To capture the authentic spirit of ancient Qiang legends, the creative team behind the animation feature, "A Story About Fire (Ran Bi Wa)," journeyed deep into regions where the Qiang people reside today. Their expedition spanned Lixian, Maoxian and Wenchuan counties in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province. 

According to producer Wang Anyi, the film's raw, elemental sound style was forged through a collaboration with the iconic Chinese folk band "Wild Children." Seeking the most "primitive and moving echoes" of mountain life, the team recorded a wealth of folk artists, including masters of the kouxian (mouth harp), the Qiang flute and the goatskin drum, and the Shibi (Qiang priest).

Thus, the film's sound is deeply rooted in the earth. It breathes with the resonance of a kouxian melody preserved by a Wenchuan elder, the mystical rhythms of Shibi chanting, and the rugged vitality of the traditional "Hunting Song." Rather than acting as a mere backdrop, these authentic sounds infuse the film with a profound energy rooted in the Qiang people's ancestral landscape.

The film was released exclusively through the Nationwide Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas starting April 28.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Director: Zhao Ying

Videographers: Han Xu, Guo Huakang

Cover image designer: Liu Shaozhen

For more:

Animator Li Wenyu: Reimagining an ancient legend of the Qiang with ink-wash animation

PAGE X: Crafting animation from the heart of life