An anime from China worries the Japanese

A recent promotional video for the anime "Call Up Girls" has surprised netizens, who quickly identified it with the "moe" genre, thanks to the style of its characters and the vibrant use of pastel colors. What really took them by surprise was finding out that this project was produced in China (i.e. it's a donghua), with local animators and voice actresses. Despite this, many claim that the quality of the animation rivals that of the most recent productions in Japan.

Feedback from the community has been mixed. One user highlighted that "the quality of Chinese animation has increased significantly in recent years," wondering if they are innovating in the process. Another netizen mentioned that "it seems like they're too influenced by Japanese anime, but it seems more entertaining." Some were surprised by the anime's title, noting that "I never thought I'd watch an anime called 'Call Up Girls.'"

Many also referenced the influence of Japanese style on the production, with comments such as "this is like a Chinese version of a Manga Time Kirara anime" and "it seems like they've taken too many references from Japanese anime." Despite comments criticizing the lack of originality, others expressed curiosity about the content, with one user commenting that "I find the setting in Guangzhou interesting and I definitely want to see it." However, there were those who pointed out that the series could be seen as a plagiarism of the Japanese style, expressing their desire for "Chinese creators to show more originality in their works".

However, some Chinese netizens have expressed skepticism, commenting that although the series is based in a Chinese school setting, the depiction of student life seems closer to that of a Japanese anime than to the educational reality in China. Comments such as "Is this really a national product?" and "We usually say 'night classes' instead of 'after school'" reflect the perception that the series presents a view of school life that does not fit the everyday experience of Chinese students.

The general consensus seems to be that although "Call Up Girls" is inspired by Japanese aesthetics, the production has managed to attract the attention of audiences, who are hoping to see more of this new wave of Chinese anime, and wondering if there could eventually be an evolution in their narrative and style that distinguishes them from their Japanese counterparts. With this production, the line between Japanese and Chinese anime continues to blur, sparking a debate about the future of the industry and cultural influences on animation.

Source: Yaraon!