China is mourning the passing of one its most beloved animators. Hu Jinqing, who died in Shanghai on Monday (May 13), is best remembered in China as the director of The Calabash Brothers (葫芦兄弟, Húlu Xiōngdì), one of the nation’s favorite TV programs in the 1980s.
The cartoon tells the story of seven magical brothers grown from calabash seeds, and their fight against a pair of demons. The brothers are the colors of the rainbow, and each has their own unique powers and vulnerability. The cartoon is still hugely popular, inspiring ranges of books and toys.
Calabash Brothers toys for sale on Taobao
Jinqing also directed short films. The Fight Between the Snipe and the Clam won the Silver Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlin Film Festival.
Photo: www.chinadaily.com.cn, taobao.com
