Watch the animated feature film "The Gourd Brothers" online.
◎Translated Name: Hulu Brothers
◎Film Name: Calabash Brothers
◎Year: 2008
◎Country: China
◎Category: Animation
◎Language: Mandarin
◎Subtitles: None
◎IMDB Rating: N/A
◎IMDB Link: N/A
◎File Format: RMVB
◎Video Dimensions: 640 x 360
◎File Size: 1CD 334.14MB
◎Duration: 90 mins
◎Director: Zhou Keqin
◎Cast:
◎Introduction:
Legend has it that the Scorpion Spirit and Snake Spirit were imprisoned in Mount Hulu. A pangolin accidentally broke through a cave, allowing the two spirits to escape. An old man, guided by the pangolin, obtained magical hulu seeds, which grew into seven large gourds of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. The matured gourds transformed into boys with extraordinary abilities. One after another, they rushed to fight the spirits but were defeated due to their individual weaknesses. Ultimately, the seven brothers united to engage in a life-or-death battle against the spirits, defeating them and imprisoning them within the magic gourd.
Behind the Scenes:
"Hulu, hulu, seven gourds bloom as one flower. Wind and rain cannot harm us, la la la la. Ding ding dang dang dong dong dang dang, hulu, ding ding dang dang dong dong, great powers. La la la la. Hulu, hulu, great powers."
Since their debut on television screens, the uniquely designed and powerful hulu brothers have captivated children across the country, becoming a timeless classic. They are among the most influential works of Chinese animation.
This year, the hulu brothers will make their first appearance on the big screen. With special effects, dubbing, and music, many new elements have been added, making the movie version of the hulu brothers' story more exciting, with a tighter plot and greater entertainment value. This film will be presented as a gift for the "Children's Day" holiday in 2008, appealing not only to young audiences but also to adults who grew up watching the series.
I. Classics Never Fade, Memories Rekindled
Classics remain classics because they leave an indelible mark in people's memories. These marks never fade, and when revisited, they elevate our memories.
The thirteen-episode series of cutout animated films, "Hulu Brothers," produced originally in 1986 by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, is one of the representative works of the second flourishing period of Chinese animation and has since become a classic of Chinese animation. It was highly popular among viewers, especially children, upon its release. In 1988, it won the Excellent Film Award from the Ministry of Radio, Film, and Television for the years 1986-1987; in 1989, it received the Outstanding Series Art Film Award at the Third China Children and Youth Film "Young Ox" Awards and the Third Prize at the First China Audiovisual Animation Program Exhibition; in 1992, it won the Bronze Award at the Cairo International Children's Film Festival in Egypt. It is no exaggeration to say that children born in the 70s and 80s in China rarely missed "Hulu Brothers."
"Hulu, hulu, seven gourds bloom as one flower. Wind and rain cannot harm us, la la la la." Whenever this song plays, people picture the seven lively and powerful hulu brothers, the kind and brave grandfather, and the pangolin... It remains an eternal classic in people's hearts, never leaving the audience's sight for over 20 years. Its TV sales and audio-visual product sales figures are strong evidence of its lasting appeal. Each year, the Shanghai Animation Film Studio sells about 20 million yuan worth of VCDs, with this series accounting for 18% of the total. This demonstrates that classic works not only had significant value at the time but continue to be a substantial intangible asset today.
In April 2006, leaders from the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television visited the animation studio to deliver a special report on the current cartoon situation and specifically suggested that the studio should produce sequels for past influential stars, particularly mentioning "Hulu Brothers," hoping that the studio would use sincere artistic dedication to allow original Chinese cartoon stars to shine anew in the new era.
In recent years, remaking classic animations has become a trend. Theatrical versions of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Doraemon," and "The Simpsons" have all graced the big screen, while the "live-action" version of "Transformers" caused global frenzy. The reason lies in the enduring artistic charm and market appeal of these classic animations, enhanced by new technologies and treatments that give these classic stories fresh wings and reach unprecedented heights.
