The Golden Conch (1963) Film produced by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio.

"The Golden Conch” is based on a fairy tale poem written for children by the famous Chinese poet and playwright Ruan Zhangjing (1919-1999). The story was originally called “The Snail Girl.” In 1963, director Wan Guchan and screenwriter Bao Lei made it into a 35-minute paper-cut animation of story, changing the river snail girl into a sea conch fairy.

Summary:
A sea fairy (Hailuo-“Hai” meaning ocean, “luo” meaning conch/seashell) watches a young fisherman rowing a boat, fishing and singing. Out of admiration, she transforms herself into a golden conch and intentionally lets the young man catch her and take her home.

The film Golden Conch adopts the expressive forms of Chinese shadow puppet and ancient Chinese art of paper cutouts. It expresses traditional Chinese folk arts as being bright and colorful, with strong nationalistic style. The film won the Lumumba Prize at the Asia-Africa International Film Festival in 1964.

The film’s style of music is also rooted in Peking Opera.

Director: Guchan Wan, Yunda Qian
Screenwriter: Lei Bao


*English subtitles are added by me. :)