"Thru the Moebius Strip", the most expensive animated film ever
made in China and which features the work of more than 400 artists
from eight countries, was released in China Friday.
The 16.25-million-US$ animation, about a resourceful boy's
adventures, is thoroughly Western in terms of visual style, content
and characterisation, Teresa Cao, assistant to the general manager
of the Institute of Digital Media Technology (Shenzhen) Limited,
who produced the movie, told Xinhua Thursday.
"We spent five years making the three-dimensional film," Cao
said. She explained that many famous foreign artists appeared on
the credit list including director Glenn Chaika ("Mulan 2"),
animation supervisor Kelvin Lee ("City of Angels" and "Stuart
Little") and Bob Koch ("Toy Story 2" and "A Bug's Life").
The film was inspired by Frenchman Jean "Moebius" Giraud, widely
acknowledged as one of the major influences in the visual arts
field, for his contributions to "Alien," "The Abyss" and "The Fifth
Element."
"We'll deliver more than 100 copies nationwide and expect to
earn over 10 million yuan (US$1.25 million) at the box office on
the Chinese mainland," Cao said.
Overseas distribution rights for the movie have been sold to
more than 10 countries. Merchandising products such as illustration
albums, books, clothes, accessories and toys will also be sold, she
said.
The film was made in English with Chinese as a second language.
This is a first for a China-made film.
After hitting a real high during the 1960-70s, China's animation
industry was overwhelmed by Japanese and American rivals. "Thru the
Moebius Strip" is another opportunity to climb back up the rankings
following on from "Lotus Lantern" (1999), "The Butterfly Lovers"
(2003) and "Little Soldier of Zhangga" (2005).
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)