A Jewish Girl in Shanghai

A Jewish Girl in Shanghai is a 2010 Chinese animated feature film based on the children's novel of the same name by Wu Lin. Produced by the Shanghai Film Group and the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, the project was created to commemorate the history of the Shanghai Ghetto, where approximately 20,000 European Jewish refugees sought safety during the Second World War. The film aimed to bridge cultural and historical gaps by telling a story of friendship between a local Chinese girl and a refugee family, framing this complex historical period for a younger audience.

The production sought to balance historical gravity with the aesthetic conventions of modern animation, utilizing a vibrant visual style that contrasted with the somber backdrop of the era. The project was notably received as a rare instance of Chinese animation tackling Holocaust-related history, receiving both state support and international interest at various film festivals. While critics noted its simplified approach to the historical narrative, it remains a significant cultural document regarding the rarely explored relationship between the Chinese population and Jewish refugees in wartime Shanghai.