The Death Feigning Chinaman

About This Movie

The Death Feigning Chinaman is quite the oddity from 1928, an animation that juggles humor with a strange sort of societal critique. The story follows Ping Pong, who, after receiving a bottle of alcohol from the Emperor, winds up dead from choking on a fish bone. The absurdity of the city’s denial to take responsibility for his demise really sets the tone—it's darkly comic yet a reflection on avoidance of accountability. The animation style is rudimentary by today’s standards, but there’s a charm in its simplicity. The pacing feels a bit uneven at times, which adds to its quirky nature. It’s hard to find, and collectors who appreciate the unconventional might see value in its unique blend of themes and visuals.

This film is relatively rare in collector circles, with very few prints surviving from its original release. A handful of silent film enthusiasts have kept it in their personal archives, though it’s seldom screened publicly. While there’s not a huge market for it, those who delve into early animation often find The Death Feigning Chinaman a fascinating study in both humor and the era's cultural reflections.