Pingyao moves to produce animations on ancient city

Government officials from Pingyao county hold a meeting on production of an animation on April 15. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn] 

Government officials of Pingyao county in North China's Shanxi province held a meeting on April 15 on speeding up progress in the production of animations themed around the culture of the Ancient City of Pingyao, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to local officials. 

Last year, Pingyao county government signed a cooperation agreement with Unicom Wo Anime Culture Technology Co on an Ancient City of Pingyao animation intellectual property (IP) project. 

Since the project signing, the company has sent teams to go to the UNESCO World Heritage Site to explore its local rich culture and draw landmark scenes as source materials for the animation. 

In addition, the company invited famous animation director Mike Johnson from the United States and Chinese new animator Wang Kuiqiang to work together on the 52-episode animation showing the historical and cultural charms of the ancient city with a history of stretching back over 2,700 years. 

At the meeting, animation project undertaker Unicom Wo Anime Culture Technology Co and directors of the production team gave detailed reports on the creation of the animation scripts, character settings, animation production, the setting of storyboard scripts, as well as animation distribution and promotion methods. 

Shi Yong, head of Pingyao county government, affirmed the preliminary design work of the animation at the meeting. 

He emphasized that the animation project aimed to create top cultural IP for the Ancient City of Pingyao, transform that IP into assets and commercialize it to enhance Pingyao's reputation. 

Shi also urged the production team to further highlight Pingyao's special local culture in the animation -- to open a window for the global audience to learn about its scenery, culture and food. 

Officials said financial and policy support will be given by the local government to facilitate the project and advance the animation industry's growth in the county. 

The animation is expected to be officially released during the summer vacation in 2021, according to the production team.