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The 2024 summer season is already halfway over.

There were many new films with rich genres and gimmicks in the cinema, but looking through the list, it seemed that there was still one category missing.

Animation.

Especially in recent years, domestic animations, which have been growing in both volume and quality, have long been a regular at the top of the annual box office charts.

And among the contestants in this summer's schedule.

There is no doubt that Sir is most optimistic about her:

White Snake: A Floating Life

It was released on the first day of Chinese Valentine’s Day and won the first place in the box office that day.

It inherits the habit of the Light Chasing Animation series of quietly making big things happen, and it is also the third work of the Light Chasing White Snake IP after a lapse of three years.

There is no need to mention the achievements of the first two parts.

The 2019 "White Snake: Origin" rewrote the prequel to this classic legend, and won a box office of 460 million yuan with a brand new story. It also received a high reputation of 7.9 on Douban, which directly made this series a hit.

The 2021 "White Snake 2: Rise of the Green Snake" used the wasteland punk elements that were popular at the time. Not only did it change the protagonist, it also completely rewrote the story, boldly making a "sequel" to the classic.

The box office of 580 million also set a box office record for the Light Chasing animation series at the time.

But then:

Perhaps it was because the original story was too classic and deeply rooted in people's hearts, and it was too difficult to adapt it in a new way. It was not until the first exposed patch advertisement that the meeting on the Broken Bridge appeared, and the line at the end:

It is the sequel to "White Snake: Origin".

Only then can I be sure that Light Chaser has finally made up his mind to complete this series, allowing the White Snake to return and making the series complete.

Therefore, Sir also watched the preview as soon as possible.

For fans who liked "White Snake: Origin" five years ago, just go and watch it.

And for the general audience?

Let me put it this way,Whether for sentimental reasons or for novel ideas, "White Snake: Floating Life" is still the top domestic animation.

01

When the film crew invited Zhao Yazhi and Ye Tong to sing the ending song, "A Thousand Years of Waiting".

We will know.

Compared with the surprising innovation of the first two films, this one,Returning to everyone's childhood memories.

Yes, from the overall framework, it almost inherits the White Snake story we are familiar with:

They met on the Broken Bridge, Xiaoqing stole the official silver, the couple opened the Bao'antang medicine shop to save the world, the white snake appeared when they drank realgar wine on Dragon Boat Festival, the White Snake stole the Ganoderma Lucidum to save her husband's life, Fahai appeared and pressed him hard...

Even the shape of White Snake is trying to pay tribute:

It can be said that if you have forgotten the story of the Legend of the White Snake, this version of "White Snake: Floating Life" can evoke many childhood memories.

Especially, the beautiful parts about love:

But, this may also be the reason why it is more difficult to shoot.

The main story is too familiar, how can we make it new?

"White Snake: Floating Life" exerts efforts in at least two directions.

One isCultural atmosphere。

This is a small design that has always been in the series.

For example, remember in "White Snake 2: The Tribulation of the Green Snake", the key information that Xiaoqing used to identify Xiaobai in Shura City was:

Jingzhe.

But why is it Jingzhe? The Legend of the White Snake never explicitly states that the flooding of Jinshan occurred on this day.

Jingzhe, literally means the spring thunder in the sky awakens the hibernating insects. In the solar terms, it refers to the time when spring thunder sounds, everything revives and is full of vitality.

It corresponds to the identities of Xiaoqing and Xiaobai snakes, the child in Xiaobai's arms, and the season with petals flying all over the sky.

This usage is more straightforward in "White Snake: Floating Life", for example, traditional solar terms and festivals are used directly to mark the time when the main story takes place.

On the Lantern Festival, Xiaoqing, Xiaobai and Xu Xian met at the Broken Bridge.

During the Cold Food Festival, fireworks are prohibited and cold food is eaten.

On the Dragon Boat Festival, Xiaobai accidentally drank realgar wine and his true form was revealed.

Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoy the moon and lanterns.

Corresponding to this is the folk culture and urban life of the Song Dynasty, which are extensively presented in the film.

Especially the bustling atmosphere on the streets.

Every household eats Qingtuan during the Cold Food Festival.

Dragon boat races held locally during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Try your best to make the story present a simple life atmosphere outside the main plot.

And it is said.

Most of the designs of these scenes and characters come from "Along the River During the Qingming Festival".

The second direction of efforts isClues and Easter Eggs。

This is also the difference between "White Snake: Floating Life" and the traditional Legend of the White Snake.

for example,Pearl hairpin。

Unlike the original story where the pearl hairpin was merely an accessory for the meeting on the Broken Bridge, in the "White Snake" series, the pearl hairpin is a clue that runs through the entire story.

It is not only a token of love, but also a magic weapon. It is also a token of encounter that preserves the most precious memories, and it is not just for Xiaobai and Xu Xuan.

