Pandas are an integral part of Chinese culture, but now an animated movie is taking China’s beloved animal global.

The upcoming movie “Panda vs. Aliens” is set to hit theaters around the world next year. It follows a group of aliens who land on an animal planet and seek the power of a panda who they’ve only seen on TV.

“We developed 'Panda vs. Aliens' to play to two different international markets and definitely did our homework on cultural beliefs and meanings,” the film’s writer and director Sean O’Reilly told CGTN Digital. “That, and pandas are pretty darn adorable!”

This movie could be China’s first global tent-pole and has already been sold to major film markets around the world, including the US through Viva Pictures.

“In the development and production of 'Panda vs. Aliens' we’ve carefully catered to both North American and Chinese audiences in a true collaborative format,” he said.  “A vivid and imaginative animation story, along with everyone’s collaborative hard work, have laid down the blueprints for great success in numerous countries worldwide.”

Adding to “Panda vs. Aliens” global interest is Arcana Studio's partnership with legendary comic book author Stan Lee.

“His characters are dynamic, creative and straight from the mind of a Marvel icon!,” O’Reilly said.

China’s Camsing Global acquired Lee's POW! Entertainment in March and has established a joint venture linking Star Pictures, with Beijing Film Co. and Beijing Novo United Films to develop movies and other projects based on five as-yet-unspecified characters created by Lee.

O’Reilly said his Vancouver-based studio partnered with Lee’s POW Entertainment and will also include his characters “The Unknowns” in the film.

“I was producing 'Panda vs Aliens' with Steve Chicorel and Baiyi Chen, and I asked them, 'so these aliens… what if we used aliens that Stan Lee created?' Everyone gave a big yes.”

“Panda vs. Aliens” was entirely funded by Chinese investors and is executive produced by Lee and Gill Champion. Baiyi Chen and Steve Chicorel of Los Angeles-Beijing Studios (LABS) are producing it.  

“We are planning a premiere in China in mid-2018,” Chicorel told CGTN Digital.

O'Reilly said stars voicing the characters in "Panda vs. Aliens" will be announced in the months leading up to the film's release.

He would not divulge too much information about the film's story.

“Well, there’s Panda’s… and they are against aliens,” he said. “Seriously though, I think the unique nature of Stan Lee’s aliens really brings something unique to this.”

O’Reilly stressed that they have done their research, knowing how important pandas are in China. “In the development and production of 'Panda vs. Aliens' we’ve carefully catered to both North American and Chinese audiences in a true collaborative format. A vivid and imaginative animation story, along with everyone’s collaborative hard work, have laid down the blueprints for great success in numerous countries worldwide.”