In 2008, as a new classic of Chinese original animation, "Hulu Brothers" will take a step further, transforming from a thirteen-episode series, each ten minutes long, into a complete and satisfying animated feature film. New technical processing, sound effects, pacing adjustments, and revoicing will surely captivate the audience. Through this new cinematic adaptation of "Hulu Brothers," the Shanghai Animation Film Studio aims to effectively connect the production, distribution, screening of films, audio-visual products, related books, toys, and other post-production developments, as well as talent agencies, advertising, movie channels, new media, and other industries related to films. Thus, the "Hulu Brothers," once a beloved Chinese cartoon star with hundreds of millions of fans, will once again embody the qualities of "courage, kindness, justice, and unity," inspiring the imagination, admiration, and joy of children in the new century, breathing new vitality into China's classic cartoon stars.
II. "Hulu Brothers" Bids Farewell to "To Be Continued," New Cinematic Version Released in 2008
The story of "Hulu Brothers" is well-known, telling of the mystical Hulu Mountain where the Scorpion Spirit and Snake Spirit were imprisoned. A pangolin accidentally broke through the mountain, allowing the two spirits to escape, bringing calamity to the common folk. It was said that only growing seven-colored gourds could defeat these spirits. An old herbalist, guided by the pangolin, obtained the magic hulu seeds, growing seven large gourds of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, which were spied upon by the spirits through their magic mirror. After several failed attempts to destroy the gourds, the spirits captured the old man. The gourds matured, falling to the ground and transforming into seven extraordinary boys. The first brother possessed immense strength, the second had千里eyes and顺wind ears, the third had a copper head and iron arms, the fourth and fifth were water and fire spirits, the sixth could turn invisible, and the seventh owned an omnipotent magic gourd. To defeat the spirits and rescue the old man, they successively entered the spirit caves to battle. Each confrontation was gripping, showcasing the incredible powers of the hulu brothers, but alas, the spirits were cunning, causing repeated failures. The spirits even poisoned the seventh brother, making him recognize them as his parents. As the seventh brother turned against his siblings, leading to mutual destruction, the spirits benefited. At a critical moment, the grandfather sacrificed his blood and life to awaken the seven brothers, who then united in a life-or-death struggle. Ultimately, the hulu brothers transformed into a seven-colored mountain peak, forever suppressing the spirits beneath it.
Compared to most adaptations of classic animated films by the studio, "Hulu Brothers" stands out as the most successful original work. This animated series was meticulously crafted with the full strength of the studio, gathering all the best talents, resulting in high artistic quality and production standards, making it a true masterpiece of domestic animated art.
To create the 2008 cinematic version of "Hulu Brothers," the studio gathered the original writers and directors along with newcomers specializing in 3D, special effects, sound effects, and composition, forming a high-level creative team. With a rigorous artistic attitude, they refined the essence from the series, enhancing the story to be more compact and engaging, fitting modern viewers' fast-paced preferences. The new voiceovers, music, and special effects reveal more contemporary charm and aesthetic trends.
In the director Zhou Keqin's view, "‘Hulu Brothers’ has a unique Chinese flavor. As a director, I pursued complete ethnic and legendary qualities. The cinematic version of ‘Hulu Brothers’ is a wonderful innovation. I welcome parents who grew up watching the old episodes to bring their children to cinemas to experience a more endearing version of ‘Hulu Brothers.’ Because the 2008 cinematic version has a more captivating story, more vivid plots, more highlights, more prominent characters, more melodious music, stronger audio-visual effects, and greater visual impact." From this string of seven 'mores,' it's evident how deeply attached Zhou is to this work.
Writer Yao Zhongli believed, "The cinematic version of ‘Hulu Brothers’ achieves an artistic style fusion, successfully condensing the original episodic structure, with cliffhangers, into an 80-minute film. Adding new technology, sound effects, and plot handling transforms a popular TV series into a thrilling animated movie, making it even more enjoyable." He warmly invited both children and former children to enter the cinema this June 1st to enjoy the seven hulu brothers' tense and fun-filled battles with the spirits. Since the cinematic version represents a qualitative leap in production methods and styles by the new and old creative teams of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, it will lead more Chinese classics into the modern era and onto the big screen.
III. Nostalgia and Dream Realization, Change and Renewal
"Hulu Brothers" is the animated series with the most fans nationwide, featuring some of the most influential animated stars. Although the original young audience has grown up, they still fondly remember the classic, considering it an inseparable part of their childhood. These ardent fans affectionately call themselves "hulu silk." Since 1986, the hulu brothers have turned 22 years old, and the "hulu silk" fanbase continues to grow generationally. When news of the remake of "Hulu Brothers" was disclosed through the media, it sparked widespread reactions. Online, search engines can find hundreds of thousands of pieces of information about "Hulu Brothers." Netizens spontaneously selected actors they thought were most suitable to play the snake spirit in "Hulu Brothers," generating over 1.8 million posts online. The release of the cinematic version of "Hulu Brothers" will undoubtedly evoke the beautiful childhood memories of those born in the 70s and 80s, allowing them to relive their childhood joys and reignite the colorful hulu fever.
