China signed 355 contracts to buy Japanese animation in 2016, making it the biggest buyer of the year, according to “Anime Industry Report 2017” by the Association of Japanese Animations.

　　根据日本动画协会的“2017年动漫产业报告”，中国在2016年签署了355份购买日本动画的合同，成为今年最大的买家。

　　However, the country’s anime artists and industry participants are looking to make a change. Led by “Once upon a Time There Was a Spirit Blade Mountain,” Chinese animations are striving hard to unlock the seemingly impenetrable market across the sea.

　　然而，中国的动漫艺术家和行业参与者正在寻求做出改变。在“从前有一个精灵之刃山”的带领下，中国的动画正在努力打开这个看似难以穿越的市场。

　　The novel-adapted webcomic has been serialized since 2014 but the anime adaptation did not debut until January 2016. Nonetheless, it was the first Chinese animation adapted from comic books to be aired on Japanese TV channels.

　　这部改编的网络漫画书自2014年开始连载，但这部动画片直到2016年1月才首次亮相。尽管如此，这还是日本电视频道第一部改编自中国动画。

　　The immortal cultivation-themed anime was set in the Spirit Blade Sect in the year 4233. After thousands of years of producing first rate immortal cultivation geniuses, it had become one of the five biggest sects in the Ten Thousand Celestial Alliance.

　　永生题材动画在4233年的灵剑教派中产生。经过几千年的发展，它已成为联盟五大宗派之一。

　　The Spirit Blade Sect is dedicated to peaceful development, and holds the core values of Truthfulness, Kindness and Loyalty. In order to expand the sect and bring in new blood, all heroes and geniuses have been welcomed to attend the Celestial Gathering.

　　灵刃派致力于和平发展，秉持诚实、善良、忠诚的精神。为了扩大教派，引进新的血液，所有英雄和天才都受到欢迎，参加了这次天体聚会。

　　The anime adaptation was a joint production of Chinese and Japanese studios. The Chinese side behind the work is Tencent Comic.

　　这部动画片是中日联合制作的。中方背后的是腾讯漫画。

　　But as a trial in the Japanese market, the expectation was not held high. “They can see this animation aired on Japanese TV stations and they will be curious to see what it is,” said Zhang Ziyu, a publicity specialist with Tencent Comic.

　　但此次作为一次在日本市场的试验，人们的期望值并不高。腾讯漫画的宣传专家章子玉说：“他们可以看到日本电视台播放的这幅动画，他们会好奇它是什么。”

　　“Under One Person” with subtitle “The Outcast” is adapted from a Chinese webcomic under the same name. It was also published by Tencent.

　　“一个人之下”的副标题“弃儿”是改编自一个中文网络漫画，以同样的名字。它也是由腾讯出版的。

　　The Chinese/Japanese anime television adaptation titled “Hitori no Shita: The Outcast” was aired from July to September in 2016. The second season began on January this year and is simulcast in Chinese and Japanese.

　　中日动画片改编自2016年7月至9月，名为“希森·诺什塔：弃儿”。第二季于今年一月开始，以中日两种语言同时播出。

　　The story follows college student Chou Soran as he gets caught up in a terrible incident in a small village while visiting his grandfather’s grave. He is assaulted by zombies until a mysterious girl wielding a knife appears and leads him to confront with the zombies.

　　故事讲述的是大学生周索兰在参观祖父的坟墓时在一个小村庄遭遇的可怕事件。他被僵尸袭击，直到一个神秘的女孩拿着刀出现，并带领他们与僵尸战斗。

　　On Japan’s leading anime site "d animestore", the first season ranked the 6th on the site’s to-watch-list when it first aired. It even invited famous voice actors like Saori Hayami, Yoko Hikasa and Daisuke Hirakawa to join the production.

　　在日本著名的动漫网站“D动漫”上，第一季在该网站第一次播出时排名第六。它甚至邀请了著名的配音演员，如宫崎骏，平井洋子和平川大辅加入了制作。

　　The anime combines Chinese folk songs with Taoism in building its universe and employs a number of quotes from the Tao Teh King, which is a unique attraction to Japanese viewers who fell in love with Chinese culture during the process.

