Movie "Arthur and the Minimoys" [Photo: thebeijingnews]

"Arthur and the Minimoys," also known as "Arthur and the Invisibles," written and directed by French director Luc Besson, will be the first foreign film to hit cinemas across China next year.

This animated movie is slated to premiere in France on December 13. When Luc Besson attended the Shanghai International Film Festival as the jury president in June, he promised "Arthur and the Minimoys" would be his first work to screen in Chinese cinemas.　

The movie's Chinese promoter revealed "Arthur and the Minimoys" has received permission to screen in the country. It is scheduled for a January release.

The movie is the director's ninth work. It is also the one that he has spent the longest on preparation time.

It based on Luc Besson's adventure novel of the same name about a 10-year-old boy named Arthur. In a bid to save his grandfather's house from being demolished, he goes searching for a fabled hidden treasure in the land of the Minimoys, a tiny people who live in harmony with nature.

Rock veteran David Bowie and Madonna lend their voices to characters in the English version.