Plans announced for a feature-length animation film on the panda
CGTN
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The new panda-themed film combines computer animation and Chinese wash painting technique. /China Daily Photo

The new panda-themed film combines computer animation and Chinese wash painting technique. /China Daily Photo

The giant panda, which is China's national treasure and a cultural icon, has inspired several films and animation series. But in China, the world's second-largest film market, there are few feature-length films with the fluffy, cute creature as a protagonist.

But now, a domestic animation feature that combines computer animation and Chinese ink painting technique, is to be made.

Titled "I am Taishan, a panda from China.", the film is inspired by Taishan, the first giant panda born at the National Zoo of the U.S., according to the producers.

Poster of the new Chinese animated film inspired by Taishan, the first giant panda born in the National Zoo of the U.S.. /China Daily Photo

Poster of the new Chinese animated film inspired by Taishan, the first giant panda born in the National Zoo of the U.S.. /China Daily Photo

The film will be jointly produced by Zhejiang University, The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, and two Beijing-based film production companies.

The production will be directed by Song Yuefeng, best known for his 2014 animated film "Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn," which earned 7.5 points out of 10 on China's most popular film review site, Douban.

Fang Shenguo, a wildlife expert and a professor at Zhejiang University, will be one of the scriptwriters.

Taishan's parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, were loaned to the U.S. in 2000. The birth of Taishan on July 9, 2005 set off a new wave of panda fever in the U.S., with about 200,000 people voting for its name. Taishan returned to China in February, 2010 according to the loan agreement and a large number of Americans went to the zoo to see off the baby panda when it left on a snowy day.

Source(s): China Daily