Thirty Thousand Miles from Chang'an
Synopsis
"Chang'an 30,000 Li" is a 2023 historical animated film produced by Light Chaser Animation, with a Douban rating of 8.3 and box office earnings exceeding 1.7 billion yuan. Centered on the friendship between Tang Dynasty poets Gao Shi and Li Bai, it showcases the poetic culture of the High Tang period and the magnificent panorama of the Tang Dynasty's golden age. With a runtime of 168 minutes, it holds the record for the longest Chinese animated film.
Overview
Chang'an 30,000 Li is a 2023 historical animated film produced by Light Chaser Animation and directed by Xie Junwei and Zou Jing. The film uses the recollections of the Tang dynasty poet Gao Shi as its narrative perspective, telling the story of the decades-long profound friendship between Gao Shi and Li Bai, as well as the brilliant poetic culture of the High Tang era. With a runtime of 168 minutes, it is the longest animated film in the history of Chinese animation. Released in mainland China on July 8, 2023, it holds a Douban rating of 8.3 and a box office exceeding 1.7 billion yuan, making it Light Chaser Animation's most critically and commercially successful work since its founding.
The film is not merely an animated movie but also a heartfelt tribute to classical Chinese poetry culture. It features the appearances of dozens of Tang dynasty poets such as Li Bai, Gao Shi, Du Fu, Wang Wei, and Meng Haoran, and recites nearly fifty classic Tang poems, allowing the audience to relive those timeless verses etched into the nation's cultural DNA amidst light and shadow.
Plot
The film begins with the elderly Gao Shi reminiscing about the past after the An Lushan Rebellion. In his youth, Gao Shi (voiced by Yang Tianxiang) was a steady and ambitious young man, determined to achieve merit on the battlefield. By chance, he meets the exceptionally talented and unrestrained Li Bai (voiced by Ling Zhenhe). The two become fast friends upon meeting.
Li Bai is a born poet, carefree and supremely talented, with his poems taking the world by storm. Gao Shi, in contrast, is steady and introverted, less gifted in literature than Li Bai, but he remains down-to-earth, tempering himself in the military life of the frontier. Their life paths diverge sharply: Li Bai unleashes his talent amidst the splendor of Chang'an, only to suffer setbacks in political turmoil; Gao Shi hones his will in the frontier's wind and sand, eventually stepping forward during the crisis of the An Lushan Rebellion.
The most震撼ing segment of the film is the scene where Li Bai recites "Invitation to Wine." By the banks of the Yellow River, Li Bai, intoxicated, sings loudly: "Do you not see the Yellow River's waters descending from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return?" The majestic visuals perfectly merge with the poetry, vividly portraying the heroic spirit and tragic grandeur of this "Poet Immortal," making it the most unforgettable climax of the entire film.
Main Characters
| Character | Poet | Voice Actor | Introduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gao Shi | Frontier Poet | Yang Tianxiang | Steady and practical, aspires to achieve merit and success |
| Li Bai | Poet Immortal | Ling Zhenhe | Exceptionally talented, carefree and unrestrained |
| Du Fu | Poet Sage | — | Profound and restrained, concerned for his country and people |
| Wang Wei | Poet Buddha | — | Painting in poetry, poetry in painting |
| Meng Haoran | Landscape Poet | — | Tranquil and natural, reclusive and noble |
Cultural Impact
Chang'an 30,000 Li has been praised as one of the best domestic animated films in recent years. Its presentation of Tang poetry culture sparked widespread public discussion. After its release, search volumes for famous Tang poems like "Invitation to Wine," "Departing from Baidi City at Dawn," and "Quiet Night Thoughts" surged. Many parents, after watching the film with their children, recited Tang poems together, igniting a trend of revisiting classical poetry.
Light Chaser Animation demonstrated an extremely high level of animation production in the film. From the grandeur of Chang'an city to the misty rain of Yangzhou, from the lone smoke over the desert frontier to the ceaseless flow of the Yangtze River, every frame resembles an exquisite Chinese painting. Particularly in the "Invitation to Wine" segment, the scene of Li Bai riding the wind straight up to the Ninth Heaven and drinking with immortals pushes classical Chinese romanticism to its extreme.
The film's box office exceeded 1.7 billion yuan, ranking it among the top-grossing Chinese animated films in history. Its success proves that animated films with traditional Chinese culture at their core have immense market potential and provides significant inspiration for the development direction of domestic animation.
References
- Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/36035676/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/长安三万里
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/长安三万里
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