revenue Rises by 50.5% in 2021
According to a recent report, China’s sci-fi industry has witnessed steady growth with its total revenue reaching 82.96 billion yuan in 2021, a 50.5% YoY increase. Sci-fi games made the most significant contribution to the industry, generating 67 billion yuan, up 39.6% YoY. The sci-fi film and TV industry also saw significant growth, with total revenue hitting 7.19 billion yuan, up 171.4% YoY.
Professor Wu Yan from Southern University of Science and Technology highlighted that the introduction of sci-fi-related policies and awards and the launch of new films and videos have bolstered confidence in the development of China’s sci-fi industry. However, industry insiders acknowledge that more work is needed to industrialize the sector and cultivate talent to support its continued growth.
To address this, filmmaker Guo Fan established a film industrialization lab in partnership with Beijing Film Academy aimed at standardizing management and operational processes across the film industry. This move ensures the development of a process capable of managing high-quality production of thousands of shots.
Director of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, Wang Ting, suggested that imaginative education could be used as a strong support to cultivate talent in the field of innovation as China accelerates its efforts to become a scientific and technological powerhouse. However, there is still a shortage of skilled professionals in the sci-fi industry. To tackle this, industry insiders suggest introducing sci-fi education in primary and middle schools where possible and setting up a communication platform for sci-fi creators and professionals in the fields of science and technology.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
