Animated epic reimagines the birth of Three Kingdoms legends

Following the phenomenal success of Chang An — the animated hit chronicling the lifelong friendship between ancient poets Li Bai and Gao Shi — Light Chaser Animation is returning to the summer box office with its latest historical epic, Three Kingdoms: The Beginning.

Set for nationwide release on July 10, the film is the first installment of a planned trilogy exploring the legendary figures and defining events of the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280).

Drawing on both historian Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms and writer Luo Guanzhong's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the film aims to strike a balance between historical authenticity and the dramatic appeal of one of China's best-known literary masterpieces.

Set in the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), the story follows the young Cao Cao and Yuan Shao as political turmoil engulfs the imperial court. Their struggle against a powerful eunuch faction sets off a chain of events that leads to the rise of the ruthless warlord Dong Zhuo, laying the groundwork for the decades of conflict that would ultimately usher in the Three Kingdoms era.

At a Beijing premiere on Sunday, executive producer Yu Zhou said the overwhelming audience response to Chang An gave the studio the confidence to continue adapting stories rooted in traditional Chinese culture. He added that the team hopes to introduce more audiences to Chinese culture and wisdom through animation.

Director Xie Junwei said the team wanted to explore the origins of the Three Kingdoms era by tracing the early journeys of its most celebrated historical figures. "These legendary heroes were not born as heroes. Each of them had their own path before becoming the people remembered by history," he said.

The film has also won praise from audiences for its sweeping battle scenes and distinctive aesthetics. At the premiere, many viewers described it as a visually spectacular historical epic that surpassed expectations, while applauding its fresh take on one of China's most enduring historical sagas.