Well-versed epic

Figures and works

The movie marks the latest effort of Light Chaser Animation Studios, a Beijing-based company specializing in works inspired by domestic culture and history. Its previous blockbusters include the White Snake franchise and New Gods: Yang Jian.

Song, the producer, reveals Chang'an is the first installment of a new franchise titled New Culture, which aims to reinterpret historical figures and classic works through the medium of animation.

"For most Chinese people, the Tang Dynasty represents one of the most illustrious chapters in our nation's cultural history. This era has profoundly shaped our cultural heritage, with Tang poetry playing a significant role," explains Song.

"Therefore, it was only natural for us to immediately consider Li Bai as the protagonist for the first movie in our franchise," she adds.

As the movie has also been scheduled to be released overseas, director Zou also expressed his hopes of attracting more foreign audiences.

"We hope that after watching this film, foreign audiences will discover that there was such a dynasty in China where poets could passionately create poetry, capturing the landscapes and the joys and sorrows of that era within their verses. We also hope that more foreign viewers will develop a deeper curiosity about Chinese poets such as Li Bai and Du Fu," he says.