Bournemouth’s bid to animate the Beijing National Opera

28 September 2007

National Beijing Opera animations from the BU Media School

BU’s renowned Media School has been awarded the opportunity to animate China’s National Beijing Opera.

The National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) and the Beijing Advanced Technology College (ATC) are collaborating on the development of the 3D Digital Beijing Opera project.

The scheme, financed by the Chinese Government, is designed to preserve Chinese non-material Cultural Heritage using state-of-the-art animation techniques.

This involves creating a unique 3D archive of some 1,000 animated characters drawn from the repertoire of the opera. The intricate movements and postures of the characters will be recorded using motion capture techniques, for which BU is well known.

The project will help to develop and expand 3D animation techniques in a country that already excels in the 2D form.

With a history of more than 200 years, the Beijing National Opera is regarded as the most celebrated expression of Chinese culture.

With a history of more than 200 years, the Beijing National Opera is regarded as the most celebrated expression of Chinese culture. The Opera’s synthesis of stylised action, singing, dialogue, mime, acrobatic fighting and dancing to tell traditional and modern stories is world renowned.

Stephen Jukes, Dean of the Media School, said: "We are pleased to be working with the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the Beijing National Opera on such a prestigious project.

"The Beijing National Opera is an international treasure and the prospect of bringing such an historical art form into the 21st Century is both exciting and challenging.

"We look forward to working with our partners in China and we hope to enhance their global reputation even further through this collaboration."

BU is currently engaged in a range of other projects with Chinese partners which utilise our expertise and knowledge of the media industries. These include student exchanges with CUC University in Beijing and consultancy briefings on the UK media for senior personnel from the Chinese creative industries.