The Story of Afanti: History and Key Facts

"The Story of Afanti" (Uyghur language: نەسىرىدىن ئەپەندى هىكاىيلىرى‎) is a 13-episode color puppet film series produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio from 1981 to 1988. The single-episode play "Afanti" produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio in 1979 is also often considered part of this series. The single-episode play "Afanti" was directed by Jin Xi and Liu Huiyi; the 13-episode "The Story of Afanti" was directed by Qu Jianfang. The voice actors for Afanti were Bi Ke and Cheng Zhi.

"The Story of Afanti" is based on the widely circulated stories of Nasreddin Afanti in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Each episode is approximately 20 to 30 minutes long, with independent plots. The main content revolves around the clever and wise Afanti's battles of wits against local bullies, tyrants, and the king. Afanti is portrayed with exaggerated appearances and actions, humorous and witty, making him unique among the positive protagonists in Chinese film and television at the time. "The Story of Afanti" also incorporates many Xinjiang elements, such as music and costumes.

The Story of Afanti (in its entirety or as a single episode) has won numerous awards, including the Huabiao Awards (Ministry of Culture 1979 Outstanding Film Award) for Animated Film, the 3rd Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Animated Film, the 1989 Chicago International Children's Film Festival First Prize for Animated Short Film, and the First National Minority Theme Film Tenglong Award for Animated Film.

Source and attribution

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