Sun Xun's 'Magic Atlas' Blends Art Forms, Stuns Film Fest

Chinese artist Sun Xun's "Magic Atlas" achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first animated feature selected for the Tokyo International Film Festival's competition. Sun Xun emphasizes that the film transcends a simple animation label, integrating diverse art forms.

Developed over ten years, "Magic Atlas" is set in a fictional coal-mining empire where flight is forbidden and memory is periodically erased. The narrative follows an orphan boy who receives a "Magic Atlas" from a magician, guiding him towards his empire's suppressed past.

The film's visual style is a rich tapestry of woodblock prints, ink painting, and vibrant colors, drawing inspiration from various global art traditions. Sun Xun's creative process was influenced by global events and personal changes, including his conversion to Buddhism.

Financially, Sun Xun poured all his savings into the project, facing challenges like dried-up art sales during the pandemic and securing loans. He views "Magic Atlas" as his life's defining "all-in" endeavor, completed with the hope of sharing it with his family.

Rather than focusing on specific events, Sun Xun incorporated diverse cultural and political influences to reflect global divisions and ancient imagery. He advocates for film as an expressive art form that explores a "state of being" over a conventional narrative.

"Magic Atlas" draws on influences from Dunhuang murals, Song dynasty painting, and calligraphy. Exhibitions are slated for the U.S. and Singapore. Sun Xun is also developing a new feature, "All or Nothing," which will explore individual memory loss, continuing the themes from "Magic Atlas."