After modern technical treatment, the hulu brothers will attract more modern youth, developing a new generation of "hulu silk" fans, promoting the development of the animation industry. The Shanghai Animation Film Studio once released previous animated films on prints, screening them in major theaters in Shanghai under the "Cartoon King Weekend Special" program, achieving excellent results with high attendance rates, especially during winter and summer vacations. Now, the Shanghai Animation Film Studio has established the "Meiying 'Cartoon King' Weekend Special." This is a professional children's movie theater line, proving the timeless artistic charm of classic animated films. Classics are timeless, just like the inherent value of art itself, "Hulu Brothers" resonates with sincerity, kindness, justice, and courage. Some scenes remain deeply moving, evoking laughter or tears as the plot develops. Time cannot dim its brilliance, much like Shakespeare's eloquent words remaining radiant to this day. "Hulu Brothers" is a heartfelt creation, facing countless innocent children as the crystallization of beauty, truth, love, and joy, ultimately being passed down.
The classic hulu brothers transition from the last century into the modern era, from the small screen to the big screen, radiating new artistic brilliance. It is believed that it will not only win back the deep nostalgia of past fans but also impress contemporary youth with its more captivating performances.
IV. Grand Gift for Children's Festival, Cinematic Version of "Hulu Brothers" Makes a New Appearance
Unlike previous animated films concentrated in the summer season, the cinematic version of "Hulu Brothers" specially chose to premiere on May 23rd, a week before this year's "Children's Day," filling the gap left by the absence of new domestic animated films on this year's "Children's Day." It also carries forward the commitment of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio as an important creative base for domestic artistic animation films, dedicated to presenting a wonderful animated film made in China every year since 2006 to children both domestically and overseas.
In 2006, the complete version of "Xiyue Qitong" from the Meiying Studio caused jubilation among countless children in the cinema with its beautiful visuals and Shenxiang's thought-provoking legendary story, enchanting the children thoroughly. In 2007, the large-scale national epic animated film "Warriors" taught young audiences the spirit of overcoming difficulties and never giving up from the protagonist Bartu, winning multiple awards including the Huabiao Award and Golden Rooster Award. These heartfelt masterpieces achieved commendable box office revenues.
As Children's Day approaches this year, Shanghai Film Group, Shanghai Media Group, and Shanghai Animation Film Studio jointly present the cinematic version of "Hulu Brothers," aiming to recreate the brilliant new glory of domestic outstanding animated films through film and television interaction, sincerely creating a joyful festival atmosphere for the children. It is reported that around Children's Day in 2009, Shanghai Animation Film Studio will collaborate with various partners to present eagerly anticipated excellent artistic animated works such as "Malan Flower" and "Yu Gong Moves the Mountain" to domestic and international audiences, simultaneously offering a grand tribute to the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
The cinematic version of "Hulu Brothers" is a completely new work that inherits the classic, integrating numerous new artistic creations to bring the audience a more intense and perfect audio-visual experience:
1) New Sound Effects - The original "Hulu Brothers" almost used only an electronic keyboard for music with single-channel audio. Now, the cinematic version features symphonic accompaniment and 5.1 surround sound, greatly enhancing the expressiveness and impact of the sound.
2) New Music - Renowned composer Dong Weijie has custom-made the music for the film, aligning more closely with modern audiences' aesthetic needs, offering a refreshing experience.
3) New Dubbing - Popular hosts from SMG’s children’s channel, such as Doudou, Xiahe, Jinwei, Shenmo, and Huashenxian, have joined the dubbing cast, making the cinematic version of "Hulu Brothers" more familiar and intimate to young audiences.
4) New Special Effects - The application of new technology makes the hulu brothers even more powerful.
5) Innovative cinematographic styles, shooting techniques (camera usage, lighting arrangements, etc.), and editing innovations enhance the three-dimensional feel of the images, making the story smoother and richer.
