2229 – Mee’s Forest (Chinese animation Flash miniseries 2009)

The disappearance of flash makes a lot of recent animation sadly unavailable.

It is hard to dig for these very interesting and surprising animations that have acquired cult status. Some of them are in original – so I am very grateful to various translators and animation fans that have subbed and uploaded this small treasure created by the Chinese studio Wawayu Animation and directed by Busifan and released in 2009. Not many are aware that Chinese animation (donghua) is having a renaissance and year by year is producing new masterpieces. Yet I like and enjoy this small cult series that has shown the capacity and talent early on. It is also living proof that Chinese animation is making a name for itself, along more developed and well-known examples coming from Japan and Korea.

Please go for an in-depth dive into the work of Busifan and the Wawayu studio with lots of artwork and behind the scenes and check out this wonderful post on https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/the-wild-imagination-of-mees-forest (this is how I discovered it). I love everything about it, the creepiness, the pace and the character design that find inspiration from Chinese legends. It has a high dose of animism and is also full of strange and unexpected moments. I remember watching this while I was completely sick and weak, having a really bad case of flu and it really have me an incredible boost.

Whole YT playist

courtesy of animationobsessive “Some of Busifan’s sketchbook drawings that led to Mee’s Forest (top row), and early work-in-progress shots from the first episode (bottom row). Courtesy of Mars Era Education and Busifan’s blog.”

Leave a comment