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Sanmao (comics)

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Sanmao
三毛
Sanmao
Author(s)Zhang Leping
Launch date1935
Genre(s)manhua, pantomime comic, gag-a-day

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 a landmark as one of the most famous and beloved fictional characters in China today.

The name Sanmao means "three hairs" in Chinese or "three mao" (a reference to his poverty). 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

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A statue of Sanmao in Shanghai honoring his role as the mascot of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Most Chinese comic books prior to Sanmao featured adults and the Sanmao stories were also unusual in that they lacked dialogue and could therefore be classified as pantomime comics. 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. 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 World War II during the liberation in 1949.[citation needed]

Sanmao's image has evolved 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 during futuristic space explorations.

Sanmao was chosen as the mascot of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which were held in Shanghai.[2]

Adaptations

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Adventures of Sanmao, 1958 animated film

The character made his first appearance in comics and was later adapted into different formats.[3]

Chinese title English title Year Type Location Studio
三毛欢乐派 2006 Online game China
三毛流浪记 Wanderings of Sanmao 2006 Cartoon China
Thailand		 Shanghai Animation Film Studio
三毛从军记 2005 Stage production China
虚拟导游三毛 2005 3D China
三毛救孤记 2004 Film China
三毛太空漫游 2000 Theatrical Hong Kong
三毛新传 1999 TV series China
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1997 Stage production Hong Kong
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1996
1998		 TV series China
Thailand		 Shanghai Film Studio
三毛从军记 San Mao Joins the Army 1992 Film 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 Film China
三毛流浪记 Adventures of Sanmao 1958 Animated film China
三毛流浪记 The Adventures of Sanmao the Waif 1949 Live-action film China Kunlun Film Company

Influence and legacy

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  • The renowned Taiwanese writer Chen Mao Ping (1943–91) chose "Sanmao" as her pen name in reference to the character.[4]
  • The Hong Kong movie star Sammo Hung Kam-Bo was given the name Sammo because of his supposed resemblance to Sanmao.[5]

Further reading

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  • Farquhar, Mary Ann. "Sanmao: Classic Cartoons and Chinese Popular Culture" In Asian Popular Culture edited by John A. Lent (1995).
  • Cunningham, Maura. "Sanmao Saturday: Introducing Zhang Leping and His Sanmao the Orphan Comics", blog 30 Aug 2014.[6]
  • Cunningham, Maura. "Sanmao Learns from Lei Feng", blog 5 March 2013.[7]

References

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  1. ^ China Daily. "China Daily Archived 2007-02-05 at the Wayback Machine." "Sanmao Chinas favorite son turns 70." Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
  2. ^ "Mascot of 2007 Special Games Launched -- china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  3. ^ Sanmao Official Website. "Sanmao." "Production Listing." Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
  4. ^ Mo, Weimin; Shen, Wenju (2006-09-01). "Sanmao, the Vagrant: Homeless Children of Yesterday and Today". Children's Literature in Education. 37 (3): 267–285. doi:10.1007/s10583-006-9012-6. ISSN 1573-1693.
  5. ^ 漫畫
  6. ^ "Sanmao Saturday: Introducing Zhang Leping and His Sanmao the Orphan Comics". 30 August 2014.
  7. ^ mauracunningham (5 March 2013). "Sanmao Learns from Lei Feng".
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