China’s quest for its own Harry Potter or Game of Thrones – a profitable global franchise
- Chinese filmmakers hope to emulate the West’s hugely successful film and television franchises, known in China as super IPs
- Some fear that poor-quality adaptations tarnish the reputation of the original material from which they are drawn
While the entertainment industry prizes originality, adaptations have long sustained film and TV productions. Thinking that adapted video fare will always appeal to the core fan base of the original books and games from which they are drawn, producers regard adaptations as a less risky investment.
The trend of adapting popular novels and video games for cinema and television has grown so big that the China Film Association sounded a warning over the practice last year.
In its 2017 Report on Chinese Film Art, the association said adapted films concentrate on themes like fantasy, mythology, monsters and historical deconstruction. “[They] lack the intricate and astute portrayal of humanity, artistic depth and originality. Some are even coarse and slapdash productions,” the report said.
What prompted the association to make the warning was the plethora of poor Chinese television and film adaptations, which tarnish the artistic reputation of the source materials’ creators.