Drawing back the curtains

"Each one is like a time capsule, preserving the essence of cinematic history," says Cheng.

Riding on the success of Ne Zha 2, the exhibition includes a special section featuring the cinematic evolution of the titular character, a household deity whose story has been retold in Chinese films and TV series, among them the 1979 animated feature Nezha Conquers the Dragon King.

Zhang Boshi, who curated the exhibition, says it was put together over the course of four months.