The Shanghai World Finance Center is hosting an art exhibition featuring famous Japanese anime characters Ultraman, Detective Conan and Chibi Maruko-chan.

Thirty paintings and five 1-meter-tall dolls of cartoon figures will be exhibited at the 1,000-square-meter hall, which is divided into three sections according to different cartoon themes. Visitors will only be able to see the 3-D effect by standing at a specific angle and having a picture taken, the resultant photograph producing an impressive third dimension.

According to Zhu Milan, a spokeswoman for the exhibition, the effect is produced through a special design of colors, perspective techniques and lighting.

"3-D is a hot topic and these anime characters have millions of fans all over the world - the two factors make the show worth visiting," she says.

For example, you can pose as if you fight monsters together with Ultraman, the fictional hero from outer space with the mission of protecting the earth. Visitors can let their imaginations run wild: kung fu kicking abreast with the hero or opening their mouths to spit fire at monsters.

Then join the happy family of Chibi Maruko-chan, a 9-year-old girl who is lazy and disorganized but kindhearted. You can pose alongside her family at the dinner table or join her in lighting fireworks.

The most popular figure is Detective Conan from Case Closed. Fans have been charmed by the adventures of Conan, a high school detective who was inadvertently transformed into a child after being poisoned.

Zhao Yujie, a 24-year-old teacher in Shanghai, came with her friend for Conan and they were surprised to find there are more cartoon figures to see. "I have been a fan of Conan since I was young and watched every episode, so this is an exhibition I would not miss," she says excitedly before posing as if she were helping Conan to catch a criminal with a rope.

A popular painting shows a criminal scene where you can lie on the floor and pretend to be a dead man under the investigation of detectives. Big screens on the wall broadcast episodes in the series.

wuni@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/15/2013 page15)