In 1956, Mao Zedong launched the Hundred Flowers Campaign which aimed to gain more freedom of speech by asking Chinese artists to submit their thoughts and criticisms. With the slogan “Let a hundred flowers bloom/Let a hundred schools of thought contend”, Mao Zedong asked for criticism of the Chinese Communist Party’s policies. With this campaign, he hoped to promote the development of a new Chinese culture and to push the Chinese culture to an international standing. In the initial beginnings of the campaign, many were afraid to voice their concerns without fear of punishment so there were few critiques.
One of the effects of the Hundred Flowers Campaign was the founding of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. During this time, the animated feature The Conceited General (骄傲的将军), produced by the studio and animated by Te Wei, was released in 1956. The cartoon featurette was the beginning of the development of distinct Chinese animation styles. Furthermore, the clothing, architecture, props, soundtrack, character design, and the movements of the characters were heavily inspired by the Beijing opera and created a connection between traditional Chinese culture and modern animation.
The overall plot of the feature is about an overconfident comfortable general that returns home from war. After being rewarded, he no longer practices his craft and instead lives an opulent life believing that the enemy would not return. However, when the enemy attacks, he is unprepared and easily defeated.
Unfortunately, the Hundred Flowers Campaign only lasted a year before Mao Zedong put the campaign to a halt on June 8th, 1957. Those who expressed their criticisms, which were mostly intellectuals, had to publicly confess to being a part of a conspiracy to take down socialism. Hundreds of Chinese intellectuals and artists were then sent to labor camps or prison as punishment.