Editor's note: This is a nostalgic theater.
"I have horns on my head and a tail behind me. No one knows how many secrets I have. I am a little blue dragon, little blue dragon, I am a little secret, a little secret. I have many secrets, so I won't tell you , I won't tell you..."
As soon as the melody of this song plays, the DNA engraved in the childhood memories of our generation is activated. 30 years ago, how many of the post-80s and post-90s were standing in front of their small TV sets, waiting for the start of "Little Dragon Man"? This is China's first mythical children's TV series, and it is also our boyhood.
Indeed, although "Little Dragon Man" is indeed our collective memory, in fact, this memory has long since become vague and ambiguous. Re-opening this TV series, you will find that the emotional filter may have rewritten our impression to a certain extent. Perhaps, the "Little Dragon Man" in our inner world and the "Little Dragon Man" in the real world have never been the same.
It's like the finale of "Little Dragon Man" - we don't know if the little dragon man has found his mother. Brave, he was not afraid of high mountains, long distances, wind blowing, and rain. He overcame all difficulties and obstacles, and finally met his mother with the help of Uncle Dayong. But the good times didn't last long. In order to drag the moon to the sky, the goddess mother turned into a stone man for a long time. The little dragon people thought that the potion given by the goddess fairy could save their mother, but who would have thought that not only did she not resurrect, but she became a mountain instead.
For the children of the year, this ending is really difficult to accept. Just imagine, which child is willing to leave his mother? What many people remember most is the cry of Xiaolongren, "I want a mother!" It seems that everyone doesn't know how to digest this indescribable ending.
Of course, we can say that the mother of the Xiaolongren is the mother of the motherland, and the Xiaolongren is the descendant of the dragon. Motherland will naturally love every child, no matter where we go, she will be waiting for us. Although Xiaolongren can't get along with his mother day and night, he will not feel lonely, because he not only has good friends such as Baobao, Beibei, and Qiqi, but also the company of the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. Does this explanation make everyone feel a lot better?
But looking back at "Little Dragon Man" 30 years later, its significance is more than that. Although it is recognized as a "mythical children's TV series", there are still many sci-fi elements in "Little Dragon Man". For example, Xiaolongren once went around the city of Beijing because he got an invisibility cloak, and even played pranks that did not match his personality. This seems to show concern about the development of modern technology.
In short, in "Little Dragon Man" we can see not only the scientists in the research institute, but also the dragon king Ao Guang of the East China Sea on the bottom of the sea; children not only live in the real world, but also constantly travel through ancient times. The whole TV series not only imagines the future, but also traces the past, and is full of various symbols that can be interpreted and explained. Their meanings always swim between modernity and tradition.
Even in a children's TV series, we can still feel this subtle cultural mentality. The little dragon man first lost the dragon's tail, and then lost the dragon's horn to save his mother, and became a normal modern child. He is attached to his mother, but eventually integrates into modern society by his own strength. Does this mean that contemporary China cannot be without traditions, but cannot be addicted to traditions?
Therefore, whether the little dragon people have found their mother is destined to be a question that does not have a definite answer. Can "modernity" alone truly support the contemporary cultural edifice? Conversely, does the resurrection of "tradition" have to be at the expense of "modernity"? Sometimes conflict and sometimes fusion, every new development of modern Chinese culture can be regarded as the crystallization of this conflict or fusion. The little dragons who are growing up have a long way to go.
From the current point of view, "Little Dragon Man" is not so watchable or entertaining. Watching "Little Dragon Man" again, it often gives people a feeling of being unable to watch it. This is not because the play does not have a happy ending, but its aesthetics and performance style are indeed the products of the previous generation.
For example, this show loves reasoning. Uncle Dayong dragged Xiaolongren to look for his mother on the snowy mountains, and at the same time did not forget to teach him earnestly that a good child should not be afraid of difficulties; Xiaolongren was able to remove the dragon's tail before, and it was also under the education of Granny Cuicui that he did "three things" good thing". It's no wonder that there are many netizens, and the "preaching" meaning of this play is actually quite strong.
