“Good comics will always be handed down for generations,” stated the distinguished comics artist and designer of Kuai Kuai Cookie’s comics Chen Zhi-Hua. At the work resumption and blessing ceremony of Zhudong Comics and Animation Park, Chen showed his recognition of Hsinchu County government’s dedication to building this international tourism site and meanwhile to blending Hsinchu’s cultures into elements of manga. Chen also acknowledged that the mixture of comics, anime and diverse local cultures can overwhelm the visitors with a strong manga atmosphere. The new Comics and Animation Park will be built at the former site of Taiwan Railways Administration’s shabby warehouse after its remodeling and is to be born on August, 2014.
“Zhudong Comics and Animation Park is expected to become the rising star and spotlight at the International Comics Festival and a new tourist attraction in Taiwan,” the Administrative Deputy Minister of Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC) Fan Zhi-Gu said in native Hakka with Zhudong accent. Fan stressed that the MTC will grant its all-out effort to help the County fulfill the vision of building a “Place of Comics and Animation.” To promote Hsinchu’s industry of comics and animation, the County government already mapped out the construction project of Zhudong Comics and Animation Park (West Side Park) on the west side of Zhudong Train Station Square. The whole park has 6 pavilions: Vision Pavilion, Multi-media Pavilion, Master Pavilion, Visitor Center, Mushroom House and Souvenir Shops.
Zhudong Comics and Animation Park will occupy an area of 7,800 square meters, and will be run by Nine Station Magic Cultural and Creative Corporation (九驛魔法文創股份有限公司). Aiming at integrating Taiwan’s resources, talent and industrial development of comics and anime, the Park will show its attempt to produce more fertile land for Taiwan’s industries of comics and anime, thus allowing Taiwan to take roots in developing the domestic comics and animation. The Park area features elements of comics and animation, and will become the core base of comics and anime for the exchange and study of comics skills and production. In addition, the Park can also serve as the premise for large-scale international performance and exchange activities, and is expected to allow performances and activities of comics and anime to be held here.
As an open base, the Park is to collaborate with Hsinchu County’s schools in all levels via the industry-academia platform with its aim to cultivate students’ interests in composing comics, the Hsinchu County government’s Transportation and Tourism Department pinpointed. Furthermore, through the fertile land of cultures and local features, students are provided with more opportunities to study and experience the production and learning of comics and anime, thereby further creating the brand value of Taiwan’s sustainable cultural and creative industries and sustainably strengthening Taiwan’s soft power.
Through the County government’s discreet plans and active investment promotion, the Park will feature the diverse arts, cultures and aesthetics, and will combine each brand and store with local and comics features, thus achieving the goal of “One Store One Story.” With different stories presented for visitors, different reflections and insights will be provoked. On March 11, the County government held the work resumption and blessing ceremony of Zhudong Comics and Animation Park (West Side Park) Construction Project, and Magistrate Chiu and other attendees all prayed for the future success of the construction. A total of NT$ 36.8 million is to be spent on the renovation of former TRA site and construction of the Park, and the period is projected to span 180 calendar days.
Source: Transportation and Tourism Department, Hsinchu County Government
Writer: Chen Zhi-Hong (Tel: 5518101, ext.3913)