The World of Movies: Princess Iron Fan
Written by Rachael Crawley
The World of Movies is a series that explores global cinema, drawing on films from many countries, industries and eras. This week, we travel through early animation in China.
Princess Iron Fan.
May contain spoilers.
Some countries have made few (or no) films, while others have made movies that are difficult to find. Having had a robust national cinema for much of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, China does not have this issue. The question is the opposite, rather – “How can I possibly choose?”
In the end, my list is dominated by recent decades and I like acknowledging milestones. Princess Iron Fan (Wan Guchan and Wan Laiming, 1941) seemed to fit the bill nicely. The first animated feature in China, and potentially all of Asia, it has had a lasting influence on animation across China and Japan. The film is based on the epic Journey to the West, and was made in the midst of wartime – an incredible feat by any measure. (Helpfully for those who don’t know the story, the film provides a brief summary at the beginning.)
Three pilgrims arrive in a village which is plagued by drought and in danger of fire. Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, tries to defeat the fire, but is unsuccessful. The group agrees to go to Princess Iron Fan, whose fan holds the power to save the village. She refuses to let them borrow the fan. Several further attempts prove fruitless. Sun Wukong engages the princess in an enormous battle, which creates chaos around the area. With a clever plan, he is able to defeat her and win the fan, or so he thinks. Matters are additionally complicated when they aggravate the nearby Bull Demon King. Through a combination of subterfuge and strength, the travelling companions are able to defeat their enemies, win the fan, and clear out the fires to continue their journey.
Princess Iron Fan.
This story is perfect for an animated portrayal – with many supernatural elements and characters portrayed as anthropomorphic animals, it is hard to imagine a live-action film from 1941 working quite so well. It also leaves room to experiment with motion and characterization, with fewer constraints. The animation can occasionally be a bit jerky, rather like cartoons of the early 1930s, but the characters are well-designed (with the exception of a few Uncanny Valley humans) and the backgrounds are simply gorgeous. I particularly enjoyed the fire and other light effects, all the more impressive in black-and-white. Much of the film’s appeal is simply sitting back and watching what the animators can do.
While the story is large in scale, the filmmakers have not neglected the details. The cast has some fun banter, and their personalities are well-defined enough to make each stand out. The action sequences are appropriately dramatic and very inventive, with some great animated gags thrown in. There are even musical numbers, with lyrics on screen suggesting that the audience was meant to sing along. The copy I saw, which was digital, appears to be from a fairly worn print, but the damage does not interfere with the viewing experience.
Princess Iron Fan was a huge hit in China, and resonated particularly in wartime, with a story about standing up to a powerful enemy. Later, it became a hit across eastern Asia, and its effects can be seen in animation to this day. For fans of animated movies, this landmark early work is a must-see.
Rachael Crawley holds a Master's Degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, and has worked with film in Canada and in Europe. She adores language and cinema, and how these subjects interact with each other.