Ban Ye Ji Jiao

Ban Ye Ji Jiao, or Night Guest, is a notable short film produced by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio during the mid-20th century. Released in 1958, the film reflects the studio's broader initiative to integrate traditional Chinese artistic aesthetics, such as ink-wash painting techniques, into the medium of animation. This period was a pivotal era for Chinese animation, as creators sought to distinguish their work from Western and Soviet styles by drawing heavily from classical art forms and folklore.

The production utilized stylized visuals to tell its narrative, emphasizing atmosphere and fluid movement that mirrored the depth of brush-and-ink compositions. While the film is a lesser-known entry compared to the studio's landmark works like Uproar in Heaven, it serves as an important example of the technical experimentation pursued by directors and animators at the time. It was well-received for its artistic ambition, showcasing the studio's commitment to creating a uniquely nationalistic visual language in animated cinema.