Chinese lion dance the secret star of upcoming animated film

Chinese animators are increasingly interested in drawing inspiration from traditional culture to resonate with domestic audiences, a trend confirmed by the new animation "I am what I am" due out this Friday.

The movie centers around a group of children learning the lion dance, a form of traditional dance in China usually performed by two people in a lion costume during festivals.

The animation also showcases many traditional characteristics of southern China including kapok, the city flower of Guangzhou, an ancestral hall, a salted fish shop, some beef balls, and more.

Prescreening events have been held in several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Guangzhou, with moviegoers applauding the realistic nature of the animation.

An IMAX poster for the new Chinese animation "I am what I am," which is due to hit local theaters on Friday, Dec 17, 2021 [Photo provided to China Plus]

One viewer has shared her comments on Douban, a popular Chinese social networking service website, noting that “the scene of a young boy doing a lion dance on a rooftop against the backdrop of a rising sun kept replaying in my mind, showing the passion of life."

IMAX China is also helping to promote the new Chinese movie. In addition to arranging several prescreening events, "I am what I am" is scheduled to hit over 700 IMAX theaters in China on Friday.

In its recently issued 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for Chinese cinematic development, the China Film Administration proposed that relevant authorities support the creation and production of animated films that highlight "the spirit of China and the aesthetic style of the East” to better meet domestic demand and improve cultural awareness among teenagers.