BEIJING, Nov. 24 -- TV sitcom "My Own Swordsman" swept across China in 2006, winning a solid fan base for its hilarious script and screwball style. Recently the popular series has been adapted into an animated version, which won big at the 4th Beijing International Student Animation Festival.

Recently the popular series has been adapted into an animated version, which won big at the 4th Beijing International Student Animation Festival.(Photo: english.cctv.com) Photo Gallery>>>

    The animated version is still at the helm of Ning Caishen, who directed the TV series. The cartoon stays faithful to the original, retaining major cast members including Guo Furong, Bai Zhantang, and Tong Xiangyu. Thanks to some hard-working graphic designers, these fictional figures bear an excellent likeness to their real-life performers, such as actresses Yao Chen and Yan Ni. Even their facial expressions are the same.

    Qi Bojun, Director of Animation "My Own Swordsman", said, What we are pursuing is not merely the same looks and gestures of the original actors. We're trying to make the animation characters more adorable, more cartoon-like."

    Apart from the hilarious catchphrase in the original sitcom, there are also new elements incorporated into the animation version, such as pets.

    Qi Bojun said, "For example Tong Xiangyu has a pet cat, and Guo Furong and Bai Zhantang raise a parrot in their inn. These lovely animals help add more laughs to the already fun-packed show."

    The success of the original TV sitcom "My Own Swordsman" has triggered a boom for its merchandising of side products. The eponymous Internet game mushroomed in 2006, drawing as many as half a million players on-line at the same time. And apart from the animated version, there are also publications, movies, and dramas based on the same hilarious story.

    The same thing happened with the animated feature "The Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf". The huge success of the cartoon picture cultivated a considerably large market for its side products to grow, such as cartoon strips and toys. Sales for the Goat and Wolf publications have reached over 100-million yuan.

    Recently the State Council, China's cabinet, has launched a program supporting and promoting the country's cultural industry, bringing the development of relative fields to a new high. Domestic enterprises and organizations are joining hands with their overseas counterparts to explore a better future for China's cultural industry.

    (Source: CCTV.com)