As the first open trading port as well as the most prosperous city before the 20th century, Shanghai possessed sufficient resources for the development of Chinese movies.
The Shanghai Film Studio was founded on November 16, 1949, the first director being Linren Yu[citation needed].
In the short period from 1949 to 1959, Shanghai Film Studio prospered and emerged as the largest film studio in Mainland China, exerting a profound influence on the Chinese cinema.
In 1999, under the direction of General Manager Zhu Yongde, a new 62 acre modern-equipped facility outside Shanghai for tourists and film production was opened.
Since then, the studio has been a key component in revitalizing the nation's animation industry.