Sanmao (comic book character)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sanmao (Chinese: 三毛; pinyin: sān máo) is a manhua character created by Zhang Leping in 1935. He is one of the world's longest running cartoon characters and remains one of the most famous and beloved fictional characters in China today.
The name Sanmao means "three hairs" in Chinese. While the character has undergone a number of transitions over time, he has always been drawn with the trademark three strands of hair, which implies malnutrition as a result of poverty.
Contents |
[edit] History
Most Chinese comic books prior to Sanmao featured adults and the Sanmao stories were also unusual in that they lacked dialogue. When Zhang Leping created the manhua comic series, his main goal was to dramatize the confusion brought about to society by the Second Sino-Japanese War war. He wanted to express his concern for the young victims of the war, particularly the orphans living on the streets. Most of the changes in the characters would come after WWII during the liberation in 1949.
Sanmao's image is now that of a healthy, normal 21st century student[1]. The character has been portrayed as living through some of the most important periods in Chinese history and to futuristic space explorations.
[edit] Story
The comic takes place mainly during the 1930s and early 1940s and is set in Old Shanghai in its "golden" era. Sanmao lived mostly in misery and stark poverty against a backdrop of war, colonization, and inflation.
[edit] Adaptations
The character made his first appearance in manhua and was later adapted into different formats[2].
| Chinese Name | English Name | Year | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 三毛欢乐派 | 2006 | Online game | China | |
| 三毛流浪记 | Wanderings of Sanmao | 2006 | Cartoon | China |
| 三毛从军记 | 2005 | Stage Theatre | China | |
| 虚拟导游三毛 | 2005 | 3D | China | |
| 三毛救孤记 | 2004 | Movie | China | |
| 三毛太空漫游 | 2000 | Theatrical | Hong Kong | |
| 三毛新传 | 1999 | TV Soap Series | China | |
| 三毛流浪记 | 1997 | Stage Theatre | Hong Kong | |
| 三毛流浪记 | 1996 1998 |
TV Soap Series | China | |
| 三毛从军记 | 1992 | Movie | China | |
| 三毛流浪记 | 1990 | Drama | China | |
| 三毛流浪记 | Wanderings of Sanmao | 1984 | Cartoon | China |
| 三毛学生意 | 1958 | Movie | China | |
| 三毛流浪记 | 1958 | Puppet Film | China | |
| 三毛流浪记 | 1949 | Movie | China |
[edit] Further reading
Farquhar, Mary Ann. "Sanmao: Classic Cartoons and Chinese Popular Culture" In Asian Popular Culture edited by John A. Lent (1995).
[edit] Trivia
- The renowned late Taiwanese writer Chen Ping (1943-91) chose "San Mao" as her pen name out of her deep sympathy for the lonely, homeless boy.
- The Hong Kong movie star Sammo Hung Kam-Bo was given the name Sammo because of his supposed resemblance to Sanmao.
