Animated series draws from tradition and plays on game origins

The mobile game Honor of Kings, celebrated for its intuitive gameplay, diverse hero roster and immersive multiplayer experience, has achieved widespread acclaim domestically and internationally.

Recently, a new 3D animated series based on the game's heroic characters and underlying narratives has been released. This four-episode animation centers around the game's hero, Li Bai, who has become immensely popular among young gaming enthusiasts.

Set against the backdrop of a fictional world, the storyline revolves around Li's quest for family and homecoming, through the adventurous journey of the youth in the city of Chang'an.

In the story, the young protagonist, who is brimming with poetic talent and martial skills, leaves his hometown of Suiyue city to venture to the bustling metropolis of Chang'an.

There, he hopes to witness the most beautiful things in the world but becomes ensnared by the opulence and extravagance of the city.

A letter from home prompts Li to return, only for him to discover that his hometown has mysteriously vanished.

In the process of unraveling this enigma, he gradually realizes the importance of his roots and that the most beautiful thing could also be familial bonds.

Li undergoes a spiritual transformation, ultimately growing into a true hero.

The series started to air on Tencent's video-sharing platform on Saturday.

It seeks to portray heroes embodying traditional Chinese culture and values, emphasizing the principles of truth, kindness and beauty inherent in Chinese traditions.

The four episodes use family as a starting point to portray the preciousness of one's hometown, aiming to shed light on reality, according to Lu Keyan, one of the animation's producers.

"In the present context, where many young individuals leave their hometowns for urban areas, the series seeks to resonate with the homesickness experienced by contemporary youth who are working in places away from their roots," he adds.

While set in a fictional world, the animation's artistic design draws inspiration from recognizable elements of traditional Chinese culture in such aspects as architecture and costume.

For instance, the opening scene of the animation incorporates the poetic and picturesque essence of qushui liushang (winding waters and flowing goblets), a custom in which literati would sit and enjoy an elegant and leisurely drink while seated along the banks of a winding stream.

"The architecture in this scene is influenced by the traditional style of the southern region along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River," says Lu.

The clothing designs for the characters in the animation are influenced by styles from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and include attire from ethnic groups like the Miao and Yi.

"The animated film also includes traditional Chinese musical instruments, such as the guqin (a seven-stringed Chinese zither) and flute, with the intention of offering young audiences a more immersive experience of traditional music," adds Lu.

On Jan 6, the animation art committee of the Chinese Television Artists Association organized an expert symposium in Beijing.

During the event, experts delved into discussions on the innovative development of Chinese animation and its role in promoting traditional Chinese culture, using the first animated version of the mobile game as a case study.

Mao Yong, secretary-general of the animation art committee, says that Honor of Kings has a vast global user base and the decision to adapt it into an animation will help extend its status as intellectual property.

"This animated series could further develop the characters in the game and enrich the storylines. It represents a promising direction for the creation of online animation," Mao says.

Huang Xinyuan, Party secretary of the School Of Animation and Digital Arts of the Communication University Of China, believes that the animated series can easily connect with today's young generations.

"Many young people nowadays are, in a way, like Li, drifting away from their hometowns. Initially, when young individuals venture out, they may perceive the outside world as appealing. However, after several years pass, changes occur in their hometowns — parents age, and suddenly strong emotional attachments to their hometowns emerge. Such experiences make it easy for the audience to relate," he says.

Zhang Li, director of the new media department at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, emphasized that this animation unquestionably showcases Chinese aesthetics.

"There are many intriguing elements in Chinese historical myths, folk stories and traditional opera narratives. Their artistic style and visual representation display Chinese aesthetics, which provides animation creators with rich material for in-depth exploration and study," Zhang says.