A poster for the film "Chang'an" shows a discussion between two poets from the Tang Dynasty, Gao Shi and Du Fu. /Photo provided to CGTN
A new animated film depicting the lives of a group of poets dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) – including Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei and Wang Changling – has recently hit Chinese theaters, drawing warm applause from both children and parents alike.
Directed by Xie Junwei and Zou Jing, the animation titled "Chang'an" centers around the ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty, today's Xi'an, located in northwest China. "Chang'an" is seen from the perspective of poet Gao Shi, a far less famous figure than either Li Bai or Du Fu.
A poster for the film "Chang'an" shows two poets from Tang Dynasty, Gao Shi and Li Bai, crossing a bridge in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. /Photo provided to CGTN
"Compared to Li Bai, whose life experiences are unusually magical and legendary, Gao Shi is just an ordinary official serving the imperial court. Gao Shi is not a prodigy but he pursued his ideals through a kind of simple persistency. With him leading the plot, moviegoers will find it easier to resonate with the film and better understand the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty," Zou Jing explained.
The director further emphasized: "We created 'Chang'an' to explore the limitless treasures of Chinese culture through animation. We aim to better spread the essence of traditional Chinese culture and enable more moviegoers to develop an affinity for it through our production."
Boasting a running time of 168 minutes, "Chang'an" has banked more than 200 million yuan (approximately $28 million) in domestic box office earnings since hitting theaters on July 8.