A hero of a different stripe

The main creators also visited the Hexi Corridor and Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu province, seeking inspiration for an epic scene that features a group of ruthless bandits piloting a ship-like vehicle to chase Hudun and his partner, the swordsman Yang, in a desert.

China's traditional values highlight that a promise should be kept, and Zou says the filmmakers believe biaoshi embodies the noble Chinese spirit, and he wishes such a message can be conveyed overseas, enabling China's traditional culture to reach more foreigners.

Zou reveals a touching story behind the scene－the production had been struggling, and some of the team's top animators volunteered to reduce their salaries during the toughest period of the past two years.

"All of us have a passion and love for animation. A qualified animator is not a worker on an assembly line, but the creator of a new soul," says Zou.

"Most of our animators also know how to act, which has helped them to obtain a profound and distinctive understanding of their characters, making their work more appealing," he says.