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The Chinese Violin

2002 8 min
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In this animated short, a young girl and her father move from China to Canada, bringing only their Chinese violin along for the journey. As they face the challenge of starting fresh in a new place, the music of the violin connects them to the life they left behind and guides the girl towards a musical future. Part of the Talespinners collection, which uses vibrant animation to bring popular children’s stories from a wide range of cultural communities to the screen.

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The Chinese Violin
  • Talespinners
    Talespinners
    2000 15 films
    Talespinners, for ages 5-9, includes seven tales of children who confront challenges with ingenuity and creativity. Each story brings facets of a different cultural community to the screen, through a setting, accent, folk element, tradition, particular food or vocabulary. Young viewers will be captivated by the adventures and determination of the Talespinners’ children. This collection includes four original tales and three inspired by books. The stories have particular appeal to modern kids growing up in a complicated world.

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In this animated short, a young girl and her father move from China to Canada, bringing only their Chinese violin along for the journey. As they face the challenge of starting fresh in a new place, the music of the violin connects them to the life they left behind and guides the girl towards a musical future.



Part of the Talespinners collection, which uses vibrant animation to bring popular children’s stories from a wide range of cultural communities to the screen.

Literature and Language Literature and Language - Canada Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism Music Families Social Issues All subjects
Based on Children's Books All channels
  • director
    Joe Chang
  • producer
    George Johnson
  • technical director
    Shelley McIntosh
  • special effects
    Shelley McIntosh
  • animation
    Celest Brown
    Gintaras Zubrickas
    Joe Chang
  • composer
    Zhuo Rui-Shi
  • writer
    Madeleine Thien
  • sound supervisor
    Jamie Mahaffey
  • voice
    Lulu Li
  • pre-production design
    Joe Chang
  • colour stylist
    Shelley McIntosh
    Celest Brown
    Joe Chang
  • research
    Gintaras Zubrickas
  • editor
    Shirley Claydon
    Ileana Pietrobruno
  • software support
    Nathaniel Akin
  • consultant
    Rubén Möller
  • musician
    Huang Ji Rong
    Heidi Krutzen
    Sun Yong
  • music studio
    Raymond Mak
  • audio facility
    Desolation Sound
  • re-recording mixer
    Mark Hensley
  • production clerk
    Christine Sears
  • producer's assistant
    Christopher Adkins
  • production supervisor
    Kathryn Lynch
  • program administrator
    Bruce Hagerman
  • executive producer
    Svend-Erik Eriksen

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Education

Ages 8 to 9
Study Guide
Guide 1
School subjects
Arts Education - Music Ethics and Religious Culture - Religious Diversity/Heritage Health/Personal Development - Bullying & Discrimination
This film deals with many themes. Use it to begin a unit on China. Ask students to find China on a map. Have students research the Chinese violin and, if interest is there, instruments from other countries. Make instruments and put on a musical performance. Older students can discuss the immigration experience and immigrants’ rights to proper housing, employment and safety.
The Chinese Violin
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Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

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Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.

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