Hit internet documentary series returns to Youku

Mini documentary series The Great Shokunin will return to video streaming site Youku, with the upcoming third season scheduled for release on Jan 18.

A joint production of Alibaba-owned Youku and Cicada Modern, a media company based in Hunan province, The Great Shokunin franchise gained a huge online following in the previous two seasons, attracting a total of 1 billion clicks.

The new season, which examines the theme of the master-apprentice relationship in Chinese culture, features 12 craftsmen and their distinctive skills in making traditional handicrafts, such as Beijing’s dark-red enameled pottery and Shandong provinces' Spring Festival paintings.

As in previous productions, the series aims to grab the spotlight again using star power. Taiwan actress-model Lin Chi-ling returns as narrator, while pop star Hua Chenyu sings the theme song.

Director Zhang Yang, recently known for the hit documentary Paths of the Soul, is executive producer of the series.

In addition to developing new seasons of the online franchise, the shows' producers say they are also planning a feature-length movie.