Art College

ART COLLEGE is set at an art school in China during the early 1990s. A group of students navigate artistic ideals, personal relationships, and a rapidly changing society. As new cultural influences challenge traditional ways of thinking, they search for expression, direction, and a place within a transforming world. Friendships, love affairs, and a shared passion for art shape their daily lives. Rather than focusing on a conventional plot, the film captures the mindset of an entire generation. The characters discuss art, freedom, and the future, drifting through dreams while gradually confronting reality. Between uncertainty and creative ambition, the film builds a sensitive portrait of young artists trying to discover their own voices. Liu Jian himself describes the work not as a nostalgic reflection, but as a celebration of life, art, and youthful vitality. Formally, ART COLLEGE combines hand-drawn 2D animation with an aesthetic deeply influenced by traditional Chinese painting. Originally trained in classical Chinese art, Liu Jian develops a visual language that deliberately distances itself from American and Japanese animation conventions. The restrained imagery and contemplative pacing create a distinctive atmosphere that reinforces the film’s realist approach. ART COLLEGE was selected for the Competition section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, marking a significant moment for Chinese animation on the international stage. Produced over five years at the China Academy of Art, the film merges autobiographical impulses with reflections on creativity and youth. A work that sees artistic expression as a force for both personal and social transformation.