Sanmao (comics)

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Sanmao
三毛

Sanmao
Author(s) Zhang Leping
Launch date 1935
Genre(s) manhua

Sanmao (Chinese: 三毛; pinyin: Sānmáo) 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.

History

First compilation of Sanmao, published in 1936
Sanmao in a 1948 Shanghai newspaper. He is a street acrobat in this segment. The poster on the electricity pole reads "Celebrate Fourth of April Children's Day."

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 has also been evolving throughout time, and in some modern continuation of the comics, he is depicted as a healthy, normal student.[1] The character has also been portrayed as living through some of the most important periods in Chinese history and to futuristic space explorations.

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.

Adaptations

The character made his first appearance in manhua and was later adapted into different formats.[2]

Chinese Name English Name Year Type Location Produced due to Channel Name Film Studio Name
三毛欢乐派 2006 Online game China
三毛流浪记 Adventures of San Mao 2006 Cartoon China
Thailand 		TrueVisions and CCTV True Spark
CCTV-14 		Shanghai Animation Film Studio
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 Adventures of Sanmao 1997 Stage Theatre Hong Kong
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1996
1998 		TV Soap Series China
Thailand 		TrueVisions and Shanghai Television Station True Explore 3
True Film Asia
True Asian Series
 Shanghai Film Studio
三毛从军记 1992 Movie China
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1990 Drama China
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1984 Cartoon China
三毛学生意 1958 Movie China
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1958 Puppet Film China
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1949 Movie China

Further reading

Farquhar, Mary Ann. "Sanmao: Classic Cartoons and Chinese Popular Culture" In Asian Popular Culture edited by John A. Lent (1995).

Influence

  • The renowned 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.

References

  1. ↑ China Daily. "China Daily." "Sanmao Chinas favorite son turns 70." Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
  2. ↑ Sanmao Official Website. "Sanmao." "Production Listing." Retrieved on 2007-01-09.

External links

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