Chinese animation fans who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s are mourning the passing of national animation trailblazer Ma Kexuan, the artist and director who was the driving force behind popular characters like the Monkey King, the Three Monks and the Baby Tadpoles. CNTV reports that Ma Kexuan died Monday morning in Shanghai at the age of 76.
Ma worked for China’s largest toon house, Shanghai Animation Film Studio, where he played a key role in creating some of the most iconic animated films in the region to date. These included Havoc in Heaven, Nezha Conquers the Dragon King, Feeling from Mountain and Water, Three Monks and Baby Tadpoles Look for Their Mother.
His work helped Chinese animation make its mark on the global map. The short, Feeling from Mountain and Water, earned the top prize at the inaugural Shanghai International Film Festival in 1988, as well as Best Animated Film at the Chinese Golden Rooster Awards in 1989 and the Best Short Film prize at the Montreal International Film Festival in 1990. In addition to his professional work, Ma helped mould the next generation of Chinese animators as a teacher at Peking University in the 1990s.
