Chinese animation industry has been growing in recent years. Among other factors, the Walt Disney Company also made a huge contribution.

"For the past several decades, the Walt Disney Company in China has been actively supporting the development of the local creative service industry through nurturing local creative talent, exploring great Chinese stories and sharing our learnings and best practices in building a vibrant local creative ecosystem," said Dai Hua, general manager of Local Original Content at the Walt Disney Company (China) Limited, in an interview with Xinhua by email Wednesday.

"Our foundations were created in animation, and we are extremely aware of the role Disney can play to share over 90 years of animation expertise with China's local animation industry," he said.

Disney brought 20 of China's leading animators, animation company executives, writers, and government officials to western U.S. state of California for a three-week training in August to learn from the very best: Disney channel's top studio executives, finest animators, directors, and producers.

As part of the training program, Disney also gave them access to an active production to get a first-hand understanding of the complex production process.

Viewed from another perspective, China also provides a big market for Disney in return. Disney's growth is also indispensable with the Chinese audience's and fans' support, and inspiration from Chinese culture, as well.

As one of the most successful Hollywood studios in China, Disney has made films that appeal to the Chinese audience. According to Box office Mojo, Disney's superhero film "Avengers: Infinity War" earned more than 359 million U.S. dollars in China, becoming the top-grossing foreign film released in China this year by far.

"Last year we announced that Chinese actress Liu Yifei would be cast as Disney's Mulan in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney's 1998 classic animation. Based on the Chinese folktale, Mulan tells a story that resonates with everyone here in China. It's a great honor for us to have Liu to play the legendary warrior," said John Hsu, general manager of Studio at the Walt Disney Company (China) Limited.

Hua Mulan, according to Chinese legend, lived in a tumultuous era of Chinese history more than 1,400 years ago. She disguised herself as a man so that she could serve in the army in place of her aged father.

(Top Photo: Famous animation figure Mickey and Minnie Mouse in festive costumes in Shanghai Disney Resort, December 16, 2018 /VCG Photo)