However, this drama cannot be judged in isolation from the times. Just like the campus ballads that swept the country in the 1980s and 1990s, the literary and artistic works at that time were not necessarily perfect, but in terms of the purpose of creation and the way of expression, the word "true" was highlighted. "Little Dragon Man" is really concerned about the future development of Chinese culture and the healthy growth of children. In this regard, it should not only leave us with that little nostalgic feeling.
Chen Jianan, the actor of Xiaolongren, gradually faded out of the showbiz after starring in some film and television dramas. He loves music and martial arts, and later became a martial arts coach in the "Hongjiaban", and also ran his own company; Qiqi's actor Yanagida later appeared in the movie "Crazy Rabbit", but he concentrated on She did not continue to develop in the entertainment industry after her studies. Like Jiang Yizhen who played the baby and Chen Chen who played Bei Bei, she chose to become an ordinary person. In this way, the most famous person in the whole "Little Dragon Man" is the old man Yu Qian who made a cameo appearance. Oh no, he was still a young man back then.
This may also be a good thing. Because "Little Dragon Man" tells the growth story of every ordinary Chinese teenager. Chen Jianan may not be able to become big stars, but they continue to pursue their dreams on the road of life. Perhaps, this is the best ending of "Little Dragon Man".
"I have horns on my head and a tail behind me. No one knows how many secrets I have. I am a little blue dragon, little blue dragon, I am a little secret, a little secret. I have many secrets, so I won't tell you , I won't tell you..."
As soon as the melody of this song plays, the DNA engraved in the childhood memories of our generation is activated. 30 years ago, how many of the post-80s and post-90s were standing in front of their small TV sets, waiting for the start of "Little Dragon Man"? This is China's first mythical children's TV series, and it is also our boyhood.
"Little Dragon Man" stills
Until today, it is clear that we are not "brothers" and "sisters" in the eyes of children, but "uncles" and "aunts", but when we talk about "Little Dragon Man", it seems that we can still find a little innocent and lively. Feel. Interestingly, we all remember that the main plot of "Little Dragon Man" is to find his mother, but did he find it? I asked several friends, some said they found it, some said they didn't, and more said they couldn't remember.Indeed, although "Little Dragon Man" is indeed our collective memory, in fact, this memory has long since become vague and ambiguous. Re-opening this TV series, you will find that the emotional filter may have rewritten our impression to a certain extent. Perhaps, the "Little Dragon Man" in our inner world and the "Little Dragon Man" in the real world have never been the same.
It's like the finale of "Little Dragon Man" - we don't know if the little dragon man has found his mother. Brave, he was not afraid of high mountains, long distances, wind blowing, and rain. He overcame all difficulties and obstacles, and finally met his mother with the help of Uncle Dayong. But the good times didn't last long. In order to drag the moon to the sky, the goddess mother turned into a stone man for a long time. The little dragon people thought that the potion given by the goddess fairy could save their mother, but who would have thought that not only did she not resurrect, but she became a mountain instead.
"Little Dragon Man" stills
In the end, Xiaolongren called his mother on the beacon tower of the Great Wall, and his mother told him in the sky that she loved Xiaolongren and every child. She also said, "Child! Mommy is in the sky, no matter where you go, Mommy is in the sky with you wherever you go!"For the children of the year, this ending is really difficult to accept. Just imagine, which child is willing to leave his mother? What many people remember most is the cry of Xiaolongren, "I want a mother!" It seems that everyone doesn't know how to digest this indescribable ending.
Of course, we can say that the mother of the Xiaolongren is the mother of the motherland, and the Xiaolongren is the descendant of the dragon. Motherland will naturally love every child, no matter where we go, she will be waiting for us. Although Xiaolongren can't get along with his mother day and night, he will not feel lonely, because he not only has good friends such as Baobao, Beibei, and Qiqi, but also the company of the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. Does this explanation make everyone feel a lot better?
But looking back at "Little Dragon Man" 30 years later, its significance is more than that. Although it is recognized as a "mythical children's TV series", there are still many sci-fi elements in "Little Dragon Man". For example, Xiaolongren once went around the city of Beijing because he got an invisibility cloak, and even played pranks that did not match his personality. This seems to show concern about the development of modern technology.
