Uproar in Heaven

Synopsis

The Chinese animated feature film Uproar in Heaven, also referred to as Havoc in Heaven, was directed by Wan Laiming and produced collectively by all four Wan brothers. Created during the peak of China's animation industry in the 1960s, it garnered numerous awards and brought the brothers both domestic and international acclaim. The narrative draws from the opening chapters of the classic tale Journey to the West, centering on Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, as he defies the Jade Emperor of heaven. This film became one of the most influential works across all of Asia, spanning both animation and live-action cinema. Countless cartoon adaptations that followed have revisited the same Journey to the West story, yet this 1964 version is widely regarded as the most original, fitting, and memorable.

Background

Da Nao Tiangong is the first feature-length cel-animated film by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. The movie was awarded internationally and domestically at the 1978 International London Film Festival, the 1962 Czech Republic Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, and the 1993 Hundred Flowers Film Festival. The film was originally completed in two parts in 1961 and 1964, respectively. The film was presented as a whole for the first time in 1965. In 2012 the film was restored as well as being converted to 3D. The film's aspect ratio was changed from 1.33 to 1.78 by adding additional art to the backgrounds and at times moving the character placement within the frame. The film was shortened to 90 minutes by "speed[ing] up some of the action scenes." The score and dialogue were re-recorded for a new Dolby 5.1 and 7.1 mix.