Legendary duo charms new age

For instance, one major scene features a temple adorned with many colorful clay sculptures of Buddhist figures, inspired by the Shuilu Temple, located 60 kilometers southeast of Xi'an in Shaanxi province. With over 3,700 painted clay sculptures spanning from the walls to the dome, this temple — built around 1,400 years ago — had endured through six dynasties, standing as a treasure trove of ancient and exquisite sculptures with rare colors. The scene was partly re-created during the exhibition.

According to Xuan, some foreign visitors have also developed an interest in visiting the exhibition. He personally guided groups from multiple countries including Bulgaria, Poland, France, Germany, Singapore and Thailand.

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, AI-powered animation production has become a major topic of discussion at the festival.

Selig, also founder and president of China Bridge Content — a company specializing in international cooperation — says that AI is transforming every stage of animation production, from story development to final output, and its impact continues to evolve daily.

However, he adds a note of caution, saying that while AI is reducing costs, it remains uncertain whether it can truly enhance the quality of animation. "Many believe AI will harm the deep human connection that we all seek when enjoying a film or any other work of art," he adds.

Wang Yueping, a veteran industry insider from Suzhou in Jiangsu province, says that even in today's information-saturated world, the ability to craft a compelling story — a distinctly human creative skill — remains beyond the reach of AI.