Art College 1994
“A portrait of the artist as a young man”
In the 1990s, a group of students on the campus of the Chinese Southern Academy of Arts are pursuing their studies and preparing to face the world. China is opening up to the West and the students’ lives are a tangle of love stories and friendships, artistic research, ideals and ambitions brought about by new influences. Caught between tradition and modernity, they have to decide who they want to become.
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Cast
26 people
Dong Zijian
Zhang Xiaojun (voice)
Known for
A Writer's Odyssey
Ash Is Purest White
Zhou Dongyu
Hao Lili (voice)
Known for
Better Days
Under the Hawthorn Tree
Dean English
Also in
GWAR: Phallus in Wonderland
Liu Jian
Jian Liu
Ren Ke
Skinny Horse (voice)
Known for
Caught by the Tides
Karen Powell
Jiang Yilei
Gao Hong (voice)
Also in
Tomorrow Will Be Fine
Mr. Housework
Lynne Wang
Huang Bo
Zhao Youcai (voice)
Known for
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
Mojin: The Lost Legend
Dong Chengpeng
Wu Yingjun (voice)
Known for
Johnny Keep Walking!
The Thousand Faces of Dunjia
Bai Ke
Lin Weiguo (voice)
Known for
Three-Body
The Guardian Brothers
Liu Jian Director · Cui Jian Composer
First release February 18, 2023 · Produced in China · Production Modern Sky Entertainment, China Academy of Art, School of Animation and Game
Production
NeZha Bros. Pictures
Production
Modern Sky Entertainment
Production
China Academy of Art, School of Animation and Game
Production
Le-joy Animation Studio
Production
China
Produced in
SCHOOL TOWN
Working title
Languages
Original title
艺术学院1994
Original language
Chinese
Spoken on screen
Chinese
Release dates
Germany · February 18, 2023
Premiere · Berlin International Film Festival
China · June 21, 2025
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Austria
April 21, 2023 · Premiere · Red Lotus Asian Film Festival Vienna
China
July 23, 2023 · Premiere · First Youth Film Festival
April 20, 2024 · Premiere · Beijing International Film Festival
June 19, 2025 · Premiere · Beijing
Finland
September 17, 2023 · Premiere · Helsinki International Film Festival
France
March 18, 2026 · Theatrical
Hong Kong SAR China
April 5, 2024 · Premiere · Hong Kong International Film Festival
India
October 28, 2023 · Premiere · Jio MAMI Film Festival
Russia
October 26, 2024 · Premiere · XVIII Большой фестиваль мультфильмов
May 1, 2025 · Digital
South Korea
September 20, 2023 · Premiere · Bucheon International Animation Festival
Türkiye
May 11, 2024 · TV · TRT 2
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Some details come from TheTVDB.