A poster for the film. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The main creators also visited the Hexi Corridor and Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu province, seeking inspiration for an epic scene that features a group of ruthless bandits piloting a ship-like vehicle to chase Hudun and his partner, the swordsman Yang, in a desert.

China's traditional values highlight that a promise should be kept, and Zou says the filmmakers believe biaoshi embodies the noble Chinese spirit, and he wishes such a message can be conveyed overseas, enabling China's traditional culture to reach more foreigners.

Zou reveals a touching story behind the scene - the production had been struggling, and some of the team's top animators volunteered to reduce their salaries during the toughest period of the past two years.

"All of us have a passion and love for animation. A qualified animator is not a worker on an assembly line, but the creator of a new soul," says Zou.

"Most of our animators also know how to act, which has helped them to obtain a profound and distinctive understanding of their characters, making their work more appealing," he says.