"Little Dragon Man" stills
For another example, the TV series also created replicas of Baobao, Beibei, and Qiqi. What's interesting is that Xiaolongren brought fake friends to the world of ice and snow. Not only could they not bear the pain, but they were also very indifferent to Xiaolongren. It seems to say that the friendship between good friends needs to be tested, and it seems to say that the pure heart of children is the most precious.In short, in "Little Dragon Man" we can see not only the scientists in the research institute, but also the dragon king Ao Guang of the East China Sea on the bottom of the sea; children not only live in the real world, but also constantly travel through ancient times. The whole TV series not only imagines the future, but also traces the past, and is full of various symbols that can be interpreted and explained. Their meanings always swim between modernity and tradition.
"Little Dragon Man" stills
This cannot but be reminiscent of the cultural craze that swept China in the 1980s and 1990s. In that period of social transformation, "tradition" and "modernity" were in sharp conflict. In order to build a highly modernized industrial or post-industrial civilization, and to recreate the unique traditional features of the Chinese nation itself, China is faced with new opportunities and full of contradictions.Even in a children's TV series, we can still feel this subtle cultural mentality. The little dragon man first lost the dragon's tail, and then lost the dragon's horn to save his mother, and became a normal modern child. He is attached to his mother, but eventually integrates into modern society by his own strength. Does this mean that contemporary China cannot be without traditions, but cannot be addicted to traditions?
"Little Dragon Man" stills
Han Shaogong tried to dig out and rebuild the tradition of the deep potential cultural "root" in "Dad", but he found that the "root" had already decayed. The traditional illusoryness is exposed in the tone of irony. This may be the deep-seated psychological reason why Xiaolong people have been looking for their mothers but have not been able to do so. The new generation of Chinese teenagers must bravely embrace modernity and not go back.Therefore, whether the little dragon people have found their mother is destined to be a question that does not have a definite answer. Can "modernity" alone truly support the contemporary cultural edifice? Conversely, does the resurrection of "tradition" have to be at the expense of "modernity"? Sometimes conflict and sometimes fusion, every new development of modern Chinese culture can be regarded as the crystallization of this conflict or fusion. The little dragons who are growing up have a long way to go.
From the current point of view, "Little Dragon Man" is not so watchable or entertaining. Watching "Little Dragon Man" again, it often gives people a feeling of being unable to watch it. This is not because the play does not have a happy ending, but its aesthetics and performance style are indeed the products of the previous generation.
For example, this show loves reasoning. Uncle Dayong dragged Xiaolongren to look for his mother on the snowy mountains, and at the same time did not forget to teach him earnestly that a good child should not be afraid of difficulties; Xiaolongren was able to remove the dragon's tail before, and it was also under the education of Granny Cuicui that he did "three things" good thing". It's no wonder that there are many netizens, and the "preaching" meaning of this play is actually quite strong.
However, this drama cannot be judged in isolation from the times. Just like the campus ballads that swept the country in the 1980s and 1990s, the literary and artistic works at that time were not necessarily perfect, but in terms of the purpose of creation and the way of expression, the word "true" was highlighted. "Little Dragon Man" is really concerned about the future development of Chinese culture and the healthy growth of children. In this regard, it should not only leave us with that little nostalgic feeling.
Chen Jianan, the actor of Xiaolongren, gradually faded out of the showbiz after starring in some film and television dramas. He loves music and martial arts, and later became a martial arts coach in the "Hongjiaban", and also ran his own company; Qiqi's actor Yanagida later appeared in the movie "Crazy Rabbit", but he concentrated on She did not continue to develop in the entertainment industry after her studies. Like Jiang Yizhen who played the baby and Chen Chen who played Bei Bei, she chose to become an ordinary person. In this way, the most famous person in the whole "Little Dragon Man" is the old man Yu Qian who made a cameo appearance. Oh no, he was still a young man back then.
This may also be a good thing. Because "Little Dragon Man" tells the growth story of every ordinary Chinese teenager. Chen Jianan may not be able to become big stars, but they continue to pursue their dreams on the road of life. Perhaps, this is the best ending of "Little Dragon Man".
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