The maker of the pearl hairpin, Baoqingfangzhu, the little fox, also continues to play an important role in "White Snake: Floating Life", and his style is even more bizarre.

His appearance not only connects the brothels and theaters where the people of the Song Dynasty watched plays, but also serves as a witness to the long-lasting love between the protagonists.

In the end, even she felt a little bit sorry.

Of course, there is also the most direct easter egg.

Dudou, the little dog in "White Snake: Origin", was reincarnated as Xu Xian's brother-in-law, Li Gongfu, the chief constable of Lin'an City, in "White Snake: Floating Life".

Although he was reincarnated as a human, his temperament is still the same as the bellyband in the first film: kind, loyal, timid but not afraid of anything.

As soon as they met, Xiaoqing teased him in person.

When facing Xiaoqing (who had scared him in the first film), he almost went straight back to the defensive behavior of the puppy at the beginning.

This design greatly reduces the tension of the story.

But this is just a story design.

There is another improvement that is visible to the naked eye when watching in a large theater: the level of visual effects.

02

The White Snake series has always been extremely thorough in its visual effects presentation.

There was a scene in "White Snake: Origin" that amazed Sir.

In the temple, the national teacher instantly cast a spell to create countless laser beams to block the attacks of the green snake and the white snake.

The imagination and tribute of the moves are only one aspect.

What’s more important is to look carefully at the bullet time part between movement and stillness in order to present the breathing feeling of the action scenes.

The character's expressions and changes in facial details are quite mature.

The details can stand the test of time on the big screen and are definitely of the high standard of domestic animation.

In the subsequent "The Robbery", there is a scene where Xiaoqing fights Fahai in the Black Wind Cave.

The design of Chinese style watercolor painting is eye-catching.

But behind this "first light", as many as ninety-five versions were modified, and this one shot alone took the team three months.

In "White Snake: Floating Life", the effect is even more detailed.

For example, the character’s micro-expressions.

What makes White Snake so pitiful in the original story is the conflict between her painstaking efforts to hide her identity and the world's increasingly pressing prejudices.

Therefore, Xiaobai in "White Snake: Floating Life" is often depressed.

One manifestation is frowning.

But the emotions implied by a frown are very different.

For example, when watching a play in Baoqingfang, the little fox teased the word "pretend" in the lines of the script. Xiaobai felt a great sense of crisis, and his disgust was written directly on his face.

When her brother-in-law, who won the dragon boat race, toasted her with realgar wine at the celebratory banquet in the evening, she felt that she should accept it, but because she was uneasy about realgar, she just frowned slightly.

When Xiaobai saw Xu Xian playing the familiar tune in front of him, she felt grateful to Xu Xuan and had complicated feelings about his reincarnation, so she finally recognized the person in front of her.

The complexity of emotions is also written on his face, sighing and feeling.

Worry about the unknown future, regret for the lives of loved ones, disgust and resentment towards prejudice and interference.

It can be said that Xiaobai in "White Snake: Floating Life" has a complicated mood, and her frown is the external manifestation. Compared with real-life actors, animated characters need these details more to support the performance of the role.

In addition to this meticulousness, there are of course grand scenes.

"White Snake: Floating Life" continues the series' traditional style, and the large-scale action scenes are extremely gorgeous and splendid.

For example, in the final battle of "White Snake: Origin", the kite turned into a crane.

For example, in the opening scene of "White Snake 2: The Tribulation of Green Snake", the flooding of Jinshan Mountain and the breaking of Fahai's cassock.

This time, it is also a fight between Fahai and the enemy, but because it takes place in Hangzhou City, the scene presentation is relatively restrained.

For example, the scene where Fahai ambushed at home and set up a magic array to subdue Xiaobai.

The golden light of the lotus pattern is very oppressive.

But when the scene comes outside the city, the presentation of the picture returns to its original state and becomes even more free.

In the mountains and forests, the two snakes confronted Fahai head-on. Fahai also used his top-level move, using the Vajra Lion Roar to suppress them.

Sir strongly recommends that you go to the cinema to watch that scene on the big screen.

Just for the special effects, it is definitely worth the price of admission.

03

Perhaps many people have such a doubt:

Why did the first two parts of the "White Snake" trilogy strive to be innovative, while this final part returns to the story that everyone is familiar with?

Even if you look at the ending of the first part (the first meeting with Xu Xian) and the beginning of the second part (the flooding of Jinshan Mountain), you will find that compared to the ending, the third part is more like a completion.

So, is it just to give this series a complete story chain?

Sir thinks.

You can say "yes" or "no".

