HANGZHOU, China, July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The annual "Hangzhou Liangzhu Day" returned on July 6, 2025! On July 7, a new animated short series, "The Quintet of Liangzhu Civilization", was released to audiences worldwide. Jointly presented by the Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Site Administrative District Management Committee and the China Center for International Communication Development, and produced by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, this groundbreaking series brings the Liangzhu civilization to life through five distinct shorts, Pottery, Jade, Stone, Agriculture, and Fire, each spotlighting a key element of Liangzhu culture. Five artistic genres—watercolor, colored pencil, printmaking, ink wash, and paper-cutting—infuse each episode with a unique visual identity, telling the stories of Liangzhu's five-thousand-year legacy. It is a fusion of Chinese animation with archaeology, history, and culture, representing a pioneering model in civilizational narrative.
World Premiere of the “Quintet of Liangzhu Civilization” Animated Shorts on Liangzhu Day
The series celebrates the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, the sacred proof of China's continuous five-millennia civilization, by animating the richness and unique charm of Liangzhu culture. Based on robust historical sources, it not only reconstructs Liangzhu's glory and daily realities, but also portrays the nuanced journeys of characters and their interactions with the civilization's core elements, pottery, jade, stone, agriculture, and fire. The shorts unfold stories about how the young potter "Ye" and the jade worker "Yue" grew; how "Ben" found renewed purpose as a stonemason during his daily practice after his father's passing; and how the Shuyi couple lived a harmonious life. The series reaches its climax as all five protagonists unite within the Liangzhu City to confront a devastating granary fire, weaving together inventive, emotionally resonant tales.
With a focus on the features of Liangzhu culture, this series creates a new production paradigm by integrating culture, art, and technology. It harnesses AI technologies during pre-production to refine character and scene design, ensuring a faithful reflection of Liangzhu's cultural heritage. The commitment to hand-drawn artistry, which pairs sophisticated brushwork with Chinese visual language, brings out the Liangzhu cultural flavor in everything from headgear to architecture. Each episode's visual identity is tailored to its specific narrative, breathing new life into these Liangzhu stories.
