Three Chinese animated short films longlisted for Oscar

Three Chinese short animations, namely "Valley of White Birds", "Life Smartphone" and "Once a Hero", have been longlisted for the 2018 Oscar in the Best Animated Short Film category.

The long list contains a total of 63 animated short films, 10 of which will be shortlisted to compete for the final five nominees.

These three Chinese films are all 2D animations, a good indicator that Chinese 2D animation is gaining more international recognition in recent years.

"Valley of White Birds" is filled with symbolic images, including white and black birds. In search of white birds, the protagonist faces up to his own fear, and must face his inner demons.

A screenshot of "Valley of White Birds". [Screenshot: China Plus/Pear Video]

The three-minute-long "Life Smartphone" portrays a fantastic world in which everybody fixes their eyes on a smartphone, descending into a state of being slaves of smartphones.

A screenshot of "Life Smartphone". [Screenshot: China Plus/Pear Video]

In "Once a Hero", which involves the issue of a school bully, a boy with a dream to be a hero makes friends with a bullied girl, and is then faced with a tough choice.

A screenshot of "Once a Hero". [Screenshot: China Plus/Pear Video]