The reasons for saying “yes” are simple:

Here isThe necessity of retelling the classics。

If you look at the audience portrait of the "White Snake" series, you will find that most of those who are interested in this series are under the age of 24. They may come because of Chinese comics, or may have roughly heard of this story, but obviously, they are unlikely to have the patience to watch the 50-episode "Legend of the White Snake" like those born in the 80s and 90s.

Therefore, even if it is a supplement, the value of this story needs to be presented.

What is the value?

One word: equality.

The story of "White Snake" has a long history and was basically formed in the hands of Feng Menglong.

In 1834, "The Strange Story of Leifeng Pagoda" was translated into French, named "The Story of the White Snake" and introduced to the Western world. Although the content was slightly different, over the next 100 years, the story of the White Snake evolved and circulated in the Western world in dozens of versions in the hands of different diplomats, translators, sinologists, playwrights, and painters.

Not only literature, but also many other forms of presentation such as picture books, dramas, operas, film and television have been born.

Why?

The reason is that the idea of ​​breaking secular prejudice and pursuing free love is common all over the world. In particular, the story does not use right and wrong, good and evil as the basis for shaping barriers and prejudices, but rather uses identity differences, and also contains clear value criticism.

right.

The White Snake is popular among the public not only because it is a classic traditional story.

It is also because I am willing to believe that the truth, goodness, beauty, love and freedom in the White Snake story have the power to break through worldly prejudices.

This point is consistent throughout the White Snake trilogy.

The most powerful character in the movie is undoubtedly Fahai. As the abbot of Jinshan Temple, he has hundreds of disciples and is also well versed in Buddhism and has great skills.

But in fact, Fahai’s attitude may not be what the Buddha originally meant.

Pay attention to a detail. In "White Snake: Origin", when Xiaobai and Xu Xuan were together, the director set the scene in a Buddhist temple and even gave a special shot to that scene.

Buddha statue.

Xiaoqing even lay in the arms of the Buddha statue in a manner that was almost blasphemous.

But the Buddha statue just looked at them and did not take it as an offense.

The same design appeared again in "White Snake: Floating Life". In the last scene of the night play directed by Bao Qingfang Xiaohuli, a giant Buddha also rose up.

The Buddha's statue is gazing at the performance of "Romance of the West Chamber" in the pavilion.

I don't take it as an offense either.

Compared with Fahai's almost paranoid malice towards monsters, the attitude of the Buddha is the director's true intention.

Equal love does not distinguish between humans and demons.

Hence the ending of the movie, where the Red Dust Man descends from the sky to stop Fahai and save Xu Xian and White Snake.

But is it just “complementation”?

No.

When you go back and watch the trilogy again, many people will say that this story is a modern interpretation of the White Snake story.

Xiaoqing and Xiaobai.

In the first two parts, the two of them joined hands to resist, experienced the hardships in the world, and finally achieved mutual fulfillment in the Shura Field.

This kind of emotional bond seems to be more in line with the preferences of contemporary audiences. Love is no longer a goal, but the practice itself. Only by experiencing these hardships and practices can everyone become a better self.

Even in the last scene of "White Snake: Floating Life", Xiaoqing catches up with Xiaobai and the two decide to live and die together.

Compared to the grand and tragic event of the flooding of Jinshan Mountain.

Such a picture.

It seems more like we are bidding farewell to Xiaobai and Xiaoqing reluctantly.

With sincere wishes.

And this.

"White Snake" is also an opportunity to adapt this kind of traditional Chinese story.Be bold。

Why?

Such an adaptation will certainly not be recognized by everyone. Even those who like innovation and those who like conservatism may find some things they are dissatisfied with.

Yes, adaptations can bring surprises, but they can also cause complaints.

So we need "White Snake: Floating Life":

By paying tribute to the classics, we return to the most traditional storyline.

Recreate the love story between White Snake and Xu Xian, which has touched countless people for thousands of years, and complete the entire series.

This is the creator's tribute to "White Snake" through the trilogy.

There is not only a new version, but also the Old Testament.

Fortunately, this sincerity was seen and won the general tolerance and understanding of the audience.

So this is how the "White Snake" series came into being.

There is also the highly acclaimed "30,000 Miles from Chang'an".

What's more.

With this, there is the possibility of exploring more subjects and trying more methods.

We can even say that.

It is precisely because of the tolerance of Chinese audiences in the past few years that domestic animation has now had the possibility to take off in quality and reputation.

Environment and hard work are both indispensable.

now.

The stories of Xiaoqing and Xiaobai, and Xiaobai and Xu Xian may have come to an end.

But Sir hopes.

The efforts of Chinese comics creators to take one step forward will not stop halfway.

The future is still long.

As long as we still hold out hope for Chinese animation to reach the pinnacle.

That light.

You should just keep chasing it, don't destroy it.

The pictures in this article are from the Internet

Editorial Assistant: Gilmore No Gyro