China’s sci-fi industry is thriving, with significant growth and potential for further development. The 2022 China sci-fi industry report revealed that the industry’s total revenue in 2021 was 82.96 billion yuan, up 50.5 percent year on year. The sci-fi game sector contributed the most to the revenue, with 67 billion yuan, followed by the sci-fi film and TV industry with 7.19 billion yuan. Several sci-fi-related policies and awards have been implemented, and many new films and videos have been launched, generating new opportunities and bolstering confidence in the development of China’s sci-fi industry. However, there is still significant work to be done to further industrialize the sci-fi sector and cultivate talent to support its continued development. The shortage of skilled professionals in the field can be addressed by introducing sci-fi education in primary and middle schools and setting up a communication platform for sci-fi creators and people who work in the fields of science and technology. With continued investment and innovation, China’s sci-fi industry is expected to flourish and make a significant contribution to the country’s cultural and economic development.
China’s Sci-Fi Industry Flourishing with Domestic Themes and Unique Culture
China’s sci-fi industry is gaining momentum and showing potential for further development, with the recent success of “The Wandering Earth II” and “Three-Body” TV drama. These productions feature Chinese themes and showcase the country’s unique imagination and culture, contributing to the growth of China’s sci-fi industry by instilling confidence and vigor.
Directed by Guo Fan and starring Andy Lau and Li Xuejian, “The Wandering Earth II” is a prequel to the 2019 sci-fi blockbuster “The Wandering Earth.” The film depicts humanity’s quest to build enormous engines to propel Earth to a new solar system as the sun rapidly burns out. Since its release on Jan. 22, 2023, the movie has earned over 4 billion yuan (about 579 million U.S. dollars) at the box office, according to box office tracker Maoyan. Moreover, the movie 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, said that China’s rapid development and modernization process have provided fertile ground for the growth and evolution of Chinese science fiction. The exposure to news of Chinese astronauts engaging in extravehicular activities and China’s lunar probes landing on the moon has made people more receptive to the futuristic scenes depicted in sci-fi movies.
Director Guo explained that scientific and technological progress has provided a realistic basis for sci-fi literature and art, while 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.
Several major Chinese cities, including Chengdu in Sichuan Province, have taken significant steps to boost the development of their sci-fi industries. The city is the cradle of “Science Fiction World,” China’s most popular sci-fi periodical, and 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.
China’s sci-fi industry is rapidly developing and showing great promise with its unique and imaginative themes that incorporate the country’s rich culture. With increasing support from the government and a growing market for sci-fi movies, the industry is expected to continue flourishing in the years to come.
China’s Sci-Fi Industry Reports Robust Growth in 2021
The 2022 China sci-fi industry report, jointly compiled by the China Science Fiction Research Center and the Research Center for Science and Human Imagination under the Southern University of Science and Technology in Guangdong Province, was launched in February 2022. The report analyzed the four primary business sectors of China’s sci-fi industry and revealed that in 2021, the industry’s total revenue was 82.96 billion yuan, up 50.5 percent year on year, maintaining steady growth.
Sci-fi games contributed the most to the industry’s revenue in 2021, generating 67 billion yuan, up 39.6 percent year on year. The sci-fi film and TV industry also experienced significant growth, with total revenue reaching 7.19 billion yuan, increasing 171.4 percent year on year, according to the report.
The report also highlighted that several sci-fi-related policies and awards have been introduced and implemented, and many new films and videos have been launched, generating new opportunities and bolstering confidence in the development of China’s sci-fi industry. Despite the industry’s growth, there is still significant work to be done to further industrialize the sci-fi sector and cultivate talent to support its continued development.
Industry insiders acknowledge that bringing imaginative stories to life requires a well-established film industry, not just in terms of equipment and technology, but also in terms of the process and standards. Following the filming of “The Wandering Earth,” Guo Fan’s studio and the Beijing Film Academy joined forces to establish a film industrialization lab aimed at promoting the adoption of standardized management and operational processes across the film industry.
Wang Ting, director of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, said that as China accelerates its efforts to become a scientific and technological powerhouse, it is necessary to use imaginative education as a strong support to cultivate talent in the field of innovation. However, there is still a shortage of skilled professionals in this field.
To address this issue, 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 people who work in the fields of science and technology.
China’s sci-fi industry has enormous potential for further growth and development, fueled by increasing support from the government and a growing market for sci-fi movies and games. With continued investment and innovation, China’s sci-fi industry is expected to flourish and make a significant contribution to the country’s cultural and economic development.
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