According to folklore experts, the legend of Yang conjuring up divine power to split a mountain and rescue his trapped mother has evolved over centuries, through the Song (960-1279) and Ming dynasties (1368-1644). His sister's son Chenxiang, who also uses his magical power to split a mountain and save his mother, has seen his legend accumulating popularity from a Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) play. The two tales are widely regarded as a metaphor to symbolize Chinese people's courage in resisting oppression and the unjust rule of the feudal dynasties.
For Zhao and his fellow creators, their main challenge was to find a new way of retelling the tale that would make it more relatable to a modern audience.
"The two legends are both about a youngster trying to save his mother, so they have a shared core centering on the affection and love of family. We believed that was the thing which could open the door for our story," says Zhao.
Continuing Light Chaser studio's trademark style of blending traditional culture and modern punk fashion, the new movie has gathered around 300 animators to make hundreds of visually stunning scenes, exemplified by the heavenly architecture floating in the sky, a Flying Apsaras-style dance and a fight which takes place in a brush painting scroll featuring the tai chi symbol.