　　这部动画片将中国民歌与道教结合起来构建宇宙，并引用了陶德王的许多名言，这对在这一过程中爱上中国文化的日本观众来说是一个独特的吸引力。

　　“Fox Spirit Matchmaker” takes place in a world where humans and demons co-exist and can fall in love with each other. The story follows Tushan Susu, a clumsy young fox spirit, and Bai Yuechu, a poor and greedy Taoist, as they set off on an adventure to help humans and demons reunite with one another.

　　“狐狸小红娘”发生在一个人类和恶魔共存的世界，可以彼此相爱。故事讲述的是笨手笨脚的狐狸精灵土山宿苏和贫穷贪婪的道家白岳秋，他们开始了一场冒险，帮助人类和恶魔重聚。

　　The anime was aired on Japan’s MX Television Station on July 1, 2017 and later the country’s largest online ACG platform Niconico. Its rating soared to 87.6 percent on Niconico after 14 episodes.

　　这幅动画于2017年7月1日在日本MX电视台播出，之后是日本最大的在线ACG平台Niconico。它的评级上升到87.6%，尼科在14集后。

　　The anime’s promotional events in Tokyo’s metro stations also caused some buzz as fans went to look for the posters of the series.

　　在东京地铁站的动漫宣传活动也引起了一些热议，因为粉丝们去寻找该系列的海报。

　　China’s animation industry began as early as 1926 when the Wan brothers, Wan Laiming and Wan Guchan, produced a black and white animation titled “Uproar in the Studio.” The Wan brothers are recognized as the pioneers of the animation industry in China.

　　中国的动画产业早在1926年就开始了，当时万氏两兄弟万籁鸣和万古千制作了一部名为“喧嚣在工作室”的黑白动画。万氏兄弟被公认为中国动画产业的先驱。

　　China’s animation has since taken off and reached its climax in the 1960s when a variety of works surfaced, including the first colored animation “The Monkey King,” ink and wash-styled “Where is Mama?” puppet animation “Tales of Avanti,” and paper cut-styled “Calabash Brothers” or “Bottle Gourd Brothers”.

　　20世纪60年代，中国动画片兴起并达到高潮，其中包括第一部彩色动画“孙悟空”、“妈妈在哪里”、“木偶动画”阿凡提“剪纸风格”“葫芦兄弟”等。

　　The flourish of Chinese animation also influenced Japanese artists who later helped push the country’s animation industry to the next level.

　　中国动画的蓬勃发展也影响了一些日本艺术家，这些艺术家后来帮助日本动漫产业进入了一个更高的水平。

　　In the meantime, China’s animation industry entered a so-called “frozen period.”But China is quickly catching up. The government enlisted the development of animation industry in its 11th Five-year Plan in 2006 and has been promoting the industry in the following years.

　　与此同时，中国动漫产业进入了所谓的“冻结期”，但中国正在迅速追赶。2006年，政府在“十一五”规划中加入了动漫产业发展的行列，并在随后的几年中大力推进动漫产业的发展。

　　China’s animation output has long exceeded Japan with 260,000 minutes in 2012, compared to Japan’s 90,000 minutes – though the quality is yet to be leveled. And dozens of cities across the country are aiming to turn them into a center of ACG.

　　中国的动画产量远远超过日本，2012年为26万分钟，而日本为9万分钟-但是质量还没有达到一定的水平。全国数十个城市都在努力将其打造成ACG中心。

　　The country has also been cooperating with Japan to work on joint productions to learn from its counterpart to better facilitate the development of China’s animation industry.

　　中国还与日本合作联合制作，向日本学习，以更好地促进中国动漫产业的发展。

　　With fast-growing investment in the industry and talents, Chinese animation is looking to turn the table around and gaining popularity in the stronghold of the Japanese market.

　　随着中国动画行业和人才的快速增长，中国动画正寻求扭转局面，并在日本市场的大本营获得越来